Do you pull parts from containers or direct feed?

[3201]

trying to think about which approach to make when building my massive base: do you make the basic parts (like iron rods) and dump them into containers and then pull from the container for items that need iron rods, or do you make the rod and feed it directly into the machine that needs the rod?

[EdibleSponge_]

I feed directly into machines. I only use containers for final outputs, never for in-between steps. For example, my current factory uses 22.5 modular frames/min, but I produce 26/min, so I have a smart splitter at the end of the line that sends overflow into storage. I like to think of it this way: If I have a container in between the smelter and constructor, and the container is filling up, doesn't that mean that I can build more machines to use those extra ingots? And if I'm not filling the container, then why have it? If you just want to have some ingots in storage somewhere, I would only put it at the end of a line for overflow, not as part of the main design.

But that's my 2 cents. Maybe you like to have full containers everywhere!

[3201]

curious, why did you reject the idea of the container approach. For example, consider all the items that need iron rods as a component. Rather than craft the iron rod at that stage, you could just "grab one" from your iron rod container. Your method seems very logical too, but I'm curious why you rejected this idea?

[EdibleSponge_]

It's not so much that I rejected it, more so that I put it in a different spot. There are two main ways to build a late-game factory (though there are more ways, of course): you can build in bulk, or you can build modular. By bulk, I mean when people have a massive factory dedicated to producing ingots, and then those ingots are divided up and sent to other factories. I build modular, meaning that I like to think of my machines in terms of ratios. When making rods, I place 4 smelters making 120 ingots and feed them into 8 constructors making 120 rods. If I need more rods, I'll make another row of 4 smelters and 8 constructors.

But I produce more rods than I need. I ship all the rods onto one belt, send it to be distributed into assemblers for modular frames and rotors, and then at the end of the line, there is a smart splitter that sends excess rods into a container, but only when every machine that needs rods is full. And I've done the math--if I produce more rods than I need (which I do), then the container will eventually fill.

With a modular approach to factory design, if i placed containers in between the smelters and the constructors, the containers would never fill because the ratios are perfect. So instead of putting containers on the production line, I put them at the end of the supply chain.

[Bobucles]

curious, why did you reject the idea of the container approach

For the most part, there's no need to store intermediate parts. Just process them into the highest tier stuff possible. Storage is for the player's benefit, to stockpile construction material. It doesn't help a factory, not when resources are a steady stream from start to finish.

[EdibleSponge_]

Sorry, I may not have directly answered your question. At the moment, I'm using 276 rods/min, which are used to make 24 rotors/min and 26 modular frames/min. For my modular approach, that means I build three iron rod setups--three sets of 4 smelters and 8 constructors, for a total production of 360 rods/min. I ship straight from the constructors to the assemblers, and have a containers at the end which fills with excess.

I may have misunderstood you before about where you place the container. It sounds like you'd go constructor - container - assembler, which is functionally the same as my setup, only that I put mine at the end instead of in-between.

So here's my REAL answer: I prefer the "end of the line" container because it means I can centralize storage. If I store rods on-site between the constructors and assemblers, then I have to go there every time I want rods. But if I have the container fill with excess, I can put it wherever I want, and I can keep all my excess items in the same place. Apologies for misreading you.

[3201]

Originally posted by EdibleSponge_:

It's not so much that I rejected it, more so that I put it in a different spot. There are two main ways to build a late-game factory (though there are more ways, of course): you can build in bulk, or you can build modular. By bulk, I mean when people have a massive factory dedicated to producing ingots, and then those ingots are divided up and sent to other factories. I build modular, meaning that I like to think of my machines in terms of ratios. When making rods, I place 4 smelters making 120 ingots and feed them into 8 constructors making 120 rods. If I need more rods, I'll make another row of 4 smelters and 8 constructors.

But I produce more rods than I need. I ship all the rods onto one belt, send it to be distributed into assemblers for modular frames and rotors, and then at the end of the line, there is a smart splitter that sends excess rods into a container, but only when every machine that needs rods is full. And I've done the math--if I produce more rods than I need (which I do), then the container will eventually fill.

