Best machine order in My Time at Sandrock
If you want smoother progression, build around bottlenecks instead of building one of everything. Early game, that bottleneck is usually material flow: scrap into basic resources, then basic resources into parts. Start with a Recycler (it turns scrap into usable materials), add a second Recycler early, then prioritize a Furnace (for bars, glass, and bricks) and eventually a second Furnace. After that, add one Grinder and one Processor so core refined parts like pipes, sticks, boards, and plates stay in rotation for builds and commissions.
As soon as you can, give Data Discs to Qi at the Research Center. Data Discs are research currency commonly found while digging in Abandoned Ruins, and they unlock upgraded machine diagrams. Civil-tier machines (Civil Recycler, Civil Furnace, Civil Grinder, Civil Processor) are your next step; prioritize the upgrade that fixes your current shortage first. Keep older machines running while new ones are being crafted so your workshop never sits idle.
Best Research Order in My Time at Sandrock
If you are searching for the best Sandrock research order, the clean beginner answer is to research the machine that unlocks your next real bottleneck instead of treating Qi's queue like a collectibles list. In most early saves, that means improving your core processing chain before you branch into niche convenience tech.
- Get your first Recycler and Furnace online so scrap turns into bars, bricks, and basic workshop stock.
- Research Grinder and Processor as soon as upcoming commissions or story builds start asking for refined parts.
- Push into Civil machine upgrades when your current stations stay full and throughput, not recipes, is what is slowing you down.
- Prioritize support tech like Dew Collector when passive water generation will noticeably reduce your daily workshop maintenance.
Qi should almost always have an active research project if you can spare the Data Discs. Leaving the research queue idle slows your whole workshop more than most players realize, especially once commissions start asking for a wider spread of processed parts.
The practical test is simple: if a machine unlock will help you finish commissions faster this week, it belongs near the front of your research order.
Crafting order that keeps quests and commissions on schedule
Use a simple daily queue: pick up commissions in the morning, then immediately queue bars, boards, and pipes before heading out. Try to keep at least one machine slot always producing common parts so surprise requests do not stall you. At night, refill fuel and water, then queue longer crafts before sleep. If you are choosing between early decoration and another core machine, pick the machine; extra throughput usually pays off faster in early progression.
Practical early-mid target setup: 2 Recyclers, 2 Furnaces, 1-2 Grinders, and 1-2 Processors, then phase into Civil versions as diagrams unlock. It is a beginner-friendly baseline that usually keeps regular commissions and main-story construction moving without constant material shortages.