Smelting setup

[Obstinate]

Hey all, I have a smelting setup I would like feedback on. For each ore type, I have a stack of lines to create bars that look like this:

Smelter side:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1281233703

To feed, I have a stack of storage hoppers that are add-remove. I use a single belt to feed them to a remove-only minihopper. The smelter is next, followed by logistics hoppers set to add-only, and then finally the output line (currently with a placeholder storage hopper).

Power side:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1281233669

A stack of PTGs and logistics hoppers will appear on this side. Right now, I only need one. I just realized that logistics hoppers cannot transfer their contents between adjacent hoppers the way storage hoppers can. That is so sad! I will have to replace these with storage hoppers.

Any feedback? Things I could be doing better?

[Fayte]

I prefer horizontal layout, http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1278704006

Thats using induction chargers, but you can just bump a few batteries togather early on, or even just put one ptg beneath. The big problem with verticle stacking is the caps, also it looks like it cna get unwieldy pretty quick. In any case, the world is HUGE, so spread out some, it'll make tweaking things later, easier.

[Obstinate]

I'm trying to learn this "spreading out." :) it's a good idea but i need to practice more.

[Rivaryn]

I have a pretty standard setup for when I first get basic cargo lifts... its either 2 or 3 smelters with 1 PSB, 2 PTGs, and hoppers on each side of the smelters (mini hoppers for the PTGs. Fits in a tight 'cube' around the core PSB. I don't have a screenshot, but here's a layer by layer view:

G = PTG, B = PSB, S = Smelter, H = Hopper, T = Turntable, ^<>vUD = Conveyor in that direction. X for decorative block of your choosing. Period is air or other machine (smelter hat usually)

Bottom level 1:
X X X
U T U
X ^ X

Level 2:
X X X
H X H
X X X

Level 3:
H S H
G B G
H S H

Level 4:
. . .
H S H
. . .

Smelter hats can be placed on all smelters. Ore is fed left to right (or vice versa) on level 3 and 4, coal is fed in on the bottom level.

I haven't tested throughput, but it seems to work at least reasonably well. With it, I smelt faster than lift for T2 ores, even at 100% Cargo lift movement (no time waiting to load or unload to reach full/empty capacity)

EDIT: fixed layout with fixed-width via code block.

[Ecclesia]

Originally posted by Fayte:

I prefer horizontal layout, http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1278704006

Thats using induction chargers, but you can just bump a few batteries togather early on, or even just put one ptg beneath. The big problem with verticle stacking is the caps, also it looks like it cna get unwieldy pretty quick. In any case, the world is HUGE, so spread out some, it'll make tweaking things later, easier.

Don't want to hijack this thread, but what's that mission? Terraform the Cold Cavern, never seen that one. FF related?

[Obstinate]

Terraform the cold cavern is the end goal of ff, IIUC.

[Ecclesia]

Hmm, well terraforming is actually where FF starts though.

OT: build whatever ore setup works best for your style / world. Judging by the blocks you used it's still very early game, so you will be moving it around quite a bit still.

But like Fayte said: build horizontally because of induction caps. I myself prefer to have my smelters run on solar eventually (but obviously rely on PTG at first):

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1254390899

Also, once you reach cargo lifts you should build smelters right next to them (next patch will remove this option, due to rooms) like this (center of screen):

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1241882266

[Rivaryn]

Originally posted by Ecclesia86:

Also, once you reach cargo lifts you should build smelters right next to them (next patch will remove this option, due to rooms)

I thought rooms just give a bonus, but you can still have stuff outside rooms? What's preventing a room right next to your cargo lift?

[Ecclesia]

Well you will need something between the cargo lift and the room to bring the ore to the smelters if I understood it correctly. Smelters have to be in a room, but cargo lifts can't be in a room. So where previously the cargo lift dropped the ore directly into the hopper next to smelter, you need something like matter movers to do that work. Unless I misunderstood something that is.

[Rivaryn]

Originally posted by Ecclesia86:

Well you will need something between the cargo lift and the room to bring the ore to the smelters if I understood it correctly. Smelters have to be in a room, but cargo lifts can't be in a room. So where previously the cargo lift dropped the ore directly into the hopper next to smelter, you need something like matter movers to do that work. Unless I misunderstood something that is.

Oh, I've never directly used hoppers from the cargo lift to also direct feed the smelters. I have a little conveyor between, and have little clumps of dedicated smelters for each lift. No real reason, but it does add a bit more buffer.

[Sceptical]

Originally posted by Ecclesia86:

Well you will need something between the cargo lift and the room to bring the ore to the smelters if I understood it correctly. Smelters have to be in a room, but cargo lifts can't be in a room. So where previously the cargo lift dropped the ore directly into the hopper next to smelter, you need something like matter movers to do that work. Unless I misunderstood something that is.

From what I understood you are still free to build anything you want outside the rooms including smelters they just function better inside rooms. So until you progress enough to build a full scale smelting system in a room/rooms you can just smelt at the top of the lift once rooms are up and running just use multiple lines fed from motorised conveyors or matter movers to feed the room etc...

[Ecclesia]

True, as long as smelters can still be outside rooms, I will probably go with that. The bonus for having smelters inside rooms, OR penalty for having them outside rooms must be of such a high magnitude (such as: being impossible xD ) to counteract the major advantage you get from instantly (!) loading Smelter hoppers from Cargo lift.

With smelters in rooms, Cargo lifts outside rooms, you need to rely on matter movers (probably on both inside and outside, depending on if a Grommet can interact with a Remove Hopper, if it can't it means Smelter can't be built right near a Grommet) to move the ore inside. Which is fine for endgame, but it slows game down by quite a bit in midgame.

Edit: just checked the description of Grommets again, it's even worse xD They can (currently) only interact with conveyors and PSB's, not Hoppers? So Matter Movers are out of the question as well then. Have to rely on conveyors to bring ore into Smelter rooms, that's damn slow. Unless you build like 20 Grommets next to each other, damn ugly with conveyors coming out and in.

[Aikano]

Here is a my smelting setup.

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1281635528

I build the smelters from the beginning at the right position and upgrade the setup around them.

[joshbogs]

Originally posted by Obstinate:

Hey all, I have a smelting setup I would like feedback on. For each ore type, I have a stack of lines to create bars that look like this:

Smelter side:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1281233703

Main thing I have to share is your stacked smelters don't leave room for smeltery hats (forced induction). These hats add a meter to the height of the smelter but increase smelter speed and output.

For a mid game "scalable" setup I use the following template:

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1281724633

One thing not noted is the induction chargers underneath which is unlocked mid game. Reserving 3m width for each ore type leaves room for stage (B) and mass storage is up to you.

However, no matter your setup just keep the resources going to get the materials you will need to improve your base. Having it be self sufficient to run while your on a side task is key.

[Titanium Jesus]

As things currently are, before rooms are live, it's best to smelt at your mine/ your lift to remove ore from having to travel, using a horizontal triple smelter setup.

[Grumpy Old Gamer]

Originally posted by Titanium Jesus:

As things currently are, before rooms are live, it's best to smelt at your mine/ your lift to remove ore from having to travel, using a horizontal triple smelter setup.

Horizontal quad smelter. Smelters can receive power through the induction fan now, so feed the pipe into the bottom of the hopper, with hopper set to remove only, then 4 smelters around it, with induction fans on top and a power block on top of the hopper, then beam power to the block.