Simple research bench

A simple research bench is a production bench at which your colonists can research new technology.

It is the less advanced version of the hi-tech research bench, only allowing access to the basic technologies, including those which unlock its more advanced counterpart.

Acquisition

Simple research benches can be constructed, each requiring 75 Stuff (Metallic/Woody/Stony, 750 for SMVs), 25 Steel and 2,800 ticks (46.67 secs) of work modified by the construction speed of the builder and the work to build factor and offset of the material.

Summary

Once a project has been selected in the Research tab, colonists assigned to Research work type will work at a simple research bench to complete the project. Multiple researchers can contribute toward a project at the same time, so long as sufficient research benches are available, and benches can be freely swapped between researchers. Simple research benches are incapable of researching projects beyond Microelectronics.

The rate of research can be inspected after selection, depends on the following factors:

The research speed stat of the researcher.
The type of research bench and facilities used. Simple research benches have ×0.75 multiplier to this research rate.
A ×0.7 work multiplier for being in "Bad Temperature" - below 10 °C (50 °F) or above 35 °C (95 °F) - like most production facilities.
A ×0.9 work multiplier for being outdoors. ^[Verify]
The Cleanliness of the room. The modifier is ×0.75 for very dirty (-5 or lower), ×1 for clean (0), and ×1.09 for sterile (0.6). Being outdoors gives a ×0.75 Cleanliness multiplier (in addition to the penalty for being outdoors).
Reading Bonus [1] for books on bookshelves nearby.

Unlike the hi-tech research bench, simple benches can be uninstalled. Simple research benches cannot be linked to a multi-analyzer.

Analysis

The simple research bench should be one of the first things to be set up in a new base, after building rooms, beds, storage, and, possibly, a freezer. Multiple research benches can be used concurrently; as soon as you have the manpower to spare, you may want to have 2 researchers operating at once. If resources are limited, placing half of the available researchers on a night shift allows them to share benches.

Once they are unlocked, hi-tech research benches are 33.33% faster at researching. As soon as Microelectronics is researched and the colony has sufficient power and resources to construct them, simple benches should be replaced with hi-tech benches, which also unlocks all projects beyond Microelectronics.

If resources are tight but several researchers are available, simple research benches can be retained in order to research less complex technologies. Simple and hi-tech research benches may be used together, though pawns will automatically abandon any simple benches when hi-tech is required.

Laboratories

Compact, 6x6 lab with 4 research benches. Can fit 2 hi-tech benches later on; see its Laboratories section for visualization.

Because research is a long term task, it is advised to please researchers:

Increase a researcher's comfort with dining chairs or armchairs.
Install sculptures or other beautiful items to increase mood.
Install floors and keep the room clean, which also increases research speed.
- Steel tile and sterile tile provide a small boost to Cleanliness, and thus research speed, but are somewhat costly.

Research rooms can be kept small and out of major thoroughfares, to minimize the amount of cleaning time and sterile tile used. Alternatively, you can combine research rooms and hospitals, as both take full advantage of Cleanliness.

If investing any significant amount of resources into a laboratory, it is recommended to build it such that it will fit the larger, 5 × 2 tile, hi-tech research benches and the 2 × 2 tile multi-analyzer that will eventually be required.

Stats table

Simple research bench	Beauty	Work to Build	HP	Flammability	Market Value
Material	Beauty	Work to Build	HP	Flammability	Market Value
Bioferrite	0	007,000 ticks (1.94 mins)	500	75%	129
Gold	20	002,520 ticks (42 secs)	150	40%	7,555
Granite blocks	0	016,940 ticks (4.71 mins)	425	0%	176
Limestone blocks	0	016,940 ticks (4.71 mins)	388	0%	176
Marble blocks	1	015,540 ticks (4.32 mins)	300	0%	171
Plasteel	0	006,160 ticks (1.71 mins)	700	0%	745
Sandstone blocks	0	014,140 ticks (3.93 mins)	350	0%	166
Silver	6	002,800 ticks (46.67 secs)	175	40%	810
Slate blocks	0	016,940 ticks (4.71 mins)	325	0%	176
Steel	0	002,800 ticks (46.67 secs)	250	40%	200
Jade	10	014,000 ticks (3.89 mins)	125	0%	475
Uranium	0	005,320 ticks (1.48 mins)	625	0%	515
Wood	0	001,960 ticks (32.67 secs)	163	100%	145