Factorio Forums

I have a blueprint like this.


It doesn't matter what the layout is, the question is the same even if i use different blueprint.
What matter is the amount of item that were used on that blueprint .
(btw, the blue chest thing is equalizer chest, a mod).
Now, i need a couple of this layout. Currently need 12 of those thing in my outpost.

Because math was a bit wonky on the fly on my head. I thought, i can use arithmetic combinator to count x amount of item i need.

So i made this constant + arithmetic + request + smart chest


What it does is simply :
Each Constant combinator is where i put the base number of each item, i need 80 fast inserter on base blueprint, multiply by 12, i need 960 fast inserter.
The smart inserter will pull from request chest, and will check whether the item is equal with arithmetic signal, and stop pulling if the amount is equal.

Sure i can do this in one request chest the usual way, ordering 960 inserter and other item.
Or i can put another 11 request chest then copy the request from one chest to another.

But i want to avoid calculating stuff, and different outpost need different amount of things. So it's easier to use arithmatic to do the calculating how much certain item is needed for x blueprint copies.

So,.the question is,..how do i simplify this setup ? I barely grasp the concept of combinator, only use them for simple stuff like redirecting pump of chemical plant, turning off steam engine when not needed.
Never use connstant and arithmetic combinator before this.

You can use the "each" signal to multiply a bunch of inputs at once.

DaveMcW wrote:You can use the "each" signal to multiply a bunch of inputs at once.

Aaahhh,..thank you !
Gonna try that when i get back from work,
I still kinda confuse with each/anything/everything signal,..
Usually i read wiki for basic tutorial, but the last time i search wiki, there are no page for combinator yet.

waduk wrote:

DaveMcW wrote:You can use the "each" signal to multiply a bunch of inputs at once.

Aaahhh,..thank you !
Gonna try that when i get back from work,
I still kinda confuse with each/anything/everything signal,..
Usually i read wiki for basic tutorial, but the last time i search wiki, there are no page for combinator yet.

there's a tutorial on the forums: https://forums.factorio.com/forum/vie ... 18&t=14556

with a section on the special group signals

Stupid me, how does this work ?
I set the on arithmatic signal to "each", outputting signal correctly.
But how do i setup the smart inserter ?

Edit:
Example:
There are no "fast inserter<Each"
And using "fast Inserter<fast Inserter" ;or using ">" is not activating smart inserter to start pulling either.

But the smart inserter can pull item though, as long it doesn't referring to the same item.
So, a fast belt can pull x number of item based on fast inserter output.

So, smart inserter can't referring the same item ?

The problem is the constant signal is combining with the real count, so the smart inserter doesn't know how many you really have.

Use "fast inserter < 0", and change your arithmetic combinator to -12.

Thanks DaveMW. It works, but i'm confused,.
Why it even works ? Negative number and less zero request.

I can't get my head around this, this negative number is really confusing..

By using a negative number, it makes adding the item cancel it out to zero. It becomes more like a count down to how many items you need since the signals on the same wire always get added together.