What Is Extra Crafting Storage?
Applied Energistics 2 has long been the gold standard for digital item management in Minecraft. Its autocrafting system, driven by ME Crafting Storage units, lets players assemble complex recipes on demand. But as your factory grows, the standard 1K to 64K crafting storages can feel cramped. That is where Extra Crafting Storage steps in, bridging the gap between the beloved Extracells mod and AE2’s crafting mechanics. Extracells already gives you massive ME drives and fluid storage cells, yet it never touched the crafting side. This mod fills that void by letting you build Crafting Storages using Extracells components, pushing the limit up to a staggering 16384K per unit.
Why Bigger Crafting Storage Matters
In Applied Energistics 2, every crafting operation needs a Crafting Storage block to hold intermediate items while the system assembles the final product. If your storage is too small, complex recipes with many steps will stall, forcing you to split them into smaller tasks or wait for the system to catch up. Extra Crafting Storage removes that bottleneck. With capacities reaching 1K, 4K, 16K, 64K, 256K, 1024K, 4096K, and even 16384K, you can queue up massive autocrafting jobs without worrying about overflow. This is especially useful for modpacks that include nested recipes, like GregTech or Avaritia, where a single item might require dozens of sub-crafts.
How the Mod Works
The mod integrates seamlessly with AE2’s existing crafting multiblock structure. You still need at least one genuine AE2 Crafting Storage block to form the core of your CPU cluster, but all additional storage units can be the larger Extracells-based versions. The recipes mirror Extracells’ own logic: you combine AE2 processors, storage housings, and the appropriate Extracells storage component to craft each tier. For example, a 16384K Crafting Storage requires a 16384K ME Storage Component from Extracells, surrounded by engineering processors and a sturdy casing. The result is a single block that holds an enormous amount of crafting data, letting your ME system handle truly monstrous autocrafting trees.
Installation and Compatibility
Extra Crafting Storage is a straightforward addon. You need Applied Energistics 2 and Extracells (or an equivalent mod that provides the larger storage components) installed first. Once those are in place, simply drop the mod file into your mods folder. For players who prefer a streamlined experience, managing mods and versions becomes effortless with a modern launcher. Many builders now rely on tools like the foxygame.net launcher, which lets you browse and install mods directly from its menu, keeping your setup clean and automatically resolving dependencies. That convenience means you can jump straight into designing colossal autocrafting arrays without wrestling with manual file management.
Key Features at a Glance
- Eight new crafting storage tiers: 1K, 4K, 16K, 64K, 256K, 1024K, 4096K, and 16384K.
- Full AE2 multiblock compatibility: Works with existing Crafting CPUs, Co-Processors, and Interfaces.
- Uses Extracells components: Crafting recipes rely on the corresponding storage cells from Extracells.
- No core AE2 changes: The mod only adds new blocks; it does not alter base AE2 mechanics.
- Lightweight and focused: Minimal performance impact, perfect for large modpacks.
Building a High-Capacity Crafting CPU
To take full advantage of Extra Crafting Storage, you need to understand AE2’s multiblock rules. A Crafting CPU is formed by placing a Crafting Storage block adjacent to at least one Co-Processor, then surrounding the structure with other valid blocks like more storage units, monitors, or additional Co-Processors. The total storage capacity is the sum of all storage blocks in the cluster. With the 16384K unit, a single block provides more space than an entire array of 64K units. This means you can build compact, powerful CPUs that handle enormous jobs without sprawling across your base. Just remember: the cluster must contain at least one standard AE2 Crafting Storage block to be recognized as a valid multiblock. The mod’s own storage blocks act as supplements, not replacements for that core requirement.
Practical Crafting Recipes
Each tier follows a logical progression. For instance, a 256K Crafting Storage might require a 256K ME Storage Component, four AE2 Engineering Processors, and a Crafting Storage Housing. The housing itself is crafted from iron, glass, and a calculation processor. As you climb to the 16384K tier, the Extracells storage component becomes the central ingredient, surrounded by advanced processors. The recipes are designed to feel like a natural extension of AE2, rewarding players who have already invested in Extracells’ larger storage disks. If you are playing on 1.12.2, a similar experience is available through the Extra CPUs mod, which ports the concept to that version.
Optimizing Autocrafting Workflows
With massive crafting storage at your disposal, you can rethink your entire production chain. Instead of splitting a complex recipe across multiple CPUs, you can assign one super-CPU to handle it entirely. This reduces the need for intricate sub-network setups and simplifies your ME system layout. Pair your high-capacity crafting storage with multiple Co-Processors to enable parallel processing, and you will see crafting times drop dramatically. The mod also plays nicely with AE2’s crafting monitors, so you can still track job progress in real time.
Common Use Cases
- Modpack endgame items: Crafting creative-tier components or singularities without constant babysitting.
- Bulk autocrafting: Producing thousands of processors, circuits, or machine frames in one request.
- Deep recipe chains: Handling items that require dozens of intermediate steps, like Draconic Evolution’s fusion crafting ingredients.
- Server efficiency: Reducing the number of active crafting CPUs to lower server load while maintaining throughput.
Limitations and Considerations
While Extra Crafting Storage dramatically expands your crafting capacity, it does not bypass AE2’s fundamental rules. You still need sufficient Co-Processors to parallelize tasks, and the system’s overall speed depends on your ME network’s power and channel availability. Additionally, the mod requires Extracells (or a compatible mod) to provide the necessary storage components. If you are playing on a version where Extracells is not available, you might need to look for alternatives. The mod also does not add new fluid crafting storage; it focuses purely on item crafting storage. For fluid autocrafting expansions, you will need to explore other addons.
Conclusion
Extra Crafting Storage is a focused, elegant solution for players who love Extracells but crave more robust autocrafting capabilities. By extending the crafting storage hierarchy up to 16384K, it eliminates the frustration of stalled crafting jobs and opens the door to truly massive on-demand production. The mod respects AE2’s core mechanics, integrates smoothly with existing setups, and requires only a single vanilla crafting storage block to form a valid multiblock. Whether you are deep into a tech-heavy modpack or simply want to future-proof your ME system, this addon delivers the capacity you need without unnecessary complexity. For those on 1.12.2, the Extra CPUs mod offers a similar experience, ensuring that no matter your version, your autocrafting can scale to match your ambitions.