It's a bit tedious to drag conveyor belts or pipes over a long distance

[Pan Filuta]

I just got to the Refinery / Crude Oil tier, so I had to drag a pipeline across a long distance
It was kinda fun but took me like an hour, maybe there is an easier way to approach that problem
Do you have any tips? Or is it just expected to do that? I feel like I'm missing something

I did the same previously with a conveyor belt to get quartz to my base, also took a long time because it was in the jungle so I had to use a lot of stackable belts to keep it higher and it keeps saying that the belt/pipeline is too long, so you have to stop every few meters

[Miles Away]

With Quartz I used tractors to move stacks back and forth. Long as it had fuel on one end it kept things moving.
As for crude oil, I processed everything on site then moved it-The one time I wanted to move heavy oil residue, I packaged it and threw it on a truck on a highway I built.
EDIT-You COULD blueprint pipeline "highways" that are tileable. If you're setting up a ramp system, the ramp MUST be at the bottom and not hovering in the air in the printer otherwise the blueprint will attach above the tile instead.

[Fenix]

Most of us just process oil onsite and the belt or train the finish product or Package oil to where we want it. The only other option is to make a Pipeline blueprints and spam them down, but will still have to attach the blueprints together.

[PsYcHo_O]

Originally posted by Pan Filuta:

I just got to the Refinery / Crude Oil tier, so I had to drag a pipeline across a long distance
It was kinda fun but took me like an hour, maybe there is an easier way to approach that problem
Do you have any tips? Or is it just expected to do that? I feel like I'm missing something

I did the same previously with a conveyor belt to get quartz to my base, also took a long time because it was in the jungle so I had to use a lot of stackable belts to keep it higher and it keeps saying that the belt/pipeline is too long, so you have to stop every few meters

You didn't HAVE to drag that pipeline across half the map. There are plenty of other ways to transport resources or maybe it's not even necessary to transport them in the first place.
Try to rethink your entire approach if it feels wrong to you. In the end it's just a matter of taste and you have to figure out what works for you. If building long belts/pipes is tedious for you, just don't. Use trains/trucks/drones and/or build locally instead.
If you WANT to build long pipes/belts I recommend using blue prints and building sort of a "main line". Stack 5, 10, 20 belts/pipes and stick them into a blueprint. This way you can build at least 4 foundations worth of belts/pipes and you only have to connect them together instead of building every piece. This way you could also include hypertubes, power, or roads in the same blueprint.

[Maehlice]

Originally posted by PsYcHo_O:

If you WANT to build long pipes/belts I recommend using blue prints and building sort of a "main line". Stack 5, 10, 20 belts/pipes and stick them into a blueprint. This way you can build at least 4 foundations worth of belts/pipes and you only have to connect them together instead of building every piece. This way you could also include hypertubes, power, or roads in the same blueprint.

To add to this something I think makes it simpler during the build process:

When you hold "E" to bring up the "Quick Switch" selection wheel, that wheel is populated by whatever other BPs are in the same Subcategory.

Put the main conveyor/pipe/hypertube stack BP in its own subcategory along with any additional spacers or placement aids, so you can either tap or hold "quick switch" to cycle easily between the during the build process.

And don't forget that BPs can be added also to your hotbar!

[Kazuma]

Wusses. I dragged my pipes and belts all the way back to the hub like a man. My spaghetti factory is perfection of nature itself.

[Sasheria]

There are several solution that some have said so a quick recap.
1. process on site and then move the "final product"
2. Use Fluid rail transfer if you want to do central processing
3. If you do not want to use fluid rail, you can package and unpack them (some do this)
4. Good ol fashion pipe bus ;) (which you did)

[Vectorspace]

My first playthrough in Update 3, I built a 2-foundation-wide causeway with 4 belts on it, from my oil factory at the west coast oil nodes, all the way to home base in the middle of grass fields.

That was before blueprints and before zoop.

