Why don't crafting machines have inserters in their recipes?

[CreeperDaReeper]

No seriously, why don't they?

[MeduSalem]

I've asked myself that quite a lot actually and I haven't found an answer to it.

I imagine that there are a bunch of inserters inside doing all the stuff one would do with the bare hands otherwise, would make sense to me.

But probably the way it is currently is for balancing reasons.

[ssilk]

The reason is simple: an inserter cannot create things yet. That can only be done by furnace or assemblies (which are handled by the same code). There is nothing, which says, that this might not change in future, but for now this is the only entity besides the player, that can craft stuff.

[Balinor]

I'm pretty sure he meant why are inserters not part of the recipe for the assembly machines.

[CreeperDaReeper]

The reason is simple: an inserter cannot create things yet. That can only be done by furnace or assemblies (which are handled by the same code). There is nothing, which says, that this might not change in future, but for now this is the only entity besides the player, that can craft stuff.

I'm pretty sure he meant why are inserters not part of the recipe for the assembly machines.

As Balinor said, I meant in its recipe, not actually assembling the items.

EDIT: And there, changed the thread's title to be more specific.

[Xeorm]

Considering all of the materials for an assembling machine are the same as for inserters (by type at least) I'd think that it's made up of functionally small inserters. Wouldn't make sense to make it require one of the large inserters if you're making small ones.

[ssilk]

Oh yeah. In my opinion the assembly is just something like a big press, you see it in the design of the tier 3 assembly (Albert said to me, all others are currently stripped down versions, with different color). So, eventually the graphical design of the current assemblies will change?

So, yes, I think, inserters aren't needed for that yet. But where inserters would be really useful, if we had really some kind of slow belt, the inserters are coming from the sides and mounting things on a frame. Like in a car fabrikation. At the end of the belt, the ready mounted stuff is taken out, the unfinished is returned to the start.

Like this one:

(I've been standing there (my sister lives in Ingolstadt) and this is really one of the most fascinating things I ever looked at. A must have for every technique freak.)

[SHiRKiT]

Indeed the recipe should have belts and inserters on it.

[CreeperDaReeper]

Indeed the recipe should have belts and inserters on it.

Inserters yes. Belts, I'm not so sure about.

[ssilk]

Indeed the recipe should have belts and inserters on it.

For THIS above (which would be a new device): yes. For the current assembly: no.

[sillyfly]

ssilk - for me, what you describe should be the machine for anything more complex than wires or gears. I think it is a good idea, but that means almost everything should be made by those new machines!

[ssilk]

Why? Perhaps the new machines are just faster? Or only really complex stuff can be made here (more than 6 items needed). Like with the jump from tier 1 assembly to tier 3 assembly.

Robots are a good example: Construction and logistic bots can be made on frames and in assemblies, step by step. But that would be also handy to have them assembled completely different.

[sillyfly]

Oh yeah. In my opinion the assembly is just something like a big press, you see it in the design of the tier 3 assembly

If current assembly machines are indeed supposed to be just a big press, I can't see how they can assemble something as complicated as an inserter or an engine...