Best way of refactoring my science to handle more types of packs?

[GAMING_Alligator]

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3368557650

8 types of science seems to be the most I can handle with belts + inserters and still have an easily expandable design.

Am I stuck with having to switch to supplying these by drone or is there a better way?

[Nero]

Depending on throughput you could put the labs side by side and have some grabbers move packs from lab to lab

Another way is belt weaving or simply using undergrounds in a pattern
I’m not on my pc right now but might post a screenshot later

[jagholin]

Originally posted by GAMING_Alligator:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3368557650

8 types of science seems to be the most I can handle with belts + inserters and still have an easily expandable design.

Am I stuck with having to switch to supplying these by drone or is there a better way?

Just a slight modification to your current layout will allow you to run 3 belts each side, instead of 2.

How to do this, I leave as an exercise.

[zerassar]

Weave together different tiers of under belts. That will allow multiple lanes of conveyors in the same row.

Alternatively feed everything into one or more labs and have inserters between each lab to move them along.

Or use logistics requester chests.

[GAMING_Alligator]

Originally posted by jagholin:

Originally posted by GAMING_Alligator:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3368557650

8 types of science seems to be the most I can handle with belts + inserters and still have an easily expandable design.

Am I stuck with having to switch to supplying these by drone or is there a better way?

Just a slight modification to your current layout will allow you to run 3 belts each side, instead of 2.

How to do this, I leave as an exercise.

Oh, I could replace parts of the inside two belts with undergrounds, so I can use splitters to route things in from the outside belt!

[GAMING_Alligator]

Thanks for the ideas all!

[Ryuukaze]

Originally posted by GAMING_Alligator:

Originally posted by jagholin:

Just a slight modification to your current layout will allow you to run 3 belts each side, instead of 2.

How to do this, I leave as an exercise.

Oh, I could replace parts of the inside two belts with undergrounds, so I can use splitters to route things in from the outside belt!

Splitters, or just a really bendy belt.

[JustSmile]

Set up a circuit limited sushi belt and never worry about fitting enough belts to deliver all sciences.

[Fletch]

Another trick is to chain the labs -- with inserters in between stealing science from earlier lab to feed later labs (same trick you can do with gun turrets). Then you can run two belts on each side (that's 8 science, 1 per belt lane), and then can do the same trick on third side of the labs for another two belts (4 more science).

[Quillithe]

Originally posted by Nero:

Depending on throughput you could put the labs side by side and have some grabbers move packs from lab to lab

Another way is belt weaving or simply using undergrounds in a pattern
I’m not on my pc right now but might post a screenshot later

Side by side is definitely the easiest.

lab - inserter - underground belt - underground belt - inserter - lab

repeat this
Lets you add three more belts (and more with biolabs)

[Universalgenie]

+1 for sushi belt. This can also handle different qualities of a single science pack at the same time easily.

If you have plenty of space, you could use your design with additional belts from north to south. So you could have 8 belts for one lab.

[MangoMan]

inserters can grab from a lab and put it into another lab, so the labs can be in a grid and belts only need to get to the first inserter(s)

[Quillithe]

Originally posted by MangoMan:

inserters can grab from a lab and put it into another lab, so the labs can be in a grid and belts only need to get to the first inserter(s)

I'd be concerned about what happens if an ag pack spoils.

I guess my current setup doesn't have spoilage security but at least each lab fails individually.

You also get slightly slower research because some time is lost passing packs around

[BlueRock]

Another way to add three more whole belts if you like is to take your original design, but space the labs three tiles apart, then put undergrounds with inserters feeding the labs from the undergrounds.

[Quillithe]

Originally posted by BlueRock:

Another way to add three more whole belts if you like is to take your original design, but space the labs three tiles apart, then put undergrounds with inserters feeding the labs from the undergrounds.

If you space them four apart and only have one underground belt per two labs it's more space efficient.

I think they just barely reach with normal labs

[Sebine]

Originally posted by GAMING_Alligator:

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3368557650

8 types of science seems to be the most I can handle with belts + inserters and still have an easily expandable design.

Am I stuck with having to switch to supplying these by drone or is there a better way?

https://factorioprints.com/view/-LV4ZJpfgpKKUkyodKiz

Course the white science is old, and needs work even for non space age*