Assembly Line

Mixing and blending

Ingredients are measured and stirred until the batch is the same all the way through. Every later step depends on that consistency.

233 lines that use it

AA battery 8 stations · 22 raw sources ABS plastic 6 stations · 9 raw sources Acrylic acid 6 stations · 4 raw sources Adhesive 8 stations · 7 raw sources Air freshener 5 stations · 21 raw sources Almond milk 6 stations · 2 raw sources Asphalt 5 stations · 2 raw sources Asphalt road 6 stations · 2 raw sources Aspirin 7 stations · 12 raw sources Asthma inhaler 6 stations · 16 raw sources Baby formula 6 stations · 22 raw sources Bacon 7 stations · 7 raw sources Baguette 7 stations · 11 raw sources Baking soda 6 stations · 9 raw sources Ballpoint pen 7 stations · 27 raw sources Banknote 6 stations · 20 raw sources Basketball 8 stations · 20 raw sources Beef jerky 6 stations · 8 raw sources Beer 8 stations · 22 raw sources Biodiesel 5 stations · 6 raw sources Blackboard chalk 6 stations · 9 raw sources Bleach 7 stations · 10 raw sources Bourbon 6 stations · 19 raw sources Bowling ball 8 stations · 23 raw sources Brake pad 7 stations · 23 raw sources Brass 6 stations · 12 raw sources Bread 7 stations · 11 raw sources Bronze 5 stations · 6 raw sources Brown sugar 6 stations · 4 raw sources Cake mix 6 stations · 20 raw sources Candle 7 stations · 18 raw sources Canned meat 9 stations · 23 raw sources Canned soup 9 stations · 23 raw sources Caramel 5 stations · 11 raw sources Caramel color 5 stations · 8 raw sources Carbon black 5 stations · 3 raw sources Caustic soda 5 stations · 2 raw sources Cellulose acetate 6 stations · 8 raw sources Ceramic 6 stations · 4 raw sources Ceramic floor tile 6 stations · 19 raw sources Champagne 8 stations · 22 raw sources Cheddar 9 stations · 3 raw sources Cheese 7 stations · 3 raw sources Chicken nuggets 7 stations · 15 raw sources Chlorine 5 stations · 4 raw sources Chocolate 8 stations · 7 raw sources Cognac 6 stations · 19 raw sources Coke 5 stations · 1 raw source Cola 7 stations · 23 raw sources Concrete 6 stations · 18 raw sources Condensed milk 6 stations · 22 raw sources Condom 9 stations · 13 raw sources Contact lens 6 stations · 9 raw sources Cotton candy 9 stations · 17 raw sources Cotton yarn 6 stations · 1 raw source Cough syrup 8 stations · 18 raw sources Crackers 7 stations · 15 raw sources Crayon 7 stations · 18 raw sources Cream 5 stations · 1 raw source Cream cheese 7 stations · 3 raw sources Croissant 7 stations · 12 raw sources Deodorant 7 stations · 23 raw sources Diesel fuel 5 stations · 6 raw sources Dinner plate 8 stations · 2 raw sources Dish soap 6 stations · 14 raw sources Disposable diaper 6 stations · 9 raw sources Drywall 7 stations · 8 raw sources Duct tape 6 stations · 12 raw sources E-reader 6 stations · 30 raw sources Egg carton 6 stations · 7 raw sources Energy drink 7 stations · 19 raw sources Eraser 6 stations · 19 raw sources Ethylene 5 stations · 3 raw sources Eyeshadow 5 stations · 16 raw sources Facial tissue 6 stations · 17 raw sources Felt hat 8 stations · 10 raw sources Ferrite 6 stations · 6 raw sources Fertilizer 7 stations · 10 raw sources Fiberglass 6 stations · 10 raw sources Fireworks 6 stations · 18 raw sources Flip-flops 6 stations · 15 raw sources Flour 7 stations · 9 raw sources Flying disc 7 stations · 15 raw sources Formaldehyde 5 stations · 3 raw sources Foundation makeup 6 stations · 24 raw sources Frozen pizza 8 stations · 16 raw sources Gasoline 6 stations · 6 raw sources Gelatin capsule 5 stations · 11 raw sources Gelatin dessert 5 stations · 6 raw sources Gin 7 stations · 13 raw sources Glass 5 stations · 10 raw sources Glass bottle 8 stations · 11 raw sources Glass marble 5 stations · 10 raw sources Golf ball 8 stations · 21 raw sources Granola bar 6 stations · 4 raw sources Green tea 7 stations · 1 raw source Gummy bears 6 stations · 7 raw sources Hair dye 5 stations · 12 raw sources Hairspray 7 stations · 21 raw sources Ham 6 stations · 7 raw sources Hard cider 7 stations · 20 raw sources Hazelnut spread 7 stations · 14 raw sources Highlighter 6 stations · 16 raw sources Hockey puck 8 stations · 5 raw sources Honey 7 stations · 1 raw source Hot dog 7 stations · 7 raw sources Hot sauce 7 stations · 15 raw sources Hydrochloric acid 5 stations · 5 raw sources Hydrogen peroxide 6 stations · 3 raw sources Ibuprofen 5 stations · 2 raw sources Ice cream 7 stations · 9 raw sources Imitation crab 7 stations · 9 raw sources Incense 5 stations · 3 raw sources Indium tin oxide 7 stations · 15 raw sources Ink 8 