could this be used to create some material components for a spell? for example, the spell arcane lock says it requires gold dust worth 25gp, which the spell consumes. could you cast fabricate on 25gp, and turn it into gold dust for the spell?

Very easily, yes.

Good to know. Thanks. :)

Quote from Baron_Greyshadow >>

Ok, first off thank you for reading. I am trying to understand the utter limits of the 5e Fabricate spell. AGAIN, the 5e version of Fabricate not a previous version.

As it takes 10 minutes (60 Rounds), requires that you have the materials, a concept that your player character can conceive of and if it is comprised of minerals is less, and last if has a complexity more than  a bridge you need the skill proficiency to  create it.  The spell is listed as a Transmutation with the creation "tag" and the forge domain.

PC Wizard 8/ Cleric 1 with INT 19, Keen Mind, Skilled in 4 crafting (Jewelry, smiths, Calligraphy (Books), and Mason (Engineering), Knowledge Domain, proficient Arcane, Religion, History, and Investigation, that takes a full day drafting/designing said item(s), then creates by hand a model to help visualize and engineer artful ascetics and possibly have another smith type look at the concept casts Fabricate. 

The raw materials (plural)  of Adamantine, gold coins, silver coins, leather, gems, exotic wood, bone from a dead creature, and others items that are all in his visual range or closer to create the follow using the spell once for each unique item.

1) Breastplate with gems stylized into the armors face with a raven (gem eyes) and nature relief and model for the character to fit

2) Spear with Adamantine filigreed with the locking/setting space for a monstrous fang

3) A square treasure box with jewelers level workmanship with non-magical symbols on it (pure admantine) 

4) A grand chair made from the dead remains of a creature such as a lion or chimera, with a fallen tree, and some iron and such plus some brass

Again the PC has the above skills to make all these give the normal crafting process, can he or she make these items? 
Does the spell require a roll of any type as the crafting of a bridge does not state that it require one?
And do you need the tools present or is the proficiency (i.e. the knowledge) enough to create, like the bridge? 

And as a side note using sand to create glass, i.e. the bridge but made from sand to create a glass bridge that would be artful ?

Thanks.

 

 1-4: Yes. No rolls should be needed, as the character already knows how everything should turn out and the spell itself doesn't call for any. I would assume you don't need the tools on hand, either, as everything is being magicked into their new forms.

As for the glass bridge, that one's a bit trickier. The material suggests needing glassblower's tools, but that's more for blowing bottles and other hollow items. The bridge would also be rather short, as it needs to fit within a 5 foot cube due to it being made of a mineral material (quartz).

Quote from KaptainKittens >>

Unfortunately, (although that is a very cool idea!) it does specify that creatures can not be transmuted by this spell. Plus Regenerate is one of just a few ways of returning/reattaching severed limbs and that's all the way at 7th level spells.

 If you want a cheaper spell attached limbs try the combo of revivify and mending. Kill the target then mend the corpse( a body is an object) then revived him. A cantrip and a level 3 spell plus 300 gold with hopefully trusted person.

Quote from HeathSmith >>

this should have an M for material components as you need the raw materials as part of the spell casting.

That would imply that you need a hand free for the material component or that you need to touch it. The casting does not need the materials manipulated any more than stone shape or control water use the stone or water being manipulated as spell components. Yes, both of those spells do have material components, but those components aren't the thing being manipulated.

Carpenter's tools and siege weapons. You're welcome.

Could you use "Creation" then this spell to make things? Would it still disappear after the materials time is up?

Diamond dust <-> Diamonds <-> larger Diamonds
Gold dust <-> Gold Bars/Coins
Silver dust <-> Silver Bars/Coins

Raw materials to:

• Jewelry at record time for extra profit
• Woven tapestry 
• Incense
• Parchment
• Ink
• spell components
• Ammo
• Painting
• Statue

Fix anything that Mend can't fix
Instant bridge
Extra long rope
Animal -> skinned hide and jerky/rations
Create an opening in a wall/door.
Plant/Monster + empty vial -> Extract Poison
Envelope stone over gold to hide it in plain sight
Makeshift artificial limb

this is just me being a evil but could i make then drop a bridge/heavy object on some one using this spell

Quote from pal1d1nl1ght >>

Is it possible to make multiple items at once with this, say, a pile of shortswords, so long as they fit within the 5 foot cube?

So, technically, no, but practically speaking you absolutely can. If you've ever built miniatures, or worked with injection-moulded plastic or metal in general, then you'll be familiar with the concept of the sprue, the wee plasticky bits that connect all the pieces together so they can be moulded at once. All you need to do is do the same for your five foot cube of ouch, connecting each to each at the crossguard with a thin, easily-broken shaft of metal or something. That's now a single object, which is what the spell allows.

At this point, I, as a DM, would simply require all of these things to be touching. It's difficult to build a bridge that's all one piece of wood, after all, so I'd argue that it's allowed.

Great way to dispose of a body. Turn it into hamburgers!

Guess I wasn't the only one thinking it

could you fashion armor from the scales and parts of a dragon? using smith's tools with proficiency. 

Great examples here: https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/class-forums/wizard/13835-does-fabricate-actually-have-any-uses

For your diamonds - start out with charcoal, soot/lampblack or a stack of graphite pencils. Diamonds are just organised carbon. You might need jewellers tools to produce perfectly cut diamonds, but a 5ft uncut diamond should still be worth a bob or two. 

Can this spell be used to forgeing coins ?? I mean if I find gold , or stone, or electrum, or silver..... can those be used to forge coins for later be used to buy & sell ???

I feel that this should be able to be cast as a ritual. 

Is it possible to fabricate mineral oil from a land/soil that is rich in mineral oils? I know a company that deals with oil and gas in the soil https://www.pheasantenergy.com/

I would say no, since coal has to undergo a chemical change to become a diamond, not just a physical one.

The spell seems to refer to things that can be shaped and crafted, not chemically altered.

Good try though. Maybe your DM will allow it.