diff --git a/api.lua b/api.lua
index 728a8b3..e066f9d 100644
--- a/api.lua
+++ b/api.lua
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ function microexpansion.register_oredef(ore, defs)
 	end
 
 	for _,d in ipairs(defs) do
-		d.ore = "microexpansion:"..ore
+		d.ore = ore
     minetest.register_ore(d)
 	end
 end
diff --git a/depends.txt b/depends.txt
index d3f04d8..96b6770 100644
--- a/depends.txt
+++ b/depends.txt
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 default
 pipeworks?
+basic_materials?
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index e50a3af..bd51da1 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -11,9 +11,12 @@ microexpansion.gui_bg = "bgcolor[#080808BB;true]background[5,5;1,1;gui_formbg.pn
 microexpansion.gui_slots = "listcolors[#00000069;#5A5A5A;#141318;#30434C;#FFF]"
 
 microexpansion.settings = {
-	huge_stacks = minetest.settings:get_bool("microexpansion_huge_stacks")
+	huge_stacks = minetest.settings:get_bool("microexpansion_huge_stacks"),
+	simple_craft = minetest.settings:get_bool("microexpansion_simple_craft")
 }
 
+microexpansion.uinv_category_enabled = minetest.global_exists("unified_inventory") and unified_inventory.add_category_item and true or false
+
 -- logger
 function microexpansion.log(content, log_type)
 	assert(content, "microexpansion.log: missing content")
diff --git a/mod.conf b/mod.conf
index 759261f..e678050 100644
--- a/mod.conf
+++ b/mod.conf
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 name = microexpansion
 description = A storage managing solution to get an overview over all your items.
 depends = default
-optional_depends = pipeworks
+optional_depends = pipeworks,basic_materials
diff --git a/modules.conf b/modules.conf
index 6c1ae5b..5374f54 100644
--- a/modules.conf
+++ b/modules.conf
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-shared = true
 network = true
 power = false
 storage = true
 ores = true
 item_transfer = true
+crafting = true
diff --git a/modules/crafting/alternatives.lua b/modules/crafting/alternatives.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b2aa299
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/crafting/alternatives.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+---
+-- craftitems that offer alternative craft recipes
+
+local me = microexpansion
+
+--TODO: build specialized integrated circuits / chips out of the ic and other stuff that are required to build the devices / machines instead of the control unit being an alternative
+
+---
+-- [Microexpansion Control Unit]
+-- a different logic chip that uses gold, quartz and wood
+-- for use instead of basic_materials:ic that requires sand, coal and copper
+me.register_item("logic_chip", {
+	description = "Control Unit",
+	recipe = {
+		{ 2,
+			{
+				{"basic_materials:gold_wire"},
+				{"basic_materials:silicon"},
+				{"basic_materials:plastic_sheet"}
+			},
+		},
+		{ 2,
+			{
+				{"basic_materials:gold_wire"},
+				{"microexpansion:quartz_crystal"},
+				{"basic_materials:plastic_sheet"}
+			},
+		},
+		{ 2, 
+			{
+				{"microexpansion:gold_wire"},
+				{"microexpansion:quartz_crystal"},
+				{"group:wood"}
+			},
+		},
+	},
+})
diff --git a/modules/crafting/init.lua b/modules/crafting/init.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c9146dc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/crafting/init.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+local module_path = microexpansion.get_module_path("crafting")
+
+-- basic_materials replacements
+dofile(module_path.."/materials.lua")
+-- shared items used for various machine recipes
+dofile(module_path.."/shared.lua")
+-- items that allow for alternative recipes
+dofile(module_path.."/alternatives.lua")
diff --git a/modules/crafting/materials.lua b/modules/crafting/materials.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..934a3ed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/crafting/materials.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+---
+-- Craft materials, that are normally registered by basic_materials
+
+local me = microexpansion
+local substitute_basic_materials = microexpansion.settings.simple_craft == true or not minetest.get_modpath("basic_materials")
+
+
+-- [register item] Gold Wire
+me.register_item("gold_wire", {
+	description = "Gold Wire",
+	groups = { wire = 1 },
+	recipe = substitute_basic_materials and {
+		{ 2, {
+				{"default:gold_ingot", "default:stick"},
+				{"default:stick", ""}
+			},
+		},
+	} or nil,
+})
diff --git a/modules/shared/init.lua b/modules/crafting/shared.lua
similarity index 54%
rename from modules/shared/init.lua
rename to modules/crafting/shared.lua
index 396af72..ad80c5f 100644
--- a/modules/shared/init.lua
+++ b/modules/crafting/shared.lua
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
--- shared/init.lua
+-- crafting/shared.lua
 
 local me = microexpansion
 
--- This mostly contains items that are used by multiple modules and
--- don't really fit with anything else.
+-- custom items that are used by multiple devices
 
