Manifold setups

[Rezznor7]

I am curious about the different ways a manifold setup can go. With three sources, I found that putting 3 splitters along the ground and then 3 mergers and having the belts going from each output to each different input would often require a lot of space so that I can put in risers so that belts wouldn't clip into each other which always drived me absolutely bonkers. Just a little while ago I discovered that if I stack the mergers on top of each other the amount of floor space required for *ahem* decent looking belts drastically shrinks.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2559043405
Are there better ways, and what is the most effective form of manifolding, especially with more than 3 sources?
In the example provided above, I have 6 sources of screws that I would ultimately like to equalize out.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2559047036

*edit* Hmmmm, I suppose I could get in even closer if I put them all on the floor and then use lifts of various heights.... I will have to try that later.

[Lil Puppy]

In your first setup there's no purpose in the splitters or mergers, or a manifold in general.
You have 3 constructors split 3 ways, merging back into 3 for 3 lines total in the output.
You don't need the splitters or mergers in that. Just belt the constructors straight to the output holes in the walls.

The goal of a manifold is to saturate a belt to its maximum capacity. I don't know where those outputs go, but you don't need a manifold for that setup since you're not using it right in the first place.

[Rezznor7]

Originally posted by Lil Puppy:

In your first setup there's no purpose in the splitters or mergers, or a manifold in general.
You have 3 constructors split 3 ways, merging back into 3 for 3 lines total in the output.
You don't need the splitters or mergers in that. Just belt the constructors straight to the output holes in the walls.

The goal of a manifold is to saturate a belt to its maximum capacity. I don't know where those outputs go, but you don't need a manifold for that setup since you're not using it right in the first place.

Actually those are Industrial Containers taking two inputs from a series of constructors. The idea here was for 2 groups of constructors to feed the two inputs of the industrial container, but have the actual output of just one exit shared across 3 splitter/mergers (with the top output to be utilized later on once the bottom outputs of all 6 containers were fully utilized). So, as (for example) an assembler is putting together Copper Rotors (195 screws/min), it will pull from 3 containers. Currently I only have Mark IV belts running at 480 objects/min, I can run 2 assemblers with 90 screws left over, or one of them slightly overclocked to make up for the difference. 4 groups of 2 assemblers means I can take 1920 (480*4) screws at once across 6 containers evenly - 2 from the first group of 3, 2 from the next group.

[DrNewcenstein]

I think those are receiving, not sending. 2nd shot shows constructors sending screws out.

And it also shows a lot of wasted (empty) floor space. Pack those constructors in tighter, which makes your splitters pack in tighter.

Also, you can put a splitter/merger on top of another splitter/merger, with minor overlap, so raised belts are also tighter, although frankly I use lifts at their lowest setting for that as well, since angular belts don't do it for me. I like straight lines and 90 degree angles.

[Lil Puppy]

That just sounds like a rebuild is due then and the use of smart splitter to overflow fill your 90 screws/m into containers instead of passing screws through containers and eventually backfilling them. The purpose is identical but the layout is much smaller and then you have a purpose for the manifold system.

[DrNewcenstein]

If the constructors are on an elevated floor, line their outputs up with the very edge of the tiles they're on, open floor holes in front of them, and drop lifts down just below the floor. Drop wall sections down below the floor and put wall-mounted conveyor attachments on them. Run all your belts under the floor this way, into mergers and splitters where needed.

You can pack more machines into a smaller area all on the same floor, feeding out the same way.

[Colonel Sanders Lite]

There's a couple of important clues here as to what's going on that I suspect people are just missing.

Originally posted by Rezznor7:

having the belts going from each output to each different input

Originally posted by Rezznor7:

In the example provided above, I have 6 sources of screws that I would ultimately like to equalize out.

You post strongly suggests you're not talking about manifolds at all but balancers instead.

Also a hint - with even halfway decent design, balancers are rarely useful in satisfactory. If you're producing 6 full belt of screws, it is utterly pointless to make sure that screw machine 2A-4's screws can reach all six lines.


In an input manifold, you just send resources down a line and split them into machines until the machines have consumed the whole line or you have met your goal. If the whole line is consumed, shift in a new line. If you have leftovers, shunt those remaining resources out with an overflow splitter and use them elsewhere or underclock the feed source.

In an output manifold, you just merge all of your outputs onto a single line until the line is full. Once that line is full, start filling a new line.


So answer this question -
You say you have 6 sources of screws you want to equal out - Why does it matter that any given screw consumer is consuming from all six sources equally?

