2.1 Automatic Assembly Array w/ Fluid Swap

[jgrif7891]

I've been messing around the past couple of days with 2.1 and came up with these designs for auto crafting: https://factorioprints.com/view/-P-kS_SGyGg_Xide9_Jd


The basic jist is that requests are made via constant combinators in a priority queue that blocks lower priority items from being made until all higher priority items are within an acceptable range. This particular design is bot based, but the circuit could be used with a belt setup if you were particularly determined. The main "Proof of Concept" blueprint in the book contains some display panels that help to explain the inner workings of the circuit. Yes, I could have put the info in the display panels in the combinator descriptions, but I prefer the tooltip feel the display panels provide.

The circuit is theoretically infinitely expandable, but the combinator cost is O(n^2) with n being the number of priority groups, so realistically you probably only want a max of 6 or 8 priority groups in one circuit.

This concept can obviously be used in more ways than just the blueprints I've provided, but I'm taking a victory lap after pulling my hair out for two days trying to get this to work. Nothing would make me happier than to see someone "steal" my idea and take it further.

This design has a flaw where the circuit gets stuck rapidly switching between recipes, but it is a very rare occurrence and because I'm never looking at the circuit when it happens, it has not been resolved.