Someone suggested I should report this as a bug - I am not sure it is one but here goes.
Stack inserters will move at maximum 1 stack of items, even if this moves fewer items then the stack inserter can handle.
For instance, a fully upgraded vanilla stack inserter can move 12 items at a time. A stack of Barrels is at maximum 10 items (its maximum stack size for the item). A stack inserter will only move 10 barrels at a time.
[0.15.x] Stack inserter and low stack items
Re: [0.15.x] Stack inserter and low stack items
That's by design. Assembling machines go over the stack limit because some recipes require it for the machine to function. Inserters never go over the stack limit.
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