Is there a user friendly Station Design Simulator

[gizmo6023]

So I want to design a few preset build plans but the blueprints do not indicate dimensions of modules so I have to guess what size plot will be required, if I guess wrong I have to start over or overpay for a plot that is too large in game.
Locking the lot size in the simulator is in no way helpful, it would be much more useful if the lot size could be altered to fit after the plans are developed and before saving.
Once saved it appears that station placement is locked to some point (likely x0,y0,z0) based on the original plot size so using a different plot size will place some or all of the build outside the build area. Every time this happens in my builds some snap points are broken and attempting to move the structure back into the new plot results in deleted parts which defeats the whole purpose of the build plan.
Are there any other options for developing station designs? the construction planners I have found provide a lot of useful performance data but nothing for the actual build process.

[Ketraar]

You can just create a new Plot in the Station Design Simulator with the plot size you want the station to be.

MFG

Ketraar

[gizmo6023]

Originally posted by Ketraar:

You can just create a new Plot in the Station Design Simulator with the plot size you want the station to be.

MFG

Ketraar

True, 8 iterations later I have a plan that will work in game without wasting space or credits. This is time that could have been better used elsewhere all because the station design simulator does not proved information required to calculate plot size required in advance or allow resizing the plot to fit the structure after the build.

[conrado.lacerda]

You can add more space to any plot, with or without station, up to the limit of 20x20x20.

[trooperrob]

It would help if the design would give the min plot size / co-ordinates.
Trying to build all your stations from a specific base (0,0,0) or (-2,2-,2) would help.

Note if you move the plot it can get a lot cheaper if you don't use prime territory.

I have a basic plot with a large dock right on the edge. It makes it easier to build it.
Remember if you build right at the bottom edge things might not fit as they may go down.

[Priest]

In my opinion
PLan the amount of modules with this (the 99999 Maintenance Modules are only there to have a optical break between the Gamestages)
http://www.x4-game.com/#/station-calculator?l=@$module-module_gen_prod_energycells_01,count:6;,$module-module_gen_prod_refinedmetals_01,count:6;,$module-module_gen_prod_siliconwafers_01,count:6;,$module-module_gen_prod_water_01,count:2;,$module-module_gen_prod_graphene_01,count:8;,$module-module_gen_prod_superfluidcoolant_01,count:4;,$module-module_gen_prod_hullparts_01,count:6;,$module-module_gen_equip_xl_01,count:99999;,$module-module_gen_prod_energycells_01,count:2;,$module-module_gen_prod_antimattercells_01,count:2;,$module-module_gen_prod_scanningarrays_01,count:2;,$module-module_gen_prod_microchips_01,count:10;,$module-module_gen_prod_quantumtubes_01,count:8;,$module-module_gen_equip_xl_01,count:99999;,$module-module_gen_prod_energycells_01,count:2;,$module-module_gen_prod_advancedelectronics_01,count:4;,$module-module_gen_prod_advancedcomposites_01,count:2;,$module-module_gen_prod_claytronics_01,count:4;,$module-module_gen_prod_plasmaconductors_01,count:7;,$module-module_gen_prod_fieldcoils_01,count:3;,$module-module_gen_prod_antimatterconverters_01,count:2;,$module-module_gen_equip_xl_01,count:99999;,$module-module_gen_prod_turretcomponents_01,count:3;,$module-module_gen_prod_shieldcomponents_01,count:3;,$module-module_gen_prod_weaponcomponents_01,count:3;,$module-module_gen_prod_engineparts_01,count:3;,$module-module_gen_equip_xl_01,count:99999;,$module-module_gen_prod_energycells_01,count:4;,$module-module_ter_prod_siliconcarbide_01,count:2;,$module-module_ter_prod_metallicmicrolattice_01,count:2;,$module-module_ter_prod_computronicsubstrate_01,count:2

And then a grid a bit bigger than 4 E Docks (aka 6,6,2,2,6,6)
(its in real only a 5,5,2,2,5,5) but there is need for some free place
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3359100208
Is enough for this base, you can always add a third story/layer (one is made only of Solar Modules)
I would not go bigger since this is for my I7-4790k Borderline laggy

I suggest to make the outer "Framework" out of storage Modules, you need them anyway and so you spare useless connectors

(Stages are not the ones from the website, ingame i did something like 1a,1b,1c,2a,-....)
Stage 1
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3357620570
Stage 2-3
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3357620534
Stage 5
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3357620553

Keep in mind that a station is 3 Dimensional, some modules fit perfectly in the other 5 Directions

[nightkil13r]

Found this out just the other day(yesterday/two days ago. might be SWI mod specific havent tested in vanilla). If youre building from a blueprint, it doesnt matter if the plot is too small, for some reason the game allows you to place the blueprint down and confirm without error. Exit the config screen, exit the map(or change the tab away from the plot planner and back) open the map, go to the plot screen. The plot in my game auto adjusted to the size of the station. make a change and revert to force the license fee to update and pay the corrected fee and you have the plot that perfectly fits your station.

NOTE: This only works when building from a blueprint. It is potentially SWI mod dependant, I havent tested in Vanilla.

[Priest]

yes, but its more complicated
You can not add modules manually in not bought Space

And the next point is that it is easy to screw the Station placement this way. If you know what you do you can start for example with a 4,4,1,1,1,1 Station as you see above under stage 1, and then expand it to 6,6,2,2,6,6 But its a bit tricky, done the wrong way the 4,4,1,1,1,1 will be placed in the middle of the 6.6.2.2.6.6 instead of the desired side.

I cant explain how it exactly works, it needs anyway some try and error to make such a expanding base. If i remember right you dont make it 6,6,2,2,6,6 and instead 6,6,2,2,2,10

[gizmo6023]

Originally posted by conrado.lacerda:

You can add more space to any plot, with or without station, up to the limit of 20x20x20.

I will try that the next time I feel like fighting with the design simulator, I was not aware you could expand a plot once there was a structure added.

[gizmo6023]

Originally posted by nightkil13r:

NOTE: This only works when building from a blueprint. It is potentially SWI mod dependant, I havent tested in Vanilla.

I will have to give this a try. My game is moded but I am not using SWI or anything that should effect building.

Originally posted by Priest:

In my opinion
PLan the amount of modules with this (the 99999 Maintenance Modules are only there to have a optical break between the Gamestages)
http://www.x4-game.com/#/station-calculator?l=@$module-

Keep in mind that a station is 3 Dimensional, some modules fit perfectly in the other 5 Directions

Thank you, very helpful link that I will start using to prevent my bases looking like someone upended a junk yard on my plot.
I usually end up miscalculating how many modules I need to support a particular manufacturing process so they get added to the next open space, functional but not anything to look at.

[gizmo6023]

Originally posted by nightkil13r:

Found this out just the other day(yesterday/two days ago. might be SWI mod specific havent tested in vanilla). If youre building from a blueprint, it doesnt matter if the plot is too small, for some reason the game allows you to place the blueprint down and confirm without error. Exit the config screen, exit the map(or change the tab away from the plot planner and back) open the map, go to the plot screen. The plot in my game auto adjusted to the size of the station. make a change and revert to force the license fee to update and pay the corrected fee and you have the plot that perfectly fits your station.

NOTE: This only works when building from a blueprint. It is potentially SWI mod dependant, I havent tested in Vanilla.

I started a new custom sandbox game and used a couple of small station blueprints and got some interesting results.
I assigned a medical factory and a food rations factory to Argon prime and it merged the two blueprints, looks cool but it only produces meds.
I was able to add to the plot dimensions on one site where the factory was sticking out of the plot on top and bottom.