Quantum Force Transformer

The Quantum Force Transformer (QFT) is a UEV tier multiblock that uses huge amounts of energy and quantum field stabilisation to disassemble simple molecules and reassemble them into more complex ones. The QFT performs entire processing lines in one step without any of the intermediate inputs, offers unlimited parallels based on the number of catalysts available, and has unlimited tier skips. That means it can run any recipe regardless of voltage tier as long as there is enough power. Upgrade the pulse manipulator casings to unlock new recipes and upgrade the shielding core casings to raise the focusing bonus. Focusing is an optional mechanic to increase the output probabilities of a recipe at the cost of fermium and/or neptunium plasma.

Not only is the QFT extremely convenient, but it also helps improve TPS and lag in the end game by removing the need for hundreds of machines. Only one QFT is necessary per recipe but expect to build several of them for passive crafting, and perhaps a few Compact Fusion Reactors to supply enough fermium and neptunium plasma for focusing.

The QFT has two tiered components. The pulse manipulator casings determine the tier of the structure and therefore which recipes it can run. The shielding core casings determine the focusing bonus. The output bus/hatch may replace any bulk production frame on the top layer of the structure and the remaining buses/hatches may replace any bulk production frame on the bottom layer of the structure. Multi-amp and laser energy hatches are supported for serious overclocking. Right-click the controller with a screwdriver to enable fluid mode which turns all outputs into their fluid equivalent, if possible. Use the Multiblock Structure Hologram Projector to visualize/build the structure with subchannels "manipulator" and "shielding" to specify the tier of those components.

The T1 QFT requires 237 quantum anomalies to build which requires a Beam Crafter and either the full Large Hadron Collider or just the Source Chamber. Every subsequent tier requires 944 of a specific material that can only be crafted from the previous tier.

Structure

• Controller: Front bottom center of central column
• 236 Pulse Manipulator Casing (Tiered)
• 224 Force Field Glass
• 177 Quantum Force Conductor
• 80-149 Bulk Production Frame
• 142 Shielding Core Casing (Tiered)
• 1 Bulk Catalyst Housing: Any bottom casing
• 1+ Energy Hatch: Any bottom casing
• 1+ Input Bus/Hatch: Any bottom casing
• 1+ Output Bus/Hatch: Any top casing

Wallsharing

QFTs may wallshare each of their sides to save on pulse manipulator casings and shielding core casings. This is highly recommended because they are the most expensive part of the structure.

Every QFT recipe has multiple outputs but none are guaranteed with each craft. The probability of each output appearing is 100% divided by the total number of outputs. For example, a recipe with 5 outputs means there is a 20% chance to produce each one. These probabilities are completely independent which means a single craft could potentially produce all, none, or just a few of the possible outputs. See the following section on focusing to increase these probabilities.

Every recipe also requires a particular catalyst in the bulk catalyst housing. The catalyst is never consumed and each one adds one parallel. The following are the recipes that are unlocked with each new pulse manipulator casing or tier of the QFT. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are mandatory for progression to the next tier. This list is NOT all-inclusive.

Focusing is an optional mechanic to increase the output probabilities of a recipe at the cost of fermium and/or neptunium plasma. Both plasmas require at least a Mk-IV Fusion Reactor and have their own unique effect. Fermium focusing increases all output probabilities equally while neptunium focusing increases one output probability at the cost of others. Focusing may be difficult at first due to the cost of the plasma, but later it is an excellent alternative to increasing the input power. If a QFT runs out of plasma while focusing, then it shuts down and has to be manually restarted unless there is a machine controller cover on it with safe mode disabled.

The focusing strength depends solely on the tier of the shielding core casings and the tier of the recipe. If the casings are a lower tier, then focusing has no effect on the operation of the machine but still consumes plasma. If the casings are the same tier or higher, then focusing provides a scaling bonus based on the tier difference.

Supply neptunium plasma through an input hatch to increase one output probability at the cost of others. The specific output is chosen with a programmed circuit in an input bus (e.g. a value of 2 focuses the 2nd output visible in NEI). The increase is based on the current success probabilities and the tier of the shielding core casings, which must be greater than or equal to the tier of the recipe to work. If the shielding core casings are the same tier as the recipe, all other outputs have their probabilities divided by 2 and added to the one being focused. If the shielding core casing are 1 tier above the recipe, all other outputs have their probabilities divided by 4 and added to the one being focused. If the shielding core casings are 2 or 3 tiers above the recipe, all the other outputs have their probabilities reduced to 0% and the one being focused is 100% guaranteed.

