How To Get & Make Aluminum In Astroneer

In this guide, we’ll walk you through the complete process of obtaining and crafting aluminum in Astroneer. Whether you’re new to the game or looking to optimize your resource gathering, this tutorial will show you exactly where to find laterite ore and how to efficiently convert it into aluminum using a smelting furnace.

Step 1: Mine Laterite Ore

The first step is to venture into a cave system and locate laterite ore. This reddish-brown mineral is the raw material you need to process into aluminum. Use your terrain tool to mine chunks of laterite—you’ll recognize it by its distinctive appearance. Make sure to gather a sufficient amount before heading back to your base, as you’ll want to process multiple batches.

If you find yourself lost while exiting the cave, simply follow the terrain and work your way back up to ground level. You can continue collecting laterite on your way out if you spot additional deposits.

Step 2: Unlock the Smelting Furnace

Once you’re back at your base with your laterite, you’ll need a smelting furnace to process it. If you haven’t already unlocked this machine, access your research catalog and unlock it, then print it at a fabricator or other printing station.

Step 3: Set Up Your Smelting Station

For optimal efficiency, place your smelting furnace on a large platform B connected to storage containers. This setup allows the machine to automatically draw laterite from connected storage and deposit finished aluminum back into it, eliminating tedious manual item transfers.

Load your laterite into the connected storage near the smelting furnace. As long as the furnace is powered on and has sufficient energy, it will automatically begin the smelting process.

Step 4: Monitor Power and Wait for Processing

Ensure your smelting furnace remains powered throughout the process. The furnace will continuously convert laterite into aluminum as long as it has power and raw materials available. Once smelting is complete, the finished aluminum will automatically deposit into your connected storage.

If your furnace stops working unexpectedly, check that all power connections are properly secured and that your power source has sufficient charge.

Conclusion

That’s all there is to making aluminum in Astroneer! The process is straightforward: mine laterite from caves, place it in a smelting furnace with connected storage, ensure adequate power, and let the furnace do the work. Setting up your smelting station on a large platform with storage connections will save you significant time compared to processing items one at a time. Now you’re ready to produce the aluminum you need for your Astroneer projects.

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