Question about Conveyors and storage.

[aaron]

So i build a mining ship, and i set up a couple refineries and some 1x1x1 storage blocks. i have the ship connected to a connector, then a conveyor, then the storage blocks, then the refinery.

my issue is, its only filling up one storage block.. the refineries are getting the ore just fine and start processing it but when they fill up the rest of the ore goes into the one storage block and the rest stays on the ship.

do i need conveyors between each storage block? like
connector > conveyor > storage > conveyor > storage?

its not really explained in game how it works.

[krzosu18]

No you do not -the intergnal game script managing the storage just looks for the first aviable (usually the closest) storage aviable - be it a crago box - connector or assembler.

so for eg if you want your refineries or assemblers to dump their stuff somewhere in particular then link it directly to it - for eg if you place a large cargo box and then use place basic refineries on some ports on that cargo - they will dump whatever they process directly into that box (since its the closest one aviable). Cheers

That said if you want your ship to be auto emptied from the gathered ore (aka dump the ore to the base for eg). Then the best way would be to make for eg large cargo box - then place a cargo sorter facing it and set that sorter to drain all - then connect that sorter to tubes - and link that to the connector on the landing pad - this will work that whenever smth is docked to that connecto it will suck everything from whatever docked there into said container. it will be emptied over time though (not instantly) it will transfer some stuff then next bit and the next - until nothinge else remains (So it you have extreme amounts of ore - then yes it will work albeit somewhat slowly - (so for eg if you got 1M ore on the ship - it might take few mins to empty it (you could use multiple sorters to empty to push faster but just one will do its job as well.

[aaron]

ok so something like this?
connector > sorter > conveyor > storage?

then set the sorter to drain all? and the sorter arrow has to be facing the connector or the conveyor?

[krzosu18]

Originally posted by aaron:

ok so something like this?
connector > sorter > conveyor > storage?

then set the sorter to drain all? and the sorter arrow has to be facing the connector or the conveyor?

basically yes - Arrow on the sorter towards the pipe leading to storage (aka the arrow literaly means push things in than direction)

[aaron]

ok so i tried it and it worked.. but the new issue is its only one way now.. so if i am working on the ship or building anything i cant reach in and grab anything?

[krzosu18]

Originally posted by aaron:

ok so i tried it and it worked.. but the new issue is its only one way now.. so if i am working on the ship or building anything i cant reach in and grab anything?

yes thats the down side - although you can build a pad wtth two connectors relatively close to each other - aka mark one with come color (like red for eg) and use one for unloading only - and the other normal one for two way access if need be. They can even share the same tube leading to main storage at some point - altho link that second connector in a way that the sorter wont interfere with it. -> this might lead to the first connector depositing the stuff in the second connector tho - so at least in my opinon making two separate tubes leading to storage is usually a better idea. it can even look nice on aesthetic level when you paint those tubes apropriatey -- > like steam and water tubes on naval vessels.

Also keep in mind that such setups can be used both on ships AND -> bases. So if you dont want to create such setups on the base - you can make them on ships as well - aka make some normal connectors for two way travel if need be - and then add a sorter and "Unload connector" somewhere on the ship. and dock the ship with app connector when you need it either to load or unload. Although in this case i would recoment to set the sorter on the ship appropriately to "whitelist" ore (if its a mining ship) other wise it might suck in stuff from storage when connected to the base. i prefer to go with the base setups tho - usually it makes a bit more sense and is easier to do and space usually isnt a problem on a base.