How to Get Started with Immersive Engineering: First Ore and Coke
Mine the Starting Ores
Start by finding Bauxite Ore and Lead Ore underground. Mine them with a pickaxe and bring the raw drops back to your base. You will also want plenty of plain Coal, since coal is the backbone of early power.
Build the Coke Oven and Kiln
Place Coal into a Coke Oven structure to produce Coal Coke and Creosote Oil. Coal Coke is your first real fuel and a crafting ingredient; Creosote Oil is used later for treated wood and other recipes. Collect Bucket of Creosote Oil if you want to store it.
Smelt your raw ores in a Furnace or Blast Furnace to get Lead Ingot and Aluminium Ingot. From there, craft Lead Plate and Aluminium Plate using the Engineer's Workbench or a Metal Press if you have one. These plates are the base for most machines.
First Machines
Use your plates and Coal Coke to craft a Blast Furnace Preheater and the Blast Brick blocks needed for a Blast Furnace. The Blast Furnace turns iron into Steel Ingot, which unlocks the Alloy Kiln, Arc Furnace, and most advanced components. Build a Basic Engineering Block as a general crafting station, then expand into Conveyor Belts and a Crusher once you have steel. Keep a steady supply of Coal Coke running — every later machine depends on it.