If we are talking about current system, then yes you can make infinite loops. Each recipe you buy is totally random, so by trying buying one multiple times you can get a lower cost recipe. 1 recipe cost 5000 blocks of the same material.
*Note: The manufacturing paints and circuits don't cost 5000 blocks of themselfs, but 5000 of other blocks (check recipe requirements for it).
*Tip: If you klick on buy recipe a window for you to buy the recipe will pop up, but it will give you only one recipe at the time. This makes it a very boring job of buying them. If you kick on buy recipe and keep klicking on the same spot even with the window already popped up you can up the amount of recipes you buy in 1 go, even that it won't show in the window.
What you want to start with is something basic like 2 resources that produce eachother by only using 2 blocks of the other block and vice versa. Put the recipes in a FactoryInput block and add some FactoryInputEnhancers and link them together in both ways. When you got that you can start leveling up the recipes but you need some amount of the blocks to get them to the level they start producing more then they consume.
*Note: To link FactoryInputs together you select one with C and connect it with V. The C selected one will then send resources to the V selected one.
*Tip: For the most efficient factory you want recipes that use only 1 type of block and only 2 of that 1 block.
When you got that basic setup you can start setting up more loops or start producing other blocks that use the blocks that are already in production. Do note that 1 loop can't support everything. At some point you will use more then it can produce and you will collapse the loop.
After this point you will only expand and expand in your production. If you want more information on how to manage more complex factories do ask.