 -- [register item] Steel Infused Obsidian Ingot
 me.register_item("steel_infused_obsidian_ingot", {
@@ -28,28 +27,3 @@ me.register_item("machine_casing", {
 		},
 	},
 })
-
--- [register item] Gold Wire
-me.register_item("gold_wire", {
-	description = "Gold Wire",
-	recipe = {
-		{ 2, {
-				{"default:gold_ingot", "default:stick"},
-				{"default:stick", ""}
-			},
-		},
-	},
-})
-
--- [register item] Control Unit
-me.register_item("logic_chip", {
-	description = "Control Unit",
-	recipe = {
-		{ 2, {
-				{"microexpansion:gold_wire"},
-				{"microexpansion:quartz_crystal"},
-				{"group:wood"}
-			},
-		},
-	},
-})
diff --git a/modules/item_transfer/exporter.lua b/modules/item_transfer/exporter.lua
index 5aef6c4..04b6215 100644
--- a/modules/item_transfer/exporter.lua
+++ b/modules/item_transfer/exporter.lua
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ local function exporter_timer(pos, elapsed)
 		end
 		local max_count = math.pow(2, upgrades.bulk or 0)
 		microexpansion.move_inv({inv=net:get_inventory(),name="main",huge=true}, {inv=inv,name=list}, max_count, export_filter)
+		--TODO: perhaps call allow_insert and on_insert callbacks
 	end
 	return true
 end
@@ -50,6 +51,12 @@ item_transfer.register_io_device("exporter", {
 	},
 	connect_sides = { "left" },
 	recipe = {
+		{ 1, {
+        {"", "basic_materials:ic", "default:steel_ingot" },
+        {"", "microexpansion:cable", "group:shovel" },
+        {"", "", "default:steel_ingot" },
+      },
+    },
     { 1, {
         {"", "microexpansion:logic_chip", "default:steel_ingot" },
         {"", "microexpansion:cable", "group:shovel" },
@@ -81,4 +88,6 @@ item_transfer.register_io_device("exporter", {
 	end
 })
 
-
+if me.uinv_category_enabled then
+	unified_inventory.add_category_item("storage", "microexpansion:exporter")
+end
diff --git a/modules/item_transfer/importer.lua b/modules/item_transfer/importer.lua
index 75b7c30..52ac2e6 100644
--- a/modules/item_transfer/importer.lua
+++ b/modules/item_transfer/importer.lua
@@ -58,6 +58,12 @@ item_transfer.register_io_device("importer", {
 	},
 	connect_sides = { "left" },
 	recipe = {
+		{ 1, {
+        {"", "basic_materials:ic", "default:steel_ingot" },
+        {"", "microexpansion:cable", "group:hoe" },
+        {"", "", "default:steel_ingot" },
+      },
+    },
     { 1, {
         {"", "microexpansion:logic_chip", "default:steel_ingot" },
         {"", "microexpansion:cable", "group:hoe" },
@@ -89,4 +95,6 @@ item_transfer.register_io_device("importer", {
 	end
 })
 
