Factorio Forums

TL;DR

Allow for more filter slots in filter inserters, or at least evaluate all circuit signals as filters.

What ?

Currently, up to 5 filter slots can be set on an inserter. When the filters are set using the circuit network, only the five highest values are evaluated. It would be great if this number could be increased, or if the inserter would take into account all supplied circuit network values.

Why ?

With the 2.0 changes to assembler automation it is now possible to set assembler recipe through the circuit network. A common design pattern that I use to utilise this new feature is to put intermediate products on a different loop then the final output, using filtered inserters to put products in the correct place. With the limit of 5 filter slots the amount of intermediate products that can be put to the site is limited as well.
In addition, the 'set filter' limit of only the top 5 signals is unintuitive and not explained in the tooltips.

For an example of where I run into limits, see below early-game mall setup, where I have two assemblers making most of my early game needs. The top right assembler makes first stage intermediates (sticks, wire, modules, yellow belts and inserters, the center assembler makes second stage intermediates (underground belts, splitters, fast inserters, assembly machines 1 and 2) that gets stored in chests on the left to be fed into the assembler again.