stations · 15 raw sources Insect repellent 5 stations · 17 raw sources Instant noodles 7 stations · 13 raw sources Insulin 7 stations · 11 raw sources Jam 6 stations · 10 raw sources Jarred salsa 9 stations · 25 raw sources Jet fuel 6 stations · 3 raw sources Kevlar 6 stations · 6 raw sources Kimchi 6 stations · 8 raw sources Kitchen sponge 7 stations · 13 raw sources Koji 5 stations · 3 raw sources Kombucha 5 stations · 12 raw sources Lab-grown diamond 6 stations · 3 raw sources Lacquer 8 stations · 8 raw sources Laundry detergent 7 stations · 18 raw sources LEGO brick 6 stations · 9 raw sources Light beer 6 stations · 19 raw sources Lipstick 7 stations · 13 raw sources Lithium-ion cell 10 stations · 23 raw sources Lollipop 6 stations · 5 raw sources Magnesium 5 stations · 4 raw sources Margarine 7 stations · 9 raw sources Marker pen 5 stations · 16 raw sources Marshmallow 6 stations · 7 raw sources Mascara 6 stations · 13 raw sources Mayonnaise 6 stations · 19 raw sources MDF 7 stations · 8 raw sources Mead 5 stations · 12 raw sources Metallurgical silicon 8 stations · 3 raw sources Modeling compound 7 stations · 14 raw sources Motor oil 5 stations · 3 raw sources Mouthwash 8 stations · 17 raw sources mRNA vaccine 7 stations · 11 raw sources Mustard 6 stations · 15 raw sources Nail polish 6 stations · 17 raw sources Nitric acid 5 stations · 3 raw sources Nylon 6 stations · 5 raw sources Oat milk 8 stations · 9 raw sources Orange juice 8 stations · 2 raw sources Paint 6 stations · 21 raw sources Palm oil 8 stations · 2 raw sources Paper 7 stations · 7 raw sources Parmesan 8 stations · 3 raw sources Pasta 7 stations · 2 raw sources Peanut butter 6 stations · 12 raw sources Pencil 8 stations · 24 raw sources Penicillin 7 stations · 11 raw sources Perfume 7 stations · 13 raw sources Phenolic resin 5 stations · 5 raw sources Photoresist 6 stations · 5 raw sources Pickles 6 stations · 16 raw sources Pigment 8 stations · 8 raw sources Plastic 5 stations · 3 raw sources Plastic straw 7 stations · 12 raw sources Plastic wrap 6 stations · 11 raw sources Polycarbonate 5 stations · 7 raw sources Polyethylene 6 stations · 3 raw sources Polypropylene 5 stations · 3 raw sources Polyurethane 6 stations · 6 raw sources Polyvinyl alcohol 5 stations · 5 raw sources Polyvinyl butyral 6 stations · 5 raw sources Popping candy 6 stations · 6 raw sources Porcelain 6 stations · 11 raw sources Port wine 6 stations · 19 raw sources Potassium hydroxide 5 stations · 2 raw sources Pretzel 7 stations · 12 raw sources Printer toner 7 stations · 9 raw sources Propane 5 stations · 2 raw sources PVC 6 stations · 9 raw sources PVC pipe 5 stations · 9 raw sources Rayon 6 stations · 7 raw sources Refrigerant 6 stations · 11 raw sources Roof tile 6 stations · 2 raw sources Root beer 5 stations · 19 raw sources Rubber boots 6 stations · 9 raw sources Rum 6 stations · 13 raw sources Salami 6 stations · 8 raw sources Sandwich cookie 7 stations · 14 raw sources Sauerkraut 6 stations · 12 raw sources Sausage 6 stations · 4 raw sources Scotch whisky 7 stations · 19 raw sources Shampoo 8 stations · 20 raw sources Soap 8 stations · 19 raw sources Soda 5 stations · 22 raw sources Soda ash 8 stations · 9 raw sources Solder 6 stations · 10 raw sources Sour cream 7 stations · 1 raw source Sourdough bread 6 stations · 11 raw sources Soy milk 6 stations · 2 raw sources Spandex 6 stations · 11 raw sources Sparkling water 6 stations · 19 raw sources Sprinkles 6 stations · 13 raw sources Styrene 5 stations · 4 raw sources Styrofoam 5 stations · 4 raw sources Sulfuric acid 6 stations · 3 raw sources Sunscreen 8 stations · 17 raw sources Super glue 6 stations · 7 raw sources Superabsorbent polymer 6 stations · 5 raw sources Synthetic graphite 6 stations · 2 raw sources Table salt 5 stations · 2 raw sources Tampon 7 stations · 14 raw sources Tennis ball 8 stations · 10 raw sources Toffee 9 stations · 25 raw sources Toilet 7 stations · 5 raw sources Toilet paper 6 stations · 9 raw sources Tonic water 5 stations · 19 raw sources Toothpaste 7 stations · 20 raw sources Trading cards 6 stations · 17 raw sources Tungsten carbide 5 stations · 11 raw sources Vanilla extract 7 stations · 7 raw sources Vinegar 6 stations · 8 raw sources Vinyl flooring 8 stations · 18 raw sources Vodka 7 stations · 15 raw sources Vulcanized rubber 6 stations · 7 raw sources Whiskey 7 stations · 13 raw sources White chocolate 7 stations · 10 raw sources Window glass 7 stations · 13 raw sources Yoga mat 6 stations · 9 raw sources Yogurt 6 stations · 7 raw sources

