Belt Input Equalizer

Circuit-free solutions of basic factory-design to achieve optimal item-throughput.
Involving: Belts (balancers, crossings), Inserters, Chests, Furnaces, Assembling Devices ...
Optimized production chains. Compact design.
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Circuit-free solutions of basic factory-design to achieve optimal item-throughput
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willmax
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Belt Input Equalizer

Post by willmax »

Image

So this is a belt and splitter setup that draws materials input equally regardless of the output.
The layout is simple, just out an extra splitter after a normal lane balancer and set the outlet priority of that splitter into the main line.
Then connect the other outlet of that splitter to the other input of the first splitter with belt.

Any thoughts and opinions would be apreciated.

mmmPI
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Re: Belt Input Equalizer

Post by mmmPI »

When i see this i expected the left side of the input belt (from the belt point of view looking at the flow going away) to stutter.

It took me quite some time to realise that some of the input is switch from the left side of the belt to the right side of the belt when sideloading before the second splitter.

I'm still unable to explain/understand why there is seemingly 1.5 belt flow going in the first splitter, and only 1 belt flow between the 2 splitters, while the input doesn't stutter.

thanks you just made me curious about what it would look if instead of 2 iron lane it would be 1iron and 1 coal on the input belt, i will try that because my brain tells me my eyes are not seeing it right on the picture :)

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disentius
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Re: Belt Input Equalizer

Post by disentius »

Aha, hadn't seen that one before. Nice!

Here are some other versions, i picked up over time on these forums en reddit.
1-1 lanebalancer variations.gif
1-1 lanebalancer variations.gif (2.89 MiB) Viewed 10744 times
(settings for the top one:)
- left belt -> enable if everything < 4
- right belt -> read belt contents - hold

You can find a lot of info about balancers via the Wiki:
https://wiki.factorio.com/Balancer_mechanics

willmax
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Re: Belt Input Equalizer

Post by willmax »

disentius wrote:
Tue Apr 28, 2020 10:48 am
Aha, hadn't seen that one before. Nice!

Here are some other versions, i picked up over time on these forums en reddit.

1-1 lanebalancer variations.gif

(settings for the top one:)
- left belt -> enable if everything < 4
- right belt -> read belt contents - hold

You can find a lot of info about balancers via the Wiki:
https://wiki.factorio.com/Balancer_mechanics
Hi there, i have looked into many lane balancers but my setup above is just suit me well since it requires no underground and more space efficient to me.

Trebor
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Re: Belt Input Equalizer

Post by Trebor »

This also discusses lane balances:
viewtopic.php?f=202&t=74911

Modran
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Re: Belt Input Equalizer

Post by Modran »

willmax wrote:
Tue Apr 28, 2020 5:20 pm
Hi there, i have looked into many lane balancers but my setup above is just suit me well since it requires no underground and more space efficient to me.

I tried it and it doesn't seem to be completely balanced. For me it takes twice as many parts from the jammed side than from the free one (which is odd because I thought you couldn't get a 2/3 ratio).

(By the way: the additional belts are more expensive than the two or even three saved undergroundies.)
Factorio_Lane_Balancer.jpg
Factorio_Lane_Balancer.jpg (376.76 KiB) Viewed 10192 times

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TopSpeedKertus
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Re: Belt Input Equalizer

Post by TopSpeedKertus »

I hadn't paid much attention to this issue until seeing this thread. Here's a design I came up with that insures both sides of the input belt are being consumed equally. Can't wait for 1.1 so I don't have to manually create reversed version of my blueprints.

Image

Image


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ssilk
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Re: Belt Input Equalizer

Post by ssilk »

But that mixes just one lane. Not both. You see that clearly on the last pic, where only the upper belt is mixed.
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NotRexButCaesar
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Re: Belt Input Equalizer

Post by NotRexButCaesar »

disentius wrote:
Tue Apr 28, 2020 10:48 am
Aha, hadn't seen that one before. Nice!

Here are some other versions, i picked up over time on these forums en reddit.

1-1 lanebalancer variations.gif

(settings for the top one:)
- left belt -> enable if everything < 4
- right belt -> read belt contents - hold

You can find a lot of info about balancers via the Wiki:
https://wiki.factorio.com/Balancer_mechanics
What is that one at the top?
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disentius
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Re: Belt Input Equalizer

Post by disentius »

using the circuit network capabilities of belts to drop items two at the time on one side of the belt.

Trebor
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Re: Belt Input Equalizer

Post by Trebor »

ssilk wrote:
Mon Dec 21, 2020 5:09 am
But that mixes just one lane. Not both. You see that clearly on the last pic, where only the upper belt is mixed.
The bottom lane is not mixed because the upper lane fills the output belt before it has a chance to be consumed.

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disentius
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Re: Belt Input Equalizer

Post by disentius »

nope.
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Trebor
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Re: Belt Input Equalizer

Post by Trebor »

I misspoke, I should have said the bottom lane not mixing is not a problem because the upper lane fills the output belt.

This design works as long as the input belts are compressed and the input and output are the same speed.

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disentius
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Re: Belt Input Equalizer

Post by disentius »

agreed :)

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