[marcusaddamsson]

Originally posted by Colonel Sanders Lite:

So answer this question -
You say you have 6 sources of screws you want to equal out - Why does it matter that any given screw consumer is consuming from all six sources equally?

Screws are very often the bottleneck for many early factories... my guess is OP is trying to guarantee that all screw makers are workin' 100%, regardless of which belt is gettin' used up.

[marcusaddamsson]

Originally posted by DrNewcenstein:

You can pack more machines into a smaller area all on the same floor, feeding out the same way.

For what it's worth... I totally disagree with this. The one thing I've consistently done the more I play this game is get more spread out. I try to create banks of makers (like those pictured), and a ton of space for the input/output manifolds. Packing everything together is just asking for trouble down the line, IMHO.

Also, I almost never use the 'row of splitters fed from one end' approach on inputs, as it makes assessing overall efficiency really really difficult. The first guy is 100, and fully stocked... the last guy is 20% and completely starved. If you split and split and split directly into makers, you know each is getting it's fair share (mostly... altho this is also predicated on the use of higher-level belts).

I will use a 'row of mergers' on the outputs, as generally speaking the volume of output is small enough that efficiency isn't affected too too much.. if I do have a build-up on output, it's likely an issue with the next stages... and I can move on.

[Rezznor7]

Equalizers! That was the word. As my screw factory sends its output to various other factories that require them, some will have a larger pull than others. So as my computer facility my require 1130/min while my reinforced iron plate facility requires 600/min, the combined pull will equal out across all 6 storage containers. That way as future expansion requires the addition of another belt or two, I can just add them to the output without worrying about whether or not the new drain will be too much for the source.
It's the same w/ my iron, copper, cement, steel.
As for the row of splitters feeding each machine, I figure it by taking what's coming in and dividing it by what each machine can produce. If, for example, the answer is 21 machines, I will make 2 rows of 10 machines each, happy in the knowledge that as production starts, while the first will fill up before the last even gets it's 5th, soon after the 2nd will fill, then the 3rd, 4th, so on down the line. It may take a little while, but ultimately all machines will be full. There's no time crunch, and while those are working I can prepare the location for my next facility to create product. Or scouting for new resource nodes.

[Colonel Sanders Lite]

Originally posted by Rezznor7:

Equalizers! That was the word. As my screw factory sends its output to various other factories that require them, some will have a larger pull than others. So as my computer facility my require 1130/min while my reinforced iron plate facility requires 600/min, the combined pull will equal out across all 6 storage containers. That way as future expansion requires the addition of another belt or two, I can just add them to the output without worrying about whether or not the new drain will be too much for the source.

Yeah see, that's not a good use case for a balancer.

Looks like you're using mk 4 belts (adjust for mk # if necessary) so...

Your computer facility requires 1130/480 = 2.35 belts. So just send 3 belts and shunt the excess out to an overflow line to be sent to a different destination.

Your reinforced plate facility requires 600/480 = 1.25 belts. So just send 2 belts and shunt the excess out to a overflow line to be sent to a different destination.

Merge the overflow lines together until there is a full line and then start a new one.

Repeat until all the screw lines are consumed and then either build a new facility or expand the existing screw facility.

Trying to balance the output here will just conceal it from you when you're overdrawing from the screw facility and slowing your *whole factory* down. And with the way the machine internal buffer mechanics work, with a large factory, that may take a long time to detect and then a long time to stabilize once it's fixed.

[Rezznor7]

Originally posted by Colonel Sanders Lite:

Your computer facility requires 1130/480 = 2.35 belts. So just send 3 belts and shunt the excess out to an overflow line to be sent to a different destination.

Your reinforced plate facility requires 600/480 = 1.25 belts. So just send 2 belts and shunt the excess out to a overflow line to be sent to a different destination.

Alas, 'twas just number I picked as an example. Sorry, I should have mentioned it. There is much more being pulled from the Screw Array System currently. I just used those two as an example of being able to expand on the system without worrying about too much of an increase per constructor. I also keep a sheet handy with the outgoing/incoming numbers, so if I ever expand too much where my outgoing is greater than my incoming, I can build upon the SAS, knowing the new additional machines can be put in place before the entire system is drained. Mark IV belts and Steel Screws mean I can build 96 machines to make screws, every 2 merged together for 48 potential outputs, much more if I put in smart splitters and send the overflow (each machine makes 260/min screws, that's 520 on a 480 belt) from the 2nd machine out. Since I am currently only using 4 out of the currently available 12 (2 outputs per container), that may not be until well down the road. And by then I should have Mark V belts.

[Mojo]

Maybe this will help?

https://satisfactory.fandom.com/wiki/Balancer