So I tried to toss a piece of copper ore into the scrap furnace experimentally, and it ate it with no effect. I figured I shouldn't try it again because ore is worth a lot for lair construction, but it says on the furnace's description that it will take ore. I mine a lot of raw ore on my PC so I end up usually having it to spare and toss in for things so I figured I would check I only got [Scrap Furnace] The item is destroyed in the Flames, but the Workmill is no better off for it.
Also it says animatron parts, I tried this, wouldn't take them either.
Coppy and iron ore seem to work, stone ore does not get accepted
I would imagine that's because Stone isn't Metal