With a modular approach to factory design, if i placed containers in between the smelters and the constructors, the containers would never fill because the ratios are perfect. So instead of putting containers on the production line, I put them at the end of the supply chain.

this sounds very logical, I think I'll model mine after this approach. THis is my first time playing and I have done a lot of small stuff, now up to tier 4 and finally have 700 power running so I'm ready to start making my big factory. I really am thinking a lot about how to commit to my design and your approach seems really good.

[Sozig]

I prefer direct feed as doing a later expansion is easier: "is my input of screws good enough?". Question that can easily be answered when the only items I store are ingots

[The Big Brzezinski]

Direct feed, sort of. I'll often build a production line to make extra intermediate end products and end products. While it's certainly workable to simply stick a catchment box between two machines, the parts are easier for a player to access if they split the excess parts off and send them to be stored with the other end products. The downside is that this setup can hide shortages if you miscalculated something and aren't paying attention.

It may sound like a pain, but the end results are things like a phase one production line that makes all the iron plates, iron rods, screws, reinforced iron plates, modular frames, and rotors you'll ever need, all stored in a line of convenient storage boxes.

[Man's Best Friend]

In the past I would have a container in line for each part to act as a buffer for when I need things to build other stuff, but otherwise items would just feed from one machine into another. When I start a new game once update 6 goes to the main branch my plan will be to have the containers off to the side with a splitter. This is because in the past the problem I would have would be that suppose I realize I'm not making enough reinforced iron plates. No big deal, go grab some from the buffer and build more assemblers. Oops, the reason I need more of the plates is because I'm consuming them faster than I'm building them. Thus the buffer is perpetually empty. By splitting the containers off rather than having them inline, I ensure that I will always have a supply. Yes, production of later items will be impacted until the container fills up, but it will fill up eventually.

[LadyHam]

I typically build with storage containers between production points. This isn't to fill them up, or for extra for myself. There are two reasons I do this;
(a) to act as a buffer should any part of the line stall. There are many reasons this could happen, but most often it's because I build my factory faster than my power plant and have to do some quick additions. This means my factory can continue to run even during maintenance.
(b) The industrial storage with 2 in/2out can act as splitters themselves. I know that if i have 4 lines of rods on the inputs at 15/min, then i can have 2 30/min lines or 1 60/min on the output. This can be achieved with the smaller splitters of course, but this allows for an inbuild buffer.

If I've done it right, the buffer fills up while I"m building the factory. While it's running, it should stay level (not fill or empty). The buffer amount is only ever used during down time in other parts of the line.

[Fiveball]

I use the containers between different stages just as a buffer of sorts. Goal isnt to have them full but, to still allow parts for the factory to be running in the case that something goes wrong elsewhere. Also its nice to grab a few here and there walking by.

[MJS WARLORD]

On my second playthrough i took a different approach to everything i make , i made sure that every machines end product can supply another product .

some of you may have seen screen shots of an 18 wide conveyor belt i made to link 2 bases , personally speaking i prefer long belts because drones and trains cant always supply enough of what you want.

until the devs add more content to the game all my machines are now turned of as i have made or stored all the items it is possible to make in the game.

if you are having to rely on containers in a conveyor line to keep things moving i would suggest you get rid of them and find out why you cant keep your lines fully supplied otherwise you will spend a lot of your playing time topping them up using shop tickets.

[kLuns]

Match the numbers, only store the end product

[Veeshan]

I'm trying a source/destination agnostic approach this time. Annoyingly pretentious phrase I know, but I can't think of how it's normally phrased.

I'm building every phase of my factory to be capable of consuming all the inputs at full speed. Meaning I could use 100% of the iron ingots I produce to produce plates, or rods, or mixed for steel (and ofc most combos of those).

Where they go will depend on a priority hierarchy. So that sounds like it matches your first example.

[Fiveball]

When building like that- Where everything is to be consumed by what's produced. Not more or less. How do you approach building like that? Do you just know the max output in your head for the input values and input speeds? Or do you reference something as you go along and plan?