3-D Printer
Equipement creation:
It may sound very simplistic but to make most of MCO equipement all you would need is a "3-D Printer".
A "3-D Printer" is an item that makes other item's from scratch using raw materials and a robotic arms.
If you wisch to know more about 3-D printers click this link to wikipedia ---> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing)
(http://apture.s3.amazonaws.com/000001250c31dc1d6c522e5c007f000000000001.Zprinter-450.jpg)
(http://www.overcomingbias.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/reprap.jpg)
(http://www.thinglab.co.uk/images/3d_model_printing_service_bureau_03.jpg)
Player who wishes to make an item like: tool-box, water-can, oxy-can, GPR unit,
Drill etc. comes closer to the 3-D Printer, chose the item, puts the resources into the machine and press "START".
The machine will make the item automatically over time.
You are not even required to operate it.
Manufacturint an item so complex as those on the Mars will take lots of time so be prepared for even 2-10 Sols of process.
In the mean time, you can do whatever you want - gather new resources, explore etc. and the machine does everything for you :-)
ADDITIONAL:
If you would look at my other post about "Parts" ---> http://hyperkat.com/litterbox/index.php?topic=357.0 (http://hyperkat.com/litterbox/index.php?topic=357.0)
you might come to a conclusion that in order to make an equipement you would first need the parts that are inside of it.
So for example, in order to make a PVPanell you will fist need to make 9 Photo Voltanic Cells, and have 1 Electrical Part.
Then you would insert those parts (aswell as resources) inside the 3-D printer and voila. New item made.