Getting the Inscriber Silicon Press in Applied Energistics 2 is a key step if you want to produce printed silicon, which is essential for crafting various processors and components in your ME network. Unlike some other inscriber presses, the silicon press can’t be crafted using a simple recipe. It must be obtained through specific means or, in some modpack configurations, duplicated. Knowing how to get and use the Inscriber Silicon Press properly will help you automate important parts of your AE2 infrastructure.
What Is the Inscriber Silicon Press?
The Inscriber Silicon Press is an item used in the AE2 Inscriber machine. When you place this press inside the inscriber along with regular silicon, it allows you to turn that silicon intoPrinted Silicon. Printed Silicon is one of the core components used to assemble processors such as logic, engineering, and calculation processors. contentReference[oaicite0]
In the inscriber’s GUI, you have three input slots the top slot is for the press, the center slot is for the main input item (in this case, silicon), and the bottom (or other) slot is often used for output or redstone depending on the recipe. contentReference[oaicite1]
Where to Find the Silicon Press
Since the Inscriber Silicon Press is not usually craftable in the simplest way, you need to know where to obtain it. There are a few methods, depending on the modpack or version of AE2 you play with.
1. Sky Stone Chests in Meteorites
The most common way to obtain the Inscriber Silicon Press is by looting it from aSky Stone Chestfound in meteorites. In many versions of AE2, when meteorites spawn in the world, they may contain these special chests. contentReference[oaicite2]
Search meteor crash sites carefully, and break open the chests you find. The Silicon Press may appear there, although it’s not guaranteed every time, so you might need a few attempts or a few meteorites.
2. Duplication (In Some Modpacks)
If the modpack you are playing supports it particularly in packs that include modules like GregTech it may be possible to **duplicate** the Silicon Press rather than looting it. According to the FTB Wiki, the press can be duplicated via special machines provided by GregTech 6. contentReference[oaicite3]
Here’s how that typically works in such setups
- You put an existing Inscriber Silicon Press into a compatible GregTech machine.
- You pay a certain amount of energy (depending on the modpack) to run the duplication process. contentReference[oaicite4]
- The press is not consumed, so you end up with an extra copy.
This can be extremely helpful for automation, especially if you want to run multiple inscribers simultaneously to produce printed silicon more quickly.
Using the Silicon Press in the Inscriber
Once you have the Inscriber Silicon Press, here’s how to use it effectively
Set Up the Inscriber Machine
Place the inscriber down and make sure it is properly connected to your AE network so it receives energy. The inscriber requires internal AE energy to operate; if it’s not powered, it won’t run jobs. contentReference[oaicite5]
Place the Silicon Press in the **top slot**, since that is where the inscriber expects a press for silicon recipes. contentReference[oaicite6]
Next, insert your raw silicon (or silicon items) into the **center slot**, or however your version of AE2 defines the recipe. The silicon will be consumed while the print process runs. contentReference[oaicite7]
Extract the Printed Silicon
When the process completes, you will receive **Printed Silicon** in the output slot. This can then be piped into storage, used for crafting, or fed into other AE machines depending on what you’re building.
Make sure to check your piping or ME Interfaces if you automate routing, you need to configure the inscriber so that the output is pulled from the correct side. Some players have trouble automating this part because transport pipes or busses may not pull from the right slots. contentReference[oaicite8]
Troubleshooting Common Issues
There are a few common problems players run into when working with the Silicon Press and the inscriber. Here are tips to address them
Press Not Being Placed Correctly
Some players report difficulty placing the Silicon Press into the correct slot. One solution is to rotate the inscriber using a wrench so that the appropriate side is available for insertion. contentReference[oaicite9]
Make sure you’re using the correct slot top for the press, center for silicon, per the inscriber’s design. contentReference[oaicite10]
Automation Problems
If you’re using ME Interfaces or item pipes to automate the inscriber, you might encounter issues loading silicon or extracting printed silicon
- Ensure that the ME Export Bus or interface is set up to insert silicon into the correct slot (center slot). Some players forgot to configure this correctly. contentReference[oaicite11]
- To automate only the output, make sure you’re pulling from the correct side of the inscriber. Some Reddit users noted success when supplying items to the bottom or top depending on inscriber orientation. contentReference[oaicite12]
- Toggle the inscriber’s mode between access from any side and other modes to match your pipe setup. contentReference[oaicite13]
Missing or No Press in Loot Chests
Because the press may spawn in meteorite chests, you might just get unlucky and not find it right away. If that’s the case
- Search more meteorite crash sites thoroughly.
- Use a duplication method if your modpack supports it, so you don’t rely solely on looting. contentReference[oaicite14]
- Check other storage or loot systems in your particular modpack sometimes modpack authors change loot tables.
Tips to Improve Efficiency
Once you have the Silicon Press and are generating printed silicon, you can streamline the process significantly
- **Use multiple inscribers** If you’ve duplicated the press or found more than one, run multiple inscribers in parallel for faster production.
- **Add acceleration cards** You can upgrade the inscriber with an acceleration card to speed up pressing operations. contentReference[oaicite15]
- **Buffer input and output** Use chests and ME storage to buffer your raw silicon and printed silicon, so your inscriber can run continuously without pausing for resources.
- **Use a stable AE power source** Make sure you provide enough energy so your inscriber doesn’t stall or disconnect during pressing operations. contentReference[oaicite16]
Getting the Inscriber Silicon Press in AE2 is a crucial step for enabling printed silicon production, which is in turn necessary for creating various AE2 processors. Since the press is not typically craftable, you’ll likely need to find it in Sky Stone Chests inside meteorites, or duplicate it in a modpack that supports that feature, such as one using GregTech. Once you have the press, place it correctly in your inscriber, feed it silicon, and extract printed silicon for your systems. Automation and proper routing are key to making this process efficient, and knowing how to troubleshoot common issues ensures you can set up a reliable and high-throughput production line.