Assembler not being able to assemble because its full and conveyor management.

[The n00b A]

Everytime, when producing large numbers of items, I have to disable the conveyor system because the assembler takes much more than it can hold of one material, leaving no space for the other material. LIke, it takes 10k of iron leaving no space for the silicon or the gravel, and thus not being able to build the reactor components. Also the itens from other builds stay in there, taking space, instead of returning to the cargo container. (I mean, if at least you're going to take more than you really need, you might as well as place it back)

Also, refineries and the assembler puts the itens in soem stupid places. I have 2 large cargo containers, but the items go to the connector, the small cargo container, other ships cargo container instead of going to the station itself (that holds the refineries).

You might not consider a bug, but using the logic of 10x inventory size on realistic inventory size and the route of the item is not... logic.

[OncaLupe]

The Assembler always Pulls in Ingots based on Realistic amounts, regardless of the World setting. It's been reported a few times so hopefully it's on the Dev list of things to do eventually.

I saw a suggestion a while ago to help with building large amounts of things like Thruster or Reactor components which tend to clog the Assembler. Queue up only a few hundred of the component, then put in 1 Steel Plate, then more of the component, another Steel Plate, and on till you have enough queued up. The Assembler will only Pull in Ingots for the stack it's on, so it can build everything that would otherwise clog it up if all in one stack. Workaround till they fix the Assembler at least.

As for where stuff goes when Pushed by Refineries/Assemblers/etc. When the conveyor code has multiple outputs to a block, it goes in a certain order until it finds something that can accept the items. It's like running a maze by always turning right. I think it's based on the order the doors are set in the model data, but I'm not sure. Turning the Conveyor Block will change where it tries to send stuff, but it's a fidly process that takes trial and error.

[STORM]

I believe this is by design. You need to manage how things push/pull from refineries, assemblers and cargos. If you only have 1 refinery, 1 assembler and 1 container...this can be a very difficult thing to do. As you have OVERLOADED the ENTIRE system. What I've found useful is to link (chain) multiple containers so you can properly manage what gets processed first; and to move things around to allow other components to be assembled when there is a bottleneck.

Basically, try to chain your containers:

Refinery => Assembler => Multiple-containers

This allows you to move things around; allowing the refiner to refine freely and the assembler to assemble without restrictions.

[The n00b A]

Originally posted by STORM:

I believe this is by design. You need to manage how things push/pull from refineries, assemblers and cargos. If you only have 1 refinery, 1 assembler and 1 container...this can be a very difficult thing to do. As you have OVERLOADED the ENTIRE system. What I've found useful is to link (chain) multiple containers so you can properly manage what gets processed first; and to move things around to allow other components to be assembled when there is a bottleneck.

Basically, try to chain your containers:

Refinery => Assembler => Multiple-containers

This allows you to move things around; allowing the refiner to refine freely and the assembler to assemble without restrictions.

I have 2 of each (assembler, refinery and cargo container), linked. The problem is that the assembler jams because it takes too much of one material, leaving no room for the others, when building components on large numbers. Sometimes, even, it taks all the material and the other assembler get stucked too, because of lack of materials.

@OncaLupe: I'll try that, seems a good queue strategy. As for the conveyors... its not pratical on survival (which is what I'm playing)

[ElgarL]

I'd give a thumbs up on this thread, if steam had thumbs.

[STORM]

Originally posted by The n00b A:

Originally posted by STORM:

I believe this is by design. You need to manage how things push/pull from refineries, assemblers and cargos. If you only have 1 refinery, 1 assembler and 1 container...this can be a very difficult thing to do. As you have OVERLOADED the ENTIRE system. What I've found useful is to link (chain) multiple containers so you can properly manage what gets processed first; and to move things around to allow other components to be assembled when there is a bottleneck.

Basically, try to chain your containers:

Refinery => Assembler => Multiple-containers

This allows you to move things around; allowing the refiner to refine freely and the assembler to assemble without restrictions.

I have 2 of each (assembler, refinery and cargo container), linked. The problem is that the assembler jams because it takes too much of one material, leaving no room for the others, when building components on large numbers. Sometimes, even, it taks all the material and the other assembler get stucked too, because of lack of materials.

@OncaLupe: I'll try that, seems a good queue strategy. As for the conveyors... its not pratical on survival (which is what I'm playing)

I understand. Another thing you can do is disable the conveyor for the assembler and refinery, or both. This won't disallow things to be moved around, it simply disables its automatic-ways. Then you can move things in and out manually. For example, if in 1 cargo you have Uranium and the refindery has filled-up with only Platinum. (with disabled conveyor) you can move the Platinum to the cargo. Nothing will automatically fill the refinery and you can then move Uranium into the refinery.

I did this when I had 10 refineries, 15 cargo and about 14 assemblers and did a complete redesign of the manufacturing plant. By disabling the conveyors, I was able to store everything in the cargos, destroy the refineries/assemblers and rebuild them again.