Better way to balance and prevent backlog?

[Shabazza]

I have this setup here.
https://imgur.com/a/JyOBOUi

Basically cutting up shapes into quarters to then put them back together after paining some of them.
Schema:

Input -> Cut -> Paint -----> Stack A -> Stack B -> Stack C -> Stack D -> Stack E -> Output
          |.....Cr------------Su^          ^          ^          ^          ^
          |.....--Su----Cr----Su...........|          |          |          |
          |.....----Su--CrSu--Su......................|          |          |
          |.....----Rb--CrSu--Su.................................|          |
          |.....Cr------CrSuRbSu............................................|

Now the issue (I think) is:
I don't split perfectly for my stackers. I just use a bus style, so the last stacker(s) in line
get less shapes, causing the stackers to briefly wait for input, causing the cutter stage 2 to briefly stop, causing cutter stage 1 to briefly stop and when one side of a cutter stops, the other stops too, starving the stackers even more and in the end, one cutter side completely clogs up (and the other one is empty), because the less efficient stacker stages can't keep up, backlogging everything.
And all comes to screeching halt.

To prevent that, I use a trash at the end of all slightly slower lanes of the stackers.
That works, but reduces efficiency. And every stacker stage gets slower and slower.
What would be the perfect solution here?
Creating a perfect 6-split, or what?
Or am I not seeing a more simple solution?

[hypadao]

Tthe only way to balance lane PROPERLY is to use the logic building but that's complicated so it is just better to mine more and saturate everything, personaly i put all my shape on the same place and i pick some free lane for a new factory

edit : making a balancer witheout logic create potential jam and other problems, but i guess you do what you want in your free time

[DeckardTrinity]

For cutters with two outputs I decided to bus both outputs separately then feed into the next stage via bus. Direct feeding causes deadlocks / stoppages.

[Kyouko Tsukino]

In every factory game ever, I try to feed all things from a middle point input, to lessen the wait on the last machine on a line. It's worked for this game too.

If two machines are being fed, I split the belt in half as close to the machines as possible and feed them both, instead of the sequential feeding path I see everywhere. If there's more machines than the belts can be split into, I create sequential splits (two belts into four, four belts into eight) so that everything has the same chance of being fed something.

Of course, respecting the shown ratios makes it harder to get both clogging and dry belts.

[Shabazza]

Originally posted by DeckardTrinity:

For cutters with two outputs I decided to bus both outputs separately then feed into the next stage via bus. Direct feeding causes deadlocks / stoppages.

As you can see, I did just that, but splitters are still interlinked with both sides.
So if one output bus gets clogged, the splitter completely stops and starves whatever machine is fed by the other side.

I crammed out an old reddit post with perfect splitters, based on Factorio I think but in shapez 1. (with large splitter... but you get the idea)
This is the post:
https://www.reddit.com/r/shapezio/comments/hekgji/i_made_a_grid_of_splitters_left_top_is_11_going/

And this is my perfect 6-split now:
https://imgur.com/a/T77KOIP

Although I won't use that in this factory, as it's only a temporary one.

[MechBFP]

The only way to balance cutters at the moment is to manually delete items on the output belt that is backed up by selecting a that belt and pressing I to delete a few items. Its not an exact science, but it can get the production pretty much at 100%. Since there is no overflow belts, or overflow logic in the game, it is impossible to avoid.

[Shabazza]

I now use a "Sushi balancer" for this. (even though "balancer" is a bit of an overstatement)
It basically backfeeds half of the otherwise trashed input back into the line.
So you get less waste and closer to 100% efficiency. (~95% for me)
Works for when you only have minimal clogging without it.
https://imgur.com/a/IdxmTpo

[Tratix]

I came up with this idea
https://imgur.com/a/TKjSkDO

It constantly attempts feeds the items back onto the main belt, if it is unable to, then it will go into the trash. I think it is 100% efficiency if the belts are backing up. If they aren't backing up, then 1 out of every 2048 items gets trashed, so not quite 100%.

(it's exponential because there's exactly a 50% for to choose either path. and with the set up shown in the picture, there's 11 choices. So if you can't deal with losing 1 out of ever 2048 items, chain two of these together and now you will lose 1 out of every 4,194,304 items haha)

[elidoran]

I wrote a guide about fixing this kind of thing. It doesn't use logic or trash or anything. Instead, it explains how to tweak the belt contents at the startup and then it'll run properly from then on. I use it for situations like the image you shared. Basically, it balances the unbalanced belts and then they run fine.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3334747691

[Jabroni]

Originally posted by elidoran:

I wrote a guide about fixing this kind of thing. It doesn't use logic or trash or anything. Instead, it explains how to tweak the belt contents at the startup and then it'll run properly from then on. I use it for situations like the image you shared. Basically, it balances the unbalanced belts and then they run fine.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3334747691

Woah someone said that all you need to do is clear it out but this makes that make actual sense

You can't just clear it you need to preload the long belt before restarting? No wonder it's only after builds this happens 🤔

[mikeday]

Well this is obscene, but it works. :D Would be so much easier if they'd give us a splitter with a preferred output, like in Factorio.

Here, this is a blueprint which safely trashes overflow, requiring logic gates and 2 floors:

SHAPEZ2-1-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$

The input side will never back up, and the output side will be gapless if the input was gapless.

Below is a larger one that handles 8 belts at a time. It's also timed evenly so inputs that enter at the same time will leave at the same time. This requires a 2x2:

SHAPEZ2-1-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$

[elidoran]

@mikeday, the issue can be solved without extra buildings, without logic, without added costs or platforms, and definitely without trashing anything.

It's likely I'm not describing it very well in the below guide. I wish I could do better. But, I know for certain, once you figure out what I'm trying to say in this guide, it will make this game a lot easier because clogging issues will vanish completely. You'll feel like a belt stream wizard.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3334747691

[mikeday]

Originally posted by elidoran:

@mikeday, the issue can be solved without extra buildings, without logic, without added costs or platforms, and definitely without trashing anything.

I appreciate your guide. It's cool that it lets you accomplish these things without extra parts.

I don't mind extra parts, though, so I like mine as an option because you just plonk it down and forget about it. :D No need for any manual belt setup.