Factorio Forums

Marbles wrote:You could set up a buffer that loads the required values in boxes using green wires, smart chests and smart inserters. Then you could load everything in your buffer boxes into the train to get the ammouns you want in there. You need a reset switch connected to all the smart inserters using red wire to prevent them from loading the buffer chests while the train itself is being loaded. You might be able to do this by having a check that loads 1 random item per buffer chest into another chest when the buffer chest is empty, and when it contains as many items as you have buffer chests, it means everything is loaded. Now trigger a single reset loop and put the counter items back on the belt. Make the single reset loop long enough to give the train time to leave the station. When it has come full circle the loading of the buffer chests can begin again.

n9103 wrote:Well, I can visualize it, and it's bigger than the entire train station. :p

DerivePi wrote:

Marbles wrote:You could set up a buffer that loads the required values in boxes using green wires, smart chests and smart inserters. Then you could load everything in your buffer boxes into the train to get the ammouns you want in there. You need a reset switch connected to all the smart inserters using red wire to prevent them from loading the buffer chests while the train itself is being loaded. You might be able to do this by having a check that loads 1 random item per buffer chest into another chest when the buffer chest is empty, and when it contains as many items as you have buffer chests, it means everything is loaded. Now trigger a single reset loop and put the counter items back on the belt. Make the single reset loop long enough to give the train time to leave the station. When it has come full circle the loading of the buffer chests can begin again.

Here is my WIP railroad Station System Overview:
- the trains come from the bottom and stop at the Import Station (bottom middle) which unloads all of the items stored in the wagons - the first wagon also carries a specified quantity of a unique item (wood or standard ammo) that is counted when it is off loaded
- As soon as any quantity of the unique item is found in any of the Import Station's Smart Chests, the Import Station Logic System (bottom left) starts a timer loop (bottom loop) which controls the Station Counter Loop (top loop) and the wagon toggle for offloading (middle loop). The logic system counts how many unique items are delivered (1 through 4) and places an item (wood) in the associated smart chest (top loop) which is relayed to the Export Station Logic System. When the count is complete, the wagon toggle opens the smart chests adjacent to the 1st wagon spot in the Import Station. The timer loop has a fixed time (usually 30 secs) and then resets the system for the next train.
- The Sorting Station (right side) is a winding, closed, 'S' loop that receives all items from the Factory and from the Import Station and sorts it to its appropriate belt and/or chest.
- The Export Station (top Middle) loads items onto the train wagons. For most Main bases, only the first wagon will need to be loaded.
- The Export Station Logic System (top Left) has another Timer Loop and a toggle for each train destination station (1 through 4) which controls which Chest in the Delivery System (Upper Top Right) is loaded onto the train.
-snip-
and an up close view of the Railway Delivery System
- For each destination station, an outgoing wire (red or green) is connected to a smart storage chest at the outpost (upstream) or at the mainbase (downstream). That wire is then connected to a series of smart inserters in the delivery system that will pull items from a belt to be placed into another locally connected smart chest until the number of items add up to the desired amount (ex. you want 50 laser turrets stored at Outpost 2 and there are only 20 stored there now. The "laser turret" associated smart inserter for outpost 2 (3rd from the bottom and 2nd to the left) is connected to both the local outpost 2 storage chest and to the global Outpost 2 chest and will continue operating until there are at least 30 laser turrets stored in the local outpost 2 storage chest so that the connected wire system reads the designated 50).
- The local chest can either be loaded from above, or when the station toggle is set, unloaded to below. The unloaded goods are then inserted over to an awaiting train wagon
-snip

Marbles wrote:That's a massive setup right there. I like the idea of having the trains carry their own id code in the form of a stack of items, it does require a substantial ammount of logic though. I'm gonna try to make that specific loading setup that I mentioned tonight, hopefully a bit more compact