Handling 7 Science Paks

[jamesc70]

In 17 there are a total of 7 Science packs, which means you would need 4 belts to supply all science to one Research Dome, but you can only reach 2 belts using the regular and long inserters.

So how do you all handle this in 17? Complicated underground belt ribbons? Mixed belts?

I'm thinking of 3 belts ending at a Research dome and bots to bring the white/space science atm.

[muffins]

I have 2 belts on each side for a total of 4. Both sets of belts run in a loop (an inner belt and an outer belt) and they supply 12 labs in two rows (upper and lower). You can also just use inserters to directly take packs out of one lab and put it in another, so you only need to belt feed one lab and have the inserters do the rest

[muffins]

https://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561197977086213/screenshot/800989528975524255

[N'fol]

I usually place each pack on one half of a belt, so that allows 2 lanes times 2 belts on each side of a lab, times 2 sides of the lab (I stack my labs vertically), which equals 8 lanes of a single science pack. So there is a lane to spare.

Some people use requester chests.

Some people set up a circuit to allow "sushi belts" (see https://wiki.factorio.com/Tutorial:Circuit_network_cookbook#Sushi_Belts for examples), which mixes different things on the same belt.

Some people have a bunch of belts feeding to one lab, which then feeds out to other labs.

Some people use "belt braiding" (but that method just feels wrong to me).

[Emmote]

My typical setup:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1738778084

[still__alive]

You can reach two belts on either side if you keep your row 1 science lab wide. Like this:

belt
belt
inserters
lab
inserters
belt
belt

You can also use inserters to pull science packs out of 1 lab and move it into another. Which I used once for a pyramid type of arrangement, just for the heck of it. If you take this too far I think you can lose efficiency on your labs at the top of the pyramid because too much time gets spent pulling science out for the lower labs. But in moderation you might be able to use this type of arrangement as well. Something like this maybe:

science bus ----------------------------------------------------------->science bus
science bus ----------------------------------------------------------->science bus
science bus ----------------------------------------------------------->science bus
science bus ----------------------------------------------------------->science bus
                            splitter          splitter  splitter  splitter
                                 |                    |           |            |
                                 |                    |           |            |
                                 |                insert    insert     insert
                                 |               |-------------------------------|
                                 |  insert-> |                 lab               |         
                                                 |-------------------------------|             
                                                     inserter          inserter
                                                         |                  |   
                                               science lab           science lab

[muffins]

Originally posted by Emmote:

My typical setup:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1738778084

I'm almost afraid to ask what kind of factory can keep that monster fed?

[AlexMBrennan]

I'm almost afraid to ask what kind of factory can keep that monster fed?

It's all just yellow belts so you need at most 450 science per minute, so half a megabase[forums.factorio.com]?

[Emmote]

Yea at most 7.5 science per second of each type. Though I usually aim for 6 per second of each. 40 Assembler 2's for Red (Automation) Science Packs will get that.

Honestly no idea how many labs that would need because I've never bothered to find out. I just made it 30 labs because it's probably more than I need and why not? It's not like labs are expensive to make.

[Kutsuu Mugen]

Here is a BP String for a 4 Lane double Underground Lab build with Beacons.

You can easily just cut it down in size if you so choose, I found this from KatherineOfSky on YouTube but I reduced the amount of Labs as I feel anymore than 30 is stupid.

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

[Grumpy Old Gamer]

Originally posted by Emmote:

My typical setup:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1738778084

Things liek this, or undergrounds and pick off the underground. Plus one belt, usually white, on the side. Tons of ways. I prefer large arrays of labs, feedign each other, and one head lab gets a full belt of eachscience, can fit up to 9 belts around it.

[Killcreek2]

You can feed 4 belts in between labs, feeding both sides. This allows a full line of beacons to be placed on the far side of the labs.

Like this ~ https://i.imgur.com/fyQDyQE.png?1

Left side is 5 tile gap, right is 6 tile.


edit
Sushi is another option ~ https://i.imgur.com/5wOFpdh.png?1

As is using cars on belts ~ https://i.imgur.com/rF7wGQb.png?1

[brian_va]

science packs are belted to the lab area, then dumped into a provider chest. from there requestor chests and bots take over, and each can feed 2 labs and have room on the outside for beacons.

[jamesc70]

I kind of like that sushi option, I'm guessing all the belt readers are giving what is on the entire belt around the Research labs, but I don't see how new paks are added, unless the ends of the feeder belts are disabled upon condition (haven't tried that).

Will have to look into that.

What I did so far; 3 belts in (6 paks total) split to each lab, then inserter spread throughout. White science is bot delivered. Can expand both out and along.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1739029406

[Killcreek2]

Originally posted by jamesc70:

I kind of like that sushi option, I'm guessing all the belt readers are giving what is on the entire belt around the Research labs, but I don't see how new paks are added, unless the ends of the feeder belts are disabled upon condition

Bingo. The belts are set to enable if that pack type drops below a set value (which depends on the length of the loop).
That is just one way to do it though, there are several different circuit-based methods that work well (wiring every section of the loop is probably the simplest to start with ~ no combis needed).

[Warlord]

Daisy chain. Have the belts end at one lab. Insert into lab from 2-3 sides. Use inserter to take from THAT lab and insert into the next one. Repeat as necessary.

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=1739119938