Ok I managed a 200/31/38 [imgur.com] with a looping 4 cycle now and I think it looks pretty mesmerizing

Managed a 150/36/47 before challenging myself to complete with a single large carousel arm and few auxiliary arms 140/50/64 [imgur.com]

First one created is a failure, but then it produces consistently at 4 cycle rate.
230/37/70 [imgur.com]

I came back to this puzzle again on a whim and I think I can finally settle the score on a couple of metrics.
Firstly, a 16 area solution I made a while back. I don't think 15 is possible, which would make this the minimum: (100/353/16) [i.imgur.com]
And a solution that uses just 3 instructions: (100/216/37) [i.imgur.com]

My first solution:
https://i.ibb.co/RPXsWRb/Opus-Magnum-RUST-TO-SILVERED-MIRROR-150-G-43-32.gif
and a faster, but more expensive solution:
https://i.ibb.co/6r2XJ9L/Opus-Magnum-RUST-TO-SILVERED-MIRROR-170-G-37-38.gif

Really like Bambi's and Zorflax solutions as well!

Solution using 21 instructions: 120/66/24 [imgur.com]

Really love this puzzle - thanks for creating it!

I'm impressed that nearly 3 years after creating this puzzle, I'm still getting people commenting on it with their solutions. Bambl, I love your 9 instruction solution a lot. blcjeffery, your 18 area solution is incredible, love how you pull the quicksilver in that little corner. yrdns, I don't think I've seen a lower cycle non-looping solution than yours on this puzzle.

You all have such creative solutions, and I'm shocked you all like something I made so much.

Solution using 9 instructions : 140 / 70 / 61 [imgur.com]
Unsavory variation using 8 instructions : 135 / 180 / 65 [imgur.com]

One of the best Opus Magnum workshop puzzles, well done.

I took a stab at a low sum solution: 110/54/22 [imgur.com]

Got a looped 26 cycle solution (555/26/90)
https://imgur.com/a/O6kI1cC

And an 18 area solution using 2 piston arms: 130-190-18 [imgur.com]

Was able to get a 645/26/194 but it errors shortly after making product 6 so I can't get it to make a gif. Here's a modified version that runs up to 12 products so a gif is possible: https://imgur.com/a/z8U6gZD

This one really gave me pause for a moment when I realized Van Berlo's Wheel wasn't available. Nice one, requiring you to think outside the box. Here's my solution https://imgur.com/a/R47e9PN

These are all wonderful solutions. I'm glad people are still having fun with my puzzle.
It's hard to pick my favorites out of these. I guess I don't have to though! XD

https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/333375958671425536/431047613924769812/Opus_Magnum_-_RUST_TO_SILVERED_MIRROR_225G_32_52_2018-04-04-13-05-03.gif
32 is the fastest I got it, not a record but pretty fast for a first try. Very fun puzzle, especially because the wheel isn't available!

https://i.imgur.com/0biWZUt.gif
180/43/39

I guess you could do it like that...

OR YOU COULD DO IT LIKE THIS: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/409117642104897566/427867241686761482/Opus_Magnum_-_RUST_TO_SILVERED_MIRROR_390G_45_176_2018-03-26-17-27-10.gif

My first attempt:
135G 85c 41h
https://imgur.com/MbEVdAV

Nice puzzle!

No I can't!

thanks!
I kinda want to try and get the lowest area possible too, I might do that at some point in the future.

lmao awesome solution! I like how you just pivot the next reagent a couple times without taking it all the way out of it's slot to duplicate the air twice. :D

the puzzle is awesome btw

I managed to get a solution costing 70 gold, which I believe is the lowest possible.
Arms are the only ways of moving atoms, and the cheapest one is 20g
A glyph of calcification is required to turn the water atom to salt so it can be turned to air (10g)
A glyph of duplication is required to turn the salt and water atoms to air (20g)
A glyph of projection is required to promote the iron atom to copper, and the copper atom to silver (20g)
This all totals up to 70g, and if any of these mechanisms are withheld, the puzzle is impossible.
https://imgur.com/a/NnrzZ

Broken url on last one: 150/37/24 [imgur.com]

Also, I'd like to thank other people here for sharing their work. In particular, studying Jean-Alphonse's solution gave me the hint I needed to shave off that last cycle, and Alchemist John's inspired my miniaturized version.

I broke both the cost and area records, and beat the current efficiency records for 29 and 30 cycles. No "initialization" necessary. The final one is just highly efficient overall.
90/99/21 [imgur.com]
100/202/19 [imgur.com]
140/30/30 [imgur.com]
165/29/38 [imgur.com]
[ ulr=https://imgur.com/a/RodCu ]150/37/24[/url]

80g is theoretically possible, but I'll leave that to someone else. It wouldn't be fair to take all the records for myself. :P

29 cycles ! https://imgur.com/a/x5jsJ
The gif doesn't show the initialization so it's hard to see how it works :p
Nice puzzle !

bit faster, down to 30. https://imgur.com/a/l0Q59 is good puzzle

Damn dudes, these solutions keep getting more and more efficient. This newest one is a little more costly but still a lot less than my solution. Bravo.

140/38/30 https://imgur.com/a/whumu

110/54/49 [imgur.com]

Nice short puzzle

@John That is a beautiful solution. Makes me that my own wasn't nearly as optimized. I'm surprised you managed that without pistons or tracks, GG.

110/109/28

The important question is: Where do you keep the air so it can be duplicated?

http://psteamcommunity.yuanyoumao.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1178297163

https://imgur.com/iteweqb
Works also with tracks without errors.

Very interesting. How did you do the...? Let me guess, a grab, and retracts, but no return function. That gives me some ideas for solutions to other puzzles. I'm certainly impressed.

@Flabort https://imgur.com/hh9Y7tA

@Terefere Niiiice. I knew there were ways to optimize solutions far beyond my own solution. :) An area of only 32, though. I have got to know how you pulled that off.

150/96/32