How to stop the production of steel plate

[Jaite]

So I had a line making iron plates, and it randomly started making steel plates when I researched it. How do I go back to iron plates?

[NimrodAbsolution⁧⁧98]

Stop putting iron plates and ore on the same input belt then

[Josh Franco]

This means your furnaces are taking iron plates via their inserters instead of their intended iron ore.

A picture would be of great help.

[mergele]

Steel plates are produced if you insert iron plates into a furnace. I recommend removing the iron plates from the input line of your furnaces.

[Jaite]

Ok, I only got the game last night so I am still learning. Here is a screen shot, http://puu.sh/qHyIh/2b244b5de3.jpg

So the only way to do this would be to not have iron plates coming down the line or using a smart arm to only pick up coal?

[mergele]

Yup

[IsopropylPod]

Originally posted by Jaite:

Ok, I only got the game last night so I am still learning. Here is a screen shot, http://puu.sh/qHyIh/2b244b5de3.jpg

So the only way to do this would be to not have iron plates coming down the line or using a smart arm to only pick up coal?

or just put coal on the same belt as iron

[fidelio]

or use long handled inserters to take the iron plate out of the furnace and place them on the far belt so only coal is on the near belt.
or move the coal belt over to where the ore is and use a long handled inserter to fuel the furnace from the far belt.
or have the incoming belt with iron ore on one side and coal on the other in a 'split belt' but not a 'mixed' belt.

coal = x
ore = o

so:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
oooooooooooooooooooooooo

or:
ooooooooooooooooooooooooo
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

not:
xoxoxoooxxxoxoxoxooxxooxo
oooxxoxoxxoxxoooxxxxoxxox

[Warlord]

Try something like this:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=748068348
Works for any input (ore>plates, iron plates>steel, stone>bricks). Double gap between furnaces is there for when I replace them with electric furnaces. I can remove the coal belt and inserters when I upgrade there, too, leaving a single gap between furnace lines which looks nice.

Either belt can go in either direction, allowing you to have the or come in one direction and out the other (as done here) or have them both go in and out the same direction. This can allow you to expand the furnace line later by simply adding more furnaces and belt to the end.

[agicMaeMprrorE]

Filter inserters work perfectly here. Set them to pick up only coal and iron ore, that way they will not pick up finished iron plates to forge into steel plates.

[Lunacy]

Originally posted by Warlord:

Try something like this:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=748068348

That thing triggers me just for having 2 poles next to each other instead of compacting it for space efficiency

[Overeagerdragon]

Originally posted by Lunacy:

Originally posted by Warlord:

Try something like this:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=748068348

That thing triggers me just for having 2 poles next to each other instead of compacting it for space efficiency

You can avoid that by holding down the SHIFT-key when plopping the blueprint; it will overwrite entities that are placed with those in the blueprint. However; seeing as you would plop powerpoles over existing powerpoles the order is instantly completed. It's what I love about the factorio blueprinting system; modular building becomes so easy once you get the tricks to it.

[Colonel Sanders Lite]

Originally posted by Lunacy:

Originally posted by Warlord:

Try something like this:
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=748068348

That thing triggers me just for having 2 poles next to each other instead of compacting it for space efficiency

I suspect that the reason for that is so that it can be converted to electric smelters.

Edit: There is a small mistake there though. The top left red inserter does nothing.