how to make an inserter pull specific item from crate?

[Game Over, Man]

Attempting to make a sorter for my research labs, and I want to put all the research items in a single crate, but pull them out one color at a time. Is there a signal to tell inserter to only pick up certain item?

[IamNic]

If it does directly insert into the lab - it will take what it needs anyways.

If you want it to take out just one specific science-pack, you have to use a filter inserter.

Later you can do some trickery with combinators to achieve exactly what you want to achieve.

[Game Over, Man]

Ok here is the problem
I have a single crate that all my science packs will go to. I have a loop around my research labs to take what's available. I want to use only one crate and one inserter to feed every available Type of science pack, one after the other. It would start by passing onto the loop, one red, one green ... etc. I notice that inserts will continue to pull from the same stack without a direct feed into a requesting device. Is there some way to make the inserter pull from each stack (or item) only once, for all the items?

[mudfarmer]

might be over complicating things a bit. You can have a line of inserters that move packs directly from lab to lab as needed. Lay-out the labs to have a loop of inserters between them, and the packs can be fed into the system from any point along the loop (either a single point, or even diferent points for diferent packs). The number of labs you can chain this way will scale up with faster inserters and stack bonus.

[Devil#2]

There may be some way to rig up some of the circuitry wires to cobble together a rudimentary computer that might let you get a single inserter to behave the way you're describing. However, I would agree with mudfarmer; this approach is simply overcomplicating the process. Not only do you have to come to terms with setting up the behavior, but placing the packs in sequence would then have you contending with the timing of the other inserters down the line. Most likely you'd have an entire circuit full of the science pack you're using the least, and you would have to manually clear the circuit before it would start working again.

You'd be better off having your labs in a line, with a set of parallel conveyor belts on either side of the labs, which would give you enough lanes to carry each individual color pack on its own dedicated lane (I believe there are 7 types of packs in the latest version?). Then with a pair of both normal inserters and long-armed inserters, you can keep your labs supplied with whatever they need. If you find you're producing more science packs than you're using, extend the line and add more labs.

[Game Over, Man]

I never thought of passing the science packs between labs directly, if that does work then thanks! I am trying to save on footprint hence the loop. I recycle the remainders back into the crate.

But the original question still stands, it would be great to have a way to fill a storage crate with anything, and only take what's needed out (onto a conveyor).

[dubstepdeejay]

Set up your labs like this:

http://steamcommunity.com/profiles/76561198083704215/screenshot/786287510951118647

2 conveyors coming down the middle, total of 4 different tech. On the outside of the line of labs, make a U-shape for the other two colored tech. Filter inseters and crates where it's convenient to set it up like you are wondering, which I assume the reason is because you want reserves in case of a shortage.

[impetus_maximus]

or you could 'braid' 4 dif belts
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=921862609

[AlexMBrennan]

There may be some way to rig up some of the circuitry wires to cobble together a rudimentary computer that might let you get a single inserter to behave the way you're describing. However, I would agree with mudfarmer; this approach is simply overcomplicating the process

But where is the fun in that?

All you need to do is: First, set the inserter to override stack size, read hand content and set the filter from the network. Then increment a looping counter every time the arm moves, calculate 2^T (that's what the top constant combinator is for - outputting "2" = 2...), AND it with the 2nd constant combinator containing hardcoded item codes, and connect the output to the inserter

http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=927746437

[Game Over, Man]

Thanks, can you explain step by step how to set up this circuit? I do not understand how the set filters mode works.

[Devil#2]

Originally posted by AlexMBrennan:

All you need to do is: First, set the inserter to override stack size, read hand content and set the filter from the network. Then increment a looping counter every time the arm moves, calculate 2^T (that's what the top constant combinator is for - outputting "2" = 2...), AND it with the 2nd constant combinator containing hardcoded item codes, and connect the output to the inserter

I applaud you, good sir! I haven't spent nearly enough time figuring out how those circuitry machines work to even come close to figuring this out. I am curious, though, what happens if one of the science packs run out in the chest? Does the inserter simply stop working until some of the missing pack is added, or does it skip over it?

[Templar]

blue box + logistics bots = done

[Donis]

You always can do this:
https://youtu.be/VTkVk_Anoek

[pat]

Necro alarm just went off...

[Templar]

LOL Me too