(DEPRECATED, DO NOT USE) How to combine things more efficiently

A short guide on how to better manage conveyors and tunnels to combine shapes/colours, or paint shapes. I found this method on my own through playing the game, however I do not claim to have pioneered it nor do I think that I was the first to figure it out. Hope this guide helps!

How it works

Here is a screenshot showing how the method works with colour mixing specifically:



The mess of tunnels is actually a simple alternating pattern. While it may take a while to build it for the first time, it will quickly become much easier to as you use this technique more and more (I also think it looks quite cool with larger weaves of tunnels).

Prior to placing anything, ensure one type of object (can be shape or colour, depending on the building) can easily approach the buildings from the side, while the other type of object approaches straight-on:



Then, connect the objects which travel straight towards the buildings:



Make sure the tunnels and conveyors in the corner look like this:



Rinse and repeat:



*Make absolutely sure you have enough room for all the tunnels, as it can be really tedious and messy to try and coordinate all the paths when there is a lack of space to move objects around freely.*

This method can also be extended to any building which accepts two inputs. Here it is with shape painting (Sorry for clutter):



One more screenshot of a 16x16 array I built in order to complete level 18:

[BogeyBoi]

oh cool

[.Cody.]

Yeah, it's just a basic idea to sort of get you in the mindset. I mean, there's probably only a handful of ways that are truly the most efficient, and that says nothing about how it looks, how difficult it is to construct, or even what kind of efficiency we're talking about. I mean it's usually in terms of how many items you can output, but even though space isn't a limitation overall, you still have to consider it if you truly want it to be the best. Ive built myself into corners so many times. lol

[arweafq]

u valid

[Audity]

I am aware of how inefficient this is vs modular methods, I think what you're all missing is that this was the first way of increasing throughput I came up with before modular designs really existed (or before I really understood them at least). Yeah this isn't the best, but it's better than nothing and that's why I decided to post it way back when there were only a couple guides on this game. But, just for those who keep pointing it out, I'll update the title to reflect how horrible, stupid, and garbage this method is (I still think it looks cooler tho) :)

[Dax]

Incredibly space inefficient. You aren't even considering your belt throughput. Have a look at these: https://imgur.com/a/uj156D1

[Mission]

this wastes alot of space and these type of creations that use alot of chunks are super laggy, you your better off making assembly towers, which are cheaper in blueprint cost

[.Cody.]

The thing I am noticing starting out is balancer can be used to combine those lanes to make them run more effectively. I realize that wasn't the point of this specifically... but I keep running out of room or building into corners. Im just starting out. I mean I only have one hour played. But I do like this design and will probably use it to test it out for myself. GG

[mrmissingno]

very useful, used it to make purple circles for that one level

[Sm̷ĭ̷̗l̵̓e̸ÿ̷]

I completley forgot that you don't need to mix yellow with blue to get white, thats the only way I make white paint and forgot others do it otherways

[kool]

Double painters: Am I a joke to you? (they're about 1.5x as efficient than normal painters)