Managing multiple manufacturers?

[KingKickAss]

I've been trying to plan a factory layout where I can get a lot of things like Heavy Frames and the like(Especially complex things like Super Computers). But each one of them having four inputs makes it sound like a nightmare to hook up a few of them.

Is the solution to just have as few manufacturers as possible and overclock them to make up for it? Thinking about how I would hook up four manufacturers for example makes it seem like a total nightmare.

(EDIT: I want to specify that its all intended to be automated so I'm not going to be manually feeding storage containers that go straight into each input)

[kLuns]

After you built your manufacturer you can clip a 4m foundation through it next to the inputs.
Now you build a conveyor lift next to that foundation on one of the inputs, as short as possible.
From here you can make one splitter in line with that lift. Now you see that form this point you can put splitters on top of all entrances, check twice if the inputs are on the right side, rebuild conveyor lift if required and make a nice manifold of 4 belts.

[DaBa]

I... really do not know what to tell you? You just run 4 belts of items? There is nothing nightmarish about feeding 4 items to a manufacturer. There is no reason to limit it to as few manufacturers as possible and overclock them, you just build as many as you need.

Maybe explain more in detail what seems to be your problem?

[DaBa]

Originally posted by kLuns:

After you built your manufacturer you can clip a 4m foundation through it next to the inputs.
Now you build a conveyor lift next to that foundation on one of the inputs, as short as possible.
From here you can make one splitter in line with that lift. Now you see that form this point you can put splitters on top of all entrances, check twice if the inputs are on the right side, rebuild conveyor lift if required and make a nice manifold of 4 belts.

Bro, that's so convoluted, why? Just do it normally, run 4 belts of items at different heights and use splitters and lifts.

[kLuns]

Originally posted by DaBa:

Bro, that's so convoluted, why? Just do it normally, run 4 belts of items at different heights and use splitters and lifts.

I'm a little bit old fashioned, I build the connections first, belts second. And I never build normal.
I don't mind making constructions like these:
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2873403482
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2873403529
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2873403573
I think splitter stair cases look boring on a manufacturer, be creative :)

If you combine this setup with conveyor floor holes you can make a tower of manifacturers being fed by an s-bend manifold.

[KingKickAss]

Originally posted by DaBa:

I... really do not know what to tell you? You just run 4 belts of items? There is nothing nightmarish about feeding 4 items to a manufacturer. There is no reason to limit it to as few manufacturers as possible and overclock them, you just build as many as you need.

Maybe explain more in detail what seems to be your problem?

Okay, with one manufacturer, its as simple as just running four belts like you said. The "Nightmare" for me is having four manufacturers being fed off of the same source of materials. For example lets say they take screws. I have to split a line of screws into four different belts and extend them at varying lengths to reach four manufacturers, and then I have to do that three more times with three different items and somehow keep it clean.

What I want to know is placement wise, what is the best way I can approach something like this? I'm starting to think my best option(if not trying to have the minimal amount of manufacturers) is to have each item(like screws) come from their own floor and simply drop down onto the one with all the manufacturers on it or something like that.

I'm trying to avoid an absolute belt-hell basically.

[kLuns]

make dedicated screw constructers for every manufacturer.
Place them sidewards so you can run your output straight into the manufacturer. Do the same for wire/ quickwire/ silica if required.

[Die Hand Gottes]

I do this with intelligent splitter so that is also no problem.
A conveyor belt with all materials and redirect with Intelligent Splitter in the machines.
I actually do this almost only so to a few exceptions.
Also my two large warehouses I feed all material that is automatically sorted and stored there the surplus goes back partly into a production or is shredded.
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2861382626
Here is my stock with the sorting unit Left the material goes in and right around out in the middle the surplus goes out.
So similar I also do in production with machines there is even easier because smaller than my 44 containers to fill.

[Thegoodman]

If you aren't running an extreme number of manufacturers, I'd suggest making a sushi line with smart/programmable splitters.

[Nooberix]

I usually place 4 splitters on top of each other in a distance so that all 4 can reach directly into the manufacturer from the front side. The left and right side can then move on the next 4 splitters and so on. This setup is quite limited if you need high quantities of materials, e.g. 200 quickwire per minute per manufacturer.

Only 2 manufacturers in the picture but you should get the idea....
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2873434359

[goemerick]

Just run the game over night, while your sleeping.

[DivineEvil]

Essentially you need to build everything in-line.
1) Place as many manufacturers facing the same direction as you like as a line.
2) Attach a lift to any of their input.
3) Place another lift behind it, just so you know where you'll run your conveyors.
4) Place stacking conveyor poles on either side of manufacturer line. Remove the second "reference" lift.
5) Add more stacks to the poles and run conveyor belts across for each input item type, including one on the ground level.
6) Stand on the manufacturer catwalk and snap splitters on the belts so that they align to the input ports.
7) Attach ground level splitters with corresponding input ports with belts, and use lifts to connect belts on the stacked poles above. Lifts should automatically snap into place whether you start them from a manufacturer or a splitter and will work.
8) Connect the belts to the corresponding outputs.
9) Profit!

You can make the same thing horizontally, but it will eat a ton of space, and the manufacturers are massive enough to merit 16-meter walls (4 sections up) anyway, so verticality is most favorable here.

[KingKickAss]

Originally posted by goemerick:

Just run the game over night, while your sleeping.

Yeah, in theory you can beat the entire game while being AFK for almost the entirety of it but I bought it so I can get some enjoyment out of it.

[Die Hand Gottes]

Originally posted by Nooberix:

I usually place 4 splitters on top of each other in a distance so that all 4 can reach directly into the manufacturer from the front side. The left and right side can then move on the next 4 splitters and so on. This setup is quite limited if you need high quantities of materials, e.g. 200 quickwire per minute per manufacturer.

Only 2 manufacturers in the picture but you should get the idea....

instead of such a strange upright construction I build the intelligent splits directly in front of the entrance a conveyor belt go through all splits that deliver the material and with short conveyor belts directly from the individual splits to the entrance.
And I don't only do this with the manufactories.
to the splitter you can also program the other output and with conveyor lifts to the top build another floor and the whole only with a conveyor access.

[nfgman]

Compact method

Place the manufacturers in a row.

Stack 4 high splitters at a distance away so that an elevator attaches from manufacturer inlet to splitter outlet.

Do the next splitters beside 3 high.... 2 high ... floor level. All in a row.

Delete unnecessary splitters.

Repeat for next manufacture.

* If you want walking clearance, start at 5 high and work down to 2 high.

[Nooberix]

Originally posted by Die Hand Gottes:

instead of such a strange upright construction I build the intelligent splits directly in front of the entrance a conveyor belt go through all splits that deliver the material and with short conveyor belts directly from the individual splits to the entrance.
And I don't only do this with the manufactories.
to the splitter you can also program the other output and with conveyor lifts to the top build another floor and the whole only with a conveyor access.

so, do I get this right, you're running all 4 materials on one belt and the intelligent ones just feed from this single belt? aren't you reaching the maximum of 720 parts per minute rather quickly with this layout? Just curious, I'm always interested in other possibilities to organize throughput.