These days you can make it a bit easier by using belt highway blueprints. Though as others have said, blueprints do not autoconnect belts. So you'd need one blueprints with belts and one without, and place them alternately, then fill in the belt gaps yourself

[Pan Filuta]

Thanks for the tips

Processing oil on the site and then moving the product still means I have to move something, so unless you mean using the truck it won't change anything?
I admit I haven't used the truck or blueprints yet, so maybe I have to try that (I didn't even build the hypertube)
I'm kinda new to this so I'm just learning as I go

Btw, to people suggesting to package liquid or to use train, I haven't unlocked those yet, as I said I just reached Refinery and those two things are unlocked in a higher tier

[Porked!]

You can spend your coupons on parts and unlock milestones that you want to incorporate to your build straight away. You can do that for all milestones and still have plenty of coupons for other unlocks and nut statues.

And, yes, trains are pretty much your next level belt here.

[Kage Goomba]

It will take you just as much time to use transportation/logistics options as opposed to dragging pipes over distances.

Now extreme distances? Yeah your likely want to use trains/trucks or something to that effect.

Still - all up to you on how you want it. (some really do run pipes over really long distances or belts for that matter)

Have to program them - build roadway/paths - get everything set up just right - etc.

It all comes down to your preference/goals at the end of the day.

Only suggestion I can think of off hand is to use blueprints - but they don't connect - so you still have to join blueprint to blueprint - but it could feasibly save you time.

The only down side is 4x4x4 isn't exactly the "max length" so you will need to get larger blueprint makers to achieve that. (6x6x6 is max? but may not be available for a good long while)

[Bobucles]

For resources in the current biome or the next one over, just belt it. Common resources are always nearby.
For resources scattered across the map like caterium or quartz, it's time to use trucks and trains. Typical nodes can be completely handled by single or double cargo trains, little more is needed.

[Shahadem]

It's true that setting up a massive pipe/conveyor belt network takes time the first time, but adding more belts/pipes is much much faster after.

[Bobucles]

Originally posted by Shahadem:

It's true that setting up a massive pipe/conveyor belt network takes time the first time, but adding more belts/pipes is much much faster after.

I mean, that's also true for trains. After building the first rail lines, every new train is a few minutes to set up. (and a few hours of debugging new and exciting train crashes, shh we don't tell them about that). The big thing is reserving enough space, a train hub needs as much space as entire midgame factories.

[Flash✪Gordon]

You should not build long pipelines. Not only because of the headlifts, they are also a bit CPU heavy. The fluids are swooshing and sloshing to and fro and a lot of strange things happen.

As for belts: As long you dont use stacked conveyor poles I find it quite easy to drag them for a stretch. The general idea would be, that if you transport very far, that you use vehicles. Here again: Vehicles create less CPU and GPU load.

That's the theory. But you can do whatever you want as long you don't exaggerate or as long you have a performant computer.

[actuatedgear]

I would say that your factory location should exist in on the basis that it be surrounded by the resources you need to progress in the proper height according to their need.

What I do is first assess the the game map, which can conceivably be done by yourself, but there's one you can get via google which does a fantastic job. There are about three locations on the map that are best primes for maximum material advancement with a minimum of transportation and minimum required verticality adjustments. Consider also dealing with dangerous flora and more importantly fauna and the ability to clear obstacles and you will find which location best suits your intentions and abilities.

To build a coal plant, find the coal and then locate enough water to serve it. If there's not enough water, then either you need to move the coal, or you need to MAKE water.

To build any other plant, find the OIL and then find enough of every other resource to suit your needs and find the best location to do that in relation to all of them. There's a good one on the west coast, My favorite is on the East over top of a bunch of coal nodes south of the desert, and there is a MASSIVE opportunity to build a rail system for all kinds of resources on the north side of the map going through that huge valley all the way out the the plains in the west.

I like centralized builds and "nerve cluster" style networks, but I can totally see how to work it if you like trains.