-
+if me.uinv_category_enabled then
+	unified_inventory.add_category_item("storage", "microexpansion:importer")
+end
diff --git a/modules/item_transfer/upgrades.lua b/modules/item_transfer/upgrades.lua
index 5ebe780..0b65297 100644
--- a/modules/item_transfer/upgrades.lua
+++ b/modules/item_transfer/upgrades.lua
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@ me.register_item("upgrade_bulk", {
 	description = "Bulk Upgrade",
 	usedfor = "upgrades components to process more at the same time",
 	recipe = {
+		{ 1, {
+				{"basic_materials:gold_wire"},
+				{"microexpansion:upgrade_base"}
+			},
+		},
 		{ 1, {
 				{"microexpansion:gold_wire"},
 				{"microexpansion:upgrade_base"}
@@ -48,6 +53,11 @@ me.register_item("upgrade_control", {
 	description = "Control Upgrade",
 	usedfor = "allows more fine tuned control over components",
 	recipe = {
+		{ 1, {
+				{"basic_materials:ic"},
+				{"microexpansion:upgrade_base"}
+			},
+		},
 		{ 1, {
 				{"microexpansion:logic_chip"},
 				{"microexpansion:upgrade_base"}
diff --git a/modules/network/ctrl.lua b/modules/network/ctrl.lua
index 93336cf..3d0103a 100644
--- a/modules/network/ctrl.lua
+++ b/modules/network/ctrl.lua
@@ -251,3 +251,9 @@ me.register_machine("cable", {
 		type = "conductor",
 	},
 })
+
+if me.uinv_category_enabled then
+	unified_inventory.add_category_item("storage", "microexpansion:ctrl")
+	unified_inventory.add_category_item("storage", "microexpansion:cable")
+end
+
diff --git a/modules/ores/init.lua b/modules/ores/init.lua
index 0f32daf..ffe7ae7 100644
--- a/modules/ores/init.lua
+++ b/modules/ores/init.lua
@@ -35,13 +35,13 @@ me.register_node("quartz", {
 	type = "ore",
 	groups = { cracky=3, stone=1 },
 	drop = "microexpansion:quartz_crystal",
-	oredef = {
-		ore_type = "blob",
+	oredef = {{
+		ore_type = "scatter",
 		wherein = "default:stone",
-		clust_scarcity = 4*4*4,
-		clust_num_ores = 4,
-		clust_size = 3,
-		y_min = -3000,
-		y_max = -50,
-	}
+		clust_scarcity = 10*10*10,
+		clust_num_ores = 6,
+		clust_size = 5,
+		y_min = -31000,
+		y_max = -5,
+	}}
 })
diff --git a/modules/storage/api.lua b/modules/storage/api.lua
index ba5b430..8f034a4 100644
--- a/modules/storage/api.lua
+++ b/modules/storage/api.lua
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 local BASENAME = "microexpansion"
 
+--FIXME: either consolidate or forbid crafting with filled cells
+
 -- [function] register cell
 function microexpansion.register_cell(itemstring, def)
 	if not def.inventory_image then
@@ -26,6 +28,10 @@ function microexpansion.register_cell(itemstring, def)
 	if def.recipe then
 		microexpansion.register_recipe(BASENAME..":"..itemstring, def.recipe)
 	end
+
+	if microexpansion.uinv_category_enabled then
+		unified_inventory.add_category_item("storage", BASENAME..":"..itemstring)
+	end
 end
 
 -- [function] Get cell size
@@ -81,4 +87,4 @@ function microexpansion.move_inv(inv1, inv2, max)
     end
   end
 end
-]]
\ No newline at end of file
+]]
diff --git a/modules/storage/drive.lua b/modules/storage/drive.lua
index ea09fe5..7b23ef5 100644
--- a/modules/storage/drive.lua
+++ b/modules/storage/drive.lua
@@ -405,3 +405,7 @@ microexpansion.register_node("drive", {
 		me.send_event(pos,"items",{net=network})
 	end,
 })
+
+if me.uinv_category_enabled then
+	unified_inventory.add_category_item("storage", "microexpansion:drive")
+end
diff --git a/modules/storage/terminal.lua b/modules/storage/terminal.lua
index 53b1146..0bbb343 100644
--- a/modules/storage/terminal.lua
+++ b/modules/storage/terminal.lua
@@ -305,3 +305,7 @@ microexpansion.register_node("term", {
 		end
 	end,
 })
+
+if me.uinv_category_enabled then
+	unified_inventory.add_category_item("storage", "microexpansion:term")
+end
diff --git a/register.lua b/register.lua
index 00d5be6..5bf5a45 100644
--- a/register.lua
+++ b/register.lua
@@ -5,6 +5,15 @@
 local me = microexpansion
 local power = me.power
 
+if me.uinv_category_enabled and unified_inventory.registered_categories then
+	if not unified_inventory.registered_categories["storage"] then
+		unified_inventory.register_category("storage", {
+			symbol = "default:chest",
+			label = "Storage"
+		})
+	end
+end
+
 -- [function] Register machine
 function me.register_machine(itemstring, def)
 	-- Set after_place_node
diff --git a/settingtypes.txt b/settingtypes.txt
index c908126..f9fc99f 100644
--- a/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/settingtypes.txt
@@ -1,2 +1,5 @@
 #Stack items in networks higher than their max size.
 microexpansion_huge_stacks (huge stacks) bool true
+
+#Enable the "simple" craft recipes that do not require basic_materials even if basic_materials is present.
+microexpansion_simple_craft (simple craft recipes) bool false