[1.0.0] The inserters on two sides of a machine, are not working properly when placed on chunk edges

[witch_king2011]

I placed two fast inserters, on each sides of an assembler machine 2, the expected behavior was that each inserter in turns, pick up the product created by the machine, and put it inside the chest in front of them, but one of them was working, another one not. I played a little bit and placed the machine somewhere else, surprisingly, both inserters were working normally.

I turned on the show-tile-grid, and found out that when they are placed near a chunk line (thicker lines), the inserter that is further away from the chunk line does not work. And this happens both on vertical lines, and horizontal lines.

I also turned off all the mods I have, but it looks like it is not caused by any mods.

I attached two mp4 videos showcasing the problem. I also attached the save file in sandbox, note that in the save file, creative mod is used, but I also tested the problem without it, and it still happens.

[Loewchen]

I placed two fast inserters, on each sides of an assembler machine 2, the expected behavior was that each inserter in turns

This assumption is simply wrong. NaB.

[disentius]

To elaborate a bit: it works only inside a chunk, because factorio updates per chunk.

[witch_king2011]

This assumption is simply wrong. NaB.

I'm not arguing about it being a 'bug' or not, but it definitely makes an impact on the design of the factory, because it makes important the whereabouts of the machines.
If this behavior is normal, what causes it? What should a player consider when building his/her factory?
Maybe there should be an explanation about the mechanic behind it in the wiki? (or maybe there is?)

[witch_king2011]

To elaborate a bit: it works only inside a chunk, because factorio updates per chunk.

could you explain a little bit more please? what do you mean by 'inside'? what is inside of which chunk in the gif below?

[Loewchen]

Maybe there should be an explanation about the mechanic behind it in the wiki? (or maybe there is?)

I don't think there is an explanation about how the engine updates entities in the wiki. You can find details on the forum, but it depends on variables that are too hard to account for for building setups too fragile to handle any update order.

[disentius]

inserters that you want to alternate, have to be within the same chunk.
Right: all inside the chunk, they will alternate
Left: one inserter in neighboring chunk, the right two will alternate, the left inserter does its own thing.

inserter precedence and chunks.gif (3.84 MiB) Viewed 2051 times

You can not rely on this mechanism, use the circuit network for reliability.

[astroshak]

If you dig around, this issue was deemed “Not a Bug” some years back ...

[5thHorseman]

What should a player consider when building his/her factory?

A player should consider anything that requires exact pinpoint timing to work correctly to break in Factorio in much the same way it breaks in real life.

Instead of trying to take out of the same assembler to fill 2 boxes, take out of that assembler onto a belt, split that belt, and then put stuff in your boxes. If you really want the assemblers to alternate, hook up some circuits and make them actually alternate.

And if you're trying to direct-feed 2 assemblers (which I suspect you are as I can't really see wanting to fill 2 boxes) with the output of one assembler, eventually the assembler that's getting the favor will fill up and the second assembler will get the leftovers. If there are not enough leftovers for the 2nd assembler then the problem isn't that the inserters don't share, the problem is you're not making enough gears.