${\displaystyle {\displaystyle {\text{Neptunium Plasma L/s}}=4\times {\text{Shielding Core Casing Tier}}\times {\sqrt {\text{Parallels}}}}}$

Take the T2 recipe for bastnasite as an example. This recipe has 5 outputs which means the original probability of each is 1/5 = 20% (without focusing). Neptunium focusing with a programmed circuit of 4 changes those probabilities to the following. The T1 shielding core casings have no effect on focusing because they are below the tier of the recipe.

• T1 Shielding Core Casings (-1 Below Recipe): 20% / 20% / 20% / 20% / 20%
• T2 Shielding Core Casings (+0 Above Recipe): 10% / 10% / 10% / 60% / 10%
• T3 Shielding Core Casings (+1 Above Recipe): 5% / 5% / 5% / 80% / 5%
• T4 Shielding Core Casings (+2 Above Recipe): 0% / 0% / 0% / 100% / 0%

Supply fermium plasma through an input hatch to increase all output probabilities equally. The increase is based on their distance from 100% and the tier of the shielding core casings, which must be greater than or equal to the tier of the recipe to work. If the shielding core casings are the same tier as the recipe, each output probability is increased by 1/4 of the failure probability (complement to success probability). If the shielding core casings are 1 tier above the recipe, each output probability is increased by 1/3 of the failure probability. And if the shielding core casings are 2 or 3 tiers above the recipe, each output probability is increased by 1/2 of the failure probability. Fermium focusing multipliers are applied after neptunium focusing multipliers.

${\displaystyle {\displaystyle {\text{Fermium Plasma L/s}}=4\times {\text{Shielding Core Casing Tier}}\times {\sqrt {\text{Parallels}}}}}$

Take the same T2 recipe for bastnasite as an example. Again, this recipe has 5 outputs which means the original probability of each is 1/5 = 20% (without focusing). Fermium focusing changes those probabilities to the following. The T1 shielding core casings have no effect on focusing because they are below the tier of the recipe.

• T1 Shielding Core Casings (-1 Below Recipe): 20% / 20% / 20% / 20% / 20%
• T2 Shielding Core Casings (+0 Above Recipe): 40% / 40% / 40% / 40% / 40%
• T3 Shielding Core Casings (+1 Above Recipe): 47% / 47% / 47% / 47% / 47%
• T4 Shielding Core Casings (+2 Above Recipe): 60% / 60% / 60% / 60% / 60%

For the same T2 recipe for bastnasite, combining the two focusing types together has the potential turn the same 20% / 20% / 20% / 20% / 20% recipe into 50% / 50% / 50% / 100% / 50%. That is 2.5x more of each secondary output and 5.0x more of the focused output.

The following table summarizes the output probabilities for various output counts, shielding core casing tiers, and focusing combinations. The target probability under neptunium focusing is the one increased at the cost of others. Failing to identify a target with a programmed circuit defaults to everything being reduced.

${\displaystyle {\displaystyle \Delta {\text{Tier}}={\text{Shielding Core Casing Tier}}-{\text{Recipe Tier}}}}$

The QFT is designed to be passively automated because there are two significant challenges to using on-demand recipes or patterns in general. The first is that none of the outputs are guaranteed (without focusing) so patterns must overcompensate to prevent crafting requests from getting stuck. For example, if the output probability is 20% then the pattern must expect a lower average return such as 10-15%. This creates a small buffer or margin of error that potentially provides more resources than necessary, but it keeps everything running smoothly especially with more parallels.

The other challenge is that focusing follows standard input separation rules which means plasma must be included in patterns to work with crafting input buffers (CRIBs) and proxies. However, plasma usage varies significantly with runtime, parallels, and overclocks so it is very difficult to calculate the exact amount needed in advance. The solution is using a stocking input hatch for plasma and a subnet for inputs, but that introduces a slight delay and still does not solve the first issue.