Factorio Forums

BASIC FUNCTION
Slowly travels up and down the belt its put next to, reverses direction when it hits an end point or another belt saw, can turn corners.

Cuts/damages anything within a several block range (5 maybe 7), is damaged itself if it hits anything other than a tree.

Will put any cut down wood on the belt its connected too but no other object that is destroyed.

Is powered by fuel.

Can take fuel from the belt it is on, can use wood but preferences wood last so it doesn't use the wood it is collecting unless it has too.

WHY HAVE IN THE GAME?
Early game semi automation of wood, just run ahead of it place belts as you go.
Helps with how tedious getting them electric poles pre medium poles is.

Crude early game automated defense pre gun turret, create a belt ring with fuel, remember to fix the saws as they will take large damage as they cuts down waves of enemies.

Suggested requirements
Technology level: none
Build cost: 2x burner inserted, 2x gears, 5x iron plate

Exactly like u said, only for early game, but I think its not so bad idea. However I think you should research it and craft should includes item saw

Don't really see the use of that.

you can automate small power poles real quick with assemblers and gun turrets is also not that hard to get.
if your pissing off the biters before you got your turrets up your expanding too fast or are to close to the biters in my opinion.
it would however be fun to assassinate your friends with on multiplayer