Science Packs 1 - 3 in a 16x17 Grid

[DaveMcW]

Because smaller is better.

16x17.jpg (292.61 KiB) Viewed 18837 times

Tricks used:

Assembler chain: Whenever possible, assemblers insert their output directly into another assembler. The fast/smart inserter, gear wheel/transport belt, and electronic/advanced circuit ignore this pattern to use the space in the corners. The four blue science pack ingredients require a different idea.

Inserter relay: Chain two inserters together instead of using belts. If they are pulling items from a mixed source, the first inserter should have a filter.

Two way inserter relay: Instead of dropping an item on the ground, you can drop the item on top of another inserter! Use this to fit two chains of inserters in the same space.

Circuit network: The smart chest that collects the ingredients for blue science packs signals when it has enough of each item.

[tralala]

Wow, this is advanced stuff. Great work!

[ssilk]

Really cool.

[Madlax]

The same in a 16x16 and T1-4+Lab in 16x18. Probably there's still a room to miniaturization.

[DaveMcW]

Nice ideas there Madlax!

Here is T1-4+Lab in a 16x16.

16x16.jpg (320.89 KiB) Viewed 17930 times

[BenWo]

These are astounding! I've only ever seen people build giant sprawling factory setups, especially for the blue packs.

[Madlax]

DaveMcW, this sweet, you got me! Now it's probably a way to do a redesign (too many items are transfered inderectly in my opinion), but I don't believe it can be even more compact than those 16x16. Just a little bit different and that's it.

I like to optimise like that, but I wonder if there's a point to create independent T1-T4+lab areas instead of separting them and delivering flasks to the lab afterwards (the usual approach). Probably when we are talking about 5-6 labs for the mid/end-game, mass production can save up the space comapring to 5-6 blueprints of 16x16. On the other hand I like there's no overproduction of flasks. So now I'm thinking about compact and balanced (!) design for several labs.

[DaveMcW]

Delivering flasks to the labs works well, because research times increase from 30 to 60 in the endgame. So you can always build exactly as many labs as you need. (Unless you want to spend 750 science on lab efficiency 3+4...)

Using two blue science assemblers would take up a lot more space, but if they could run at full production they would balance nicely with a single green and red assembler.

[DaveMcW]

Down to 14x16 with the new cargo wagon filters.

14x16.jpg (255.1 KiB) Viewed 17330 times

[therapist]

These are butt-flipping amazing!!!

I hope that when or before the multiplayer comes out, we can get some kind of "blueprint hub" so we can share all of these cool designs outside of or even from within the game.

I just really wish I could download all these designs, cheat myself some supplies in the console or in sandbox mode, and compare all these different designs.

[Rensiur]

Well, one way to test and compare would be as follows.

Create yourself a map (maybe in the ditor) with big resource fields and crates of all the needed stuff. Maybe play a bit to set up a working factory, and eventually build the different designs at the edge of your factory. Switch em on and off via power poles (just remove a pole to cut the power).

Then compare which design you like the most.

They are compact as hell and awesome work, but I still strive for rather more expanded designs.

[tralala]

Down to 14x16 with the new cargo wagon filters.

14x16.jpg

Awesome, really, really awesome. I did not believe you could get it smaller. The train as a kind of super-smart-chest is a really cool thing. I'm curious what other uses there might be.

[GlassDeviant]

I love these designs because they are very creative, but with just one assembler making each type of science pack how do you compensate for the fact that Science Pack 1s take 5 seconds to make, 2s take 6 seconds, 3s take 12 seconds and 4s take 1.2 seconds (12 seconds divided by 10 because you get 10 at a time) ?