Can science packs be spread across labs or need to all be in the same one?

[Red]

For example there's 2 labs. 1 has red and green and the other lab has blue and purple. Does it work like that or do they all need to be in the same lab?

[PunCrathod]

All labs need to have each kind of science pack to work.

[Fel]

All labs need all science packs in order to contribute.
A research requiring red and green for example would only progress from labs that have both, labs that only have red and labs that only have green would not do anything.

[Red]

Originally posted by Fel:

All labs need all science packs in order to contribute.
A research requiring red and green for example would only progress from labs that have both, labs that only have red and labs that only have green would not do anything.

Dang, looks like i'm going to have to rebuild my science area and the routes for the packs. I'm basically out of room so was hoping they could be separate.

[Fletch]

Yeah, for the lab to function, it independently needs all the different science packs for whatever the research requires.

How I build them out:

What I do (most do, must do?) is have belts of science (one lane per science type -- so two different science per belt), and labs off to the side. Then more labs behind the first row of labs with inserters in between (forced setting of stack size to 1 on those specific inserters) so the second row of labs can steal science from the inventory in the first row of labs. Third row of labs behind the second row of labs, etc...

Once you get up to 5+ different sciences: now you need belts on the other side with inserters feeding back the other way (the 1st row of labs is now the last row of labs for those sciences).

[Fel]

Keep in mind that inserters can take science packs from labs as well, so you can chain them to give packs to labs further from the belts.
You can't do an infinite chain like that but feeding 3-4 labs behind the one next to the belts should be feasible.

[Red]

Originally posted by Fletch:

Yeah, for the lab to function, it independently needs all the different science packs for whatever the research requires.

How I build them out:

What I do (most do, must do?) is have belts of science (one lane per science type -- so two different science per belt), and labs off to the side. Then more labs behind the first row of labs with inserters in between (forced setting of stack size to 1 on those specific inserters) so the second row of labs can steal science from the inventory in the first row of labs. Third row of labs behind the second row of labs, etc...

Once you get up to 5+ different sciences: now you need belts on the other side with inserters feeding back the other way (the 1st row of labs is now the last row of labs for those sciences).

Yes, this is how i've done it. And figured how i'll have to do it when i'm on 5 packs which is what i'm about to be on. So for a 100 hour player i guess i'm proud i figured out the meta by myself lol

But yeah i'm about to start purple. The problem is the lacking of room for more packs to reach the area.
Why didn't i test my question myself? Well i have no research to test it on right now and hadn't thought about it earlier.

Eh, play and learn i guess. If i started a new save now my factory would look so different with everything ive learned up to this point.

[Fel]

Even if you don't do weird things like belt weaving or sushi belts, remember that you don't have outputs to your labs, so you could for example have 2 belts on both sides of a line of labs for example, each having a different science pack per side, allowing you to easily bring up to 8 different science packs to your labs.

[Chindraba]

Originally posted by Fel:

Even if you don't do weird things like belt weaving or sushi belts, remember that you don't have outputs to your labs, so you could for example have 2 belts on both sides of a line of labs for example, each having a different science pack per side, allowing you to easily bring up to 8 different science packs to your labs.

Since they don't have outputs, labs can also share like the gun turrets do.

[Fletch]

OK, I didn't want to spoil any fun if you were a newbie. FWIW, there are more than 8 sciences if you have the Space Age expansion, so if rebuilding the lab area, should take that into account on the rebuild :)

[Fel]

Well, you technically have two extra sides as well for a total of 8 belts or 16 science packs with a relatively simple array of belts that make a turn at the end of the line/column and come back the other way after the next set of labs.

That is of course only one of the possible setups, delivering all types in requester chests is another, belt weaving can allow you to squeeze quite a few belts in a small area as well and sushi belts are a thing too for those with a bit of understanding of circuit network or other relatively advanced setups.

[puschit]

How can you run out of room? Space is virtually limitless, you can always just branch out. And once you got logistic robots you can just fly in one or two types of science packs.

[Fletch]

Originally posted by puschit:

How can you run out of room? Space is virtually limitless, you can always just branch out. And once you got logistic robots you can just fly in one or two types of science packs.

Two points:
1. there's always enough room, the map is infinite
2. there's never enough room to squeeze that one last thing into place

[Red]

Originally posted by puschit:

How can you run out of room? Space is virtually limitless, you can always just branch out. And once you got logistic robots you can just fly in one or two types of science packs.

Tbh i hadn't thought of that. I can make drones but haven't got round to trying that out yet.
But yeah by normal means i'm out of room for where my labs are. As in everything around them is so compact with belts and facilities i just can't get more belts to them for new science packs.

Bare in mind my factory is my first ever factory. That's grown a lot. But also built with 0 foresight. As the knowledge and experience didn't exist yet. So it's a mess basically.