A comparison of lane balancers

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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Trebor
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A comparison of lane balancers

Post by Trebor »

Screen Shot 2019-08-24 at 2.14.13 PM.png
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Screen Shot 2019-08-24 at 2.14.46 PM.png (3.88 MiB) Viewed 14223 times
Screen Shot 2019-08-24 at 2.15.01 PM.png
Screen Shot 2019-08-24 at 2.15.01 PM.png (3.86 MiB) Viewed 14223 times
Screen Shot 2019-08-24 at 2.15.19 PM.png
Screen Shot 2019-08-24 at 2.15.19 PM.png (3.91 MiB) Viewed 14223 times
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Screen Shot 2019-08-24 at 2.15.53 PM.png
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disentius
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Re: A comparison of lane balancers

Post by disentius »

Thanks Trebor.
I noticed that the old lane balancers went belly up for different items per lane. not sure when this happened.
variation for a one belt balancer:
Alternate balancer.png
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Trebor
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Re: A comparison of lane balancers

Post by Trebor »

How does it do when only one lane is consumed?

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disentius
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Re: A comparison of lane balancers

Post by disentius »

lasnebalancer.gif
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disentius
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Re: A comparison of lane balancers

Post by disentius »

Two belt version:
Seems to input balance all lanes. can someone break test this please?
4lane balancer.gif
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Trebor
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Re: A comparison of lane balancers

Post by Trebor »

sweet gif!

i_i
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Re: A comparison of lane balancers

Post by i_i »

Bilka wrote:
Sun Aug 12, 2018 2:13 pm
disentius wrote:
Sat Aug 24, 2019 7:56 pm
Image
I developed my design before [0.17] You can tell where the original Inspiration is from
Feeding Coal & Ore to one line.
You can develop your own design from these hinted ideas. Mine how ever is different from their concept; The idea is how to make 1 BELT (with 2 Lanes) mix evenly to OUTPUT a single one LANE Belt either to the Right lane or Left lane of the single belt. Try to figure it out yourself for the fun of it; my answer is in the BLUEPRINT if you can't figure it out with in the week. REMEMBER....

 Other design failures to Take account are :
  1. What happens when Your Supply Chokes; IF one LANE stops feeding will it still distribute it evenly to the other Lane/S
  2. Compact size the smallest amount of space your Design can occupy and still meet the desired result.
  3. for the OCDs like myself the cheapest or Least amount of resources needed to construct the Mixer.
  4. Bonus is the Elegant look of the design.
some FACTS
  • that it always start with a Splitter and ends with a Splitter
  • both designs shown do accomplish the task
  • This is a non Underground (sub-)Belt Solution
    Trebor wrote:
    Wed Aug 29, 2018 11:17 pm
    Image
  • Mine is another Alternative and Fails the #2 & #4 criteria
  • disentius wrote:is the Best Design in #2 & #4(i can improve it to be better looking)
  • Bilka wrote:is the BEST Design (#3 requirement as least resources in used)
or just use this Mod instead https://mods.factorio.com/mod/belt-balancer。 You can feed it from the side also.

tamanous
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Re: A comparison of lane balancers

Post by tamanous »

disentius wrote:
Sat Aug 24, 2019 10:02 pm
Two belt version:
Seems to input balance all lanes. can someone break test this please?
When using express belts and input and output are not fully compressed, the balancing is off. Sometimes it leads to one belt only containing 1 item type.

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breaktest.jpg
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quyxkh
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Re: A comparison of lane balancers

Post by quyxkh »

From reddit:
snap@T235835=480x592+2677-1642.25,z2.jpg
snap@T235835=480x592+2677-1642.25,z2.jpg (25.07 KiB) Viewed 12317 times
The trick is just read-hold downstream of everything < 5 on a sideloading corner.

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Re: A comparison of lane balancers

Post by i_i »

quyxkh wrote:
Wed Apr 29, 2020 8:44 pm
From reddit:
snap@T235835=480x592+2677-1642.25,z2.jpg

The trick is just read-hold downstream of everything < 5 on a sideloading corner.
BP Code would be interesting. but if the one lane chokes the whole systems stops just because it's not mixing? you rather have priority keep sending supplies and mix them as to keep both lanes moving. to avoid the one lane stationary.

here's an old outdated design i want to get rid but too nice to destroy.

Premu
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Re: A comparison of lane balancers

Post by Premu »

I had the same issue to solve some time ago and came to my own solution which doesn't need any underground belts:

Image

It's actually pretty simply and even nice and symmetric.

dabalciunas
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Re: A comparison of lane balancers

Post by dabalciunas »

tamanous wrote:
Wed Apr 29, 2020 8:02 pm
disentius wrote:
Sat Aug 24, 2019 10:02 pm
Two belt version:
Seems to input balance all lanes. can someone break test this please?
When using express belts and input and output are not fully compressed, the balancing is off. Sometimes it leads to one belt only containing 1 item type.
I came up with this monstrosity, which is a 2-Belt Full-Throughput Alternator - a.k.a. "Sushi Maker".

- It consumes input lanes uniformly and alternately
- It outputs items from every available input lane in an alternate way - "Sushi Style"
- It works for any number/configuration of input and output belts/lanes

Please tell me if you can find a way to break it somehow.

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2-Belt Full-Throughput Alternator - Sushi Maker.jpg
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dabalciunas
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Re: A comparison of lane balancers

Post by dabalciunas »

There is now a more compact design posted here:

viewtopic.php?p=545644#p545644

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