What it looks like on the line

  • LacquerOr dissolve a resin. Modern lacquers dissolve shellac or synthetic polymer, such as nitrocellulose or acrylic resin, in a thinner. Shellac-based types use alcohol.
  • Ice creamFold in flavor. Vanilla, chocolate, fruit sauces and cookie pieces are added through a feeder as the soft ice cream flows toward the filler.
  • BaguetteMix a lean dough. Wheat flour, water, baker's yeast and salt go into the mixer. The traditional baguette is defined by French law, which allows only small amounts of a few additions such as broad bean flour and malt flour.
  • FerriteBlend the oxides. Finely powdered iron oxide is mixed with the other metals. Transformer cores use nickel, zinc or manganese compounds, and permanent magnets use barium or strontium carbonate.
  • Gummy bearsStir in the gelling agent. Hydrated gelatin, flavoring, color and a food acid such as citric acid or malic acid are blended into the hot syrup. The acid adds the sharp tang that balances the sugar. Vegan versions swap in pectin or starch for the gelatin.
  • BrassStir in the zinc. Zinc goes into the bath in a proportion set by the grade. More zinc makes brass harder and paler, and more copper makes it redder and softer. Brass with 15 percent or less zinc stands up well to zinc loss.
  • Hard ciderBlend and sweeten. Vats made from different apples are blended to suit the market. A fully fermented cider is dry, so a small dose of sugar sets the sweetness and the sparkle.
  • Asthma inhalerPrepare the formulation. The drug is dissolved or suspended in a liquefied gas propellant, now usually a hydrofluoroalkane. The propellant makes up over 99 percent of the delivered dose, so its properties matter more than any other single factor.
  • EthyleneChoose the feed. Plants in Europe and Asia mostly crack naphtha, and plants with cheap natural gas often crack ethane. The feed decides the mix of products that comes out.
  • PaintPump in the mill-base. The finished mill-base flows into the let-down while hydraulic mixers keep everything moving. The nearly complete paint is stirred for another 30 minutes before the last thickeners and additives go in.
  • Roof tileTemper it with water. The clay is cleaned, blended and worked with water to make a smooth, plastic paste that holds its shape when squeezed.
  • InkReady the varnish. Resin and oil or solvent form the clear vehicle that carries the pigment. A sheetfed offset ink might use a long-oil alkyd or phenolic litho varnish.