The Build Gun is the key to managing your factory, both practically and aesthetically. It allows construction of buildings, dismantling of existing structures, and color and texture customization.
Each function has its own hotkey:
- Construction is accessed with ‘Q’ (by default)
- Your numbered hotkeys also bring up Construction
- Dismantle is accessed with ‘F’ (by default)
- Customizer is accessed with ‘X’ (by default)
Construction
Construction mode (‘Q’ by default) allows you to build any building you have learned how to make. Most of these buildings are unlocked through Milestones.
This menu will show you the required materials to build each building. You will need to have all of these items in your inventory to construct the building.
Queuing
By pressing the ‘+’ icon on the top right of a building, you can queue that building for construction. This will show the required materials and how many of each you currently have in your inventory.
Multiple types of buildings can be queued at one time and you can queue more than one of the same type of building.
Hotkeys
Buildings can be assigned to your hotkeys as well. By default, these are the numbers 0-9, but can be changed if you want. To bind a constructable to a hotkey, mouse over the item in your Build Gun’s UI and press the shortcut you want to assign it to.
There are multiple tabs of keybinds that can be cycled through, allowing you to have a different set of keybinds for different tasks (production, foundations, trains, etc.).
Sample Building
You can mouse over an existing building or other constructable item in the world and press the sample button (default Middle Mouse Button). This will immediately bring up that item for construction with your Build Gun.
Hologram
Once a buildable item is selected for construction, a hologram of the item will appear in the world. This will show you were the item will be placed when you confirm construction of it.
While the hologram is up, you can swap through different tiers or similar buildings by pressing ‘Quick Switch’ (default ‘E’). For buildings with different tiers, this will switch between those tiers (ex. Conveyor Belts). Other buildings like train stations can also swap between relevant similar buildings.
You can hold the ‘snap to guidelines’ button to attempt to align your new building with existing buildings. A line will be shown to indicate which building your new building is aligning with.
You can lock the hologram (default ‘H’) to its current position. This will allow you to move around and ensure that the structure is in the exact place you want it to be. During this lock, you can also nudge the hologram using the arrow keys. You can only move holograms horizontally, not vertically, with nudges.
Zoop
Zoop is an option to build multiple buildable structures at the same time. This is mainly used for things that are built next to each other over long distances (foundations, walls, etc.).
You can enable Zoop with the ‘R’ key by default, and the option will remain on until you sign out. You can Zoop up to ten (10) structures at once.
Dismantle
Dismantle mode (‘F’ by default) allows you to deconstruct existing buildings. All materials required to construct the building are returned to you. You will also be returned any items that were in the inventory of the building.
If you do not have enough space in your inventory to hold these items, they are instead placed in a temporary chest at the buildings old location.
While in Dismantle mode, your screen will have a pulsing orange border.
Mass Dismantle
Holding the ‘Mass Dismantle’ key (default ‘left CTRL’) will allow you to select up to 50 structures at once to dismantle. Select structures while holding the key by mousing over them.
You can tell which structures have been selected by the orange aura that is placed on them. This function works with the Filtered Dismantle option as well.
Filtered Dismantle
The filter option allows you to select a specific type of structure to dismantle. Mouse over the structure you want to destroy and tap the button (default ‘G’) to select it. Until canceled, you will only be able to select other structures of that type for Dismantle, even with the Mass Dismantle function.
Customizer
Once unlocked, Customizer mode (‘X’ by default) allows you to change colors, change material textures, and to add patterns. You will be able to paint existing buildings, foundations, and walls with your selection.
The Customizer is unlocked by completing the Tier 2 Milestone “Resource Sink Bonus Program.”
Colors
The Colors tab of the Customizer allows you to view and change colors of structures you create.
To change colors, mouse over the swatch you wish to change and select ‘Edit.’ Colors can be picked by clicking on the color table or can be typed in using eight (8) character hex codes. You can find tables of color hex codes online as these codes are not exclusive to Satisfactory.
The ‘Default’ section changes the existing color of every structure that has not be assigned a specific color.
The ‘Custom’ swatch allows you to assign colors to specific structures. Assigning a color like this will mean that the item will no longer change when changing the default color or when changing the Custom color.
The ‘Regular’ swatches allow you to assign colors to multiple buildings. When changing the swatch colors, all buildings assigned to the swatch will be changed as well.
Materials
The Materials section of the Customizer allows you to change the skin that is used by foundations, walls, and roofs.
Selecting an option will allow you to change the associated existing items in the world. Mouse over an item and click to change it.
Some of these Material skins will use your Color options as well.
Patterns
Patterns allow you to draw designs on existing Foundations and Roofs. Each pattern will cost Color Cartridges to draw.
You can hover over a pattern in the menu for a preview of what it will look like. Once selected, the Pattern can be seen in the world similar to a Hologram when mousing over a Foundation or Roof.
Patterns will use the secondary color of the Foundation’s currently assigned Color swatch.