Transport network

2014-12-30T12:56:19Z

Smarty: /* Belt transport system */

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''This page will be deleted and forwarded to [[Belt transport system]].

[[File:transport-belt-intro-3.jpg|300px|thumb|Transport belts are used to move iron ore from a mining drill to an inserter, which is will then place the ore into a furnace]]
The Transport network consists of:
* [[Belt transport system]]
** [[Transport belts]]
**[[Splitters]]
**[[Underground belts]]
* [[Inserters]]
* [[Chests]]

The Transport Network is the primary means of moving items from one area to another. It is an essential component of any factory in the game.
== [[Belt transport system]] ==

The [[Belt transport system]] is the main means of transport in a base. It consists of 3 elements:
* [[Transport belts]]
* [[Underground belts]]
* [[Splitters]]
These come in 3 tiers of varying speed:

{| class="wikitable"
! Speed ([[tile]]s/[[Game-second|second]]) !! [[Transport belts]] !! [[Underground belts]] !! [[Splitters]] !! Needed research
|-
| ~1.8
| {{imagelink|basic-transport-belt|Basic transport belt}}
| {{imagelink|basic-transport-belt-to-ground|Basic underground belt}}
| {{imagelink|basic-splitter|Basic splitter}}
| [[Logistics 1]] Basic underground belt and Basic splitter
|-
| ~3.6
| {{imagelink|fast-transport-belt|Fast transport belt}}
| {{imagelink|fast-transport-belt-to-ground|Fast underground belt}}
| {{imagelink|fast-splitter|Fast splitter}}
| [[Logistics 2]]
|-
| ~5.6
| {{imagelink|express-transport-belt|Express transport belt}}
| {{imagelink|express-transport-belt-to-ground|Express underground belt}}
| {{imagelink|express-splitter|Express splitter}}
| [[Logistics 3]]
|-
|}

Learn more about the [[Transport belts/Physics|simulated physics]] of the belts, or how to [[Transport belts/Optimizing|optimize]] the flow of items.

== [[Inserters]] ==
[[File:transport-belt-two-lines-4.jpg|thumb|300px|Inserters hard at work]]
Inserters will always place items on the far side of a belt, and will prefer to take items from the closest side.

{| class="wikitable"
! Item !! Max power !! Description
|-
| {{imagelink|burner-inserter|Burner inserter}} || 180 W (burner) || Most basic inserter, needs fuel.
|-
| {{imagelink|inserter|Inserter}} || 13 W || Basic electric inserter.
|-
| {{imagelink|long-handed-inserter|Long handed inserter}} || 18 W || Basic inserter able to grab [[Items]] from 2 tiles distance.
|-
| {{imagelink|fast-inserter|Fast inserter}} || 30 W || Works at double speed.
|- style="background: #DDEEDD"
| {{imagelink|smart-inserter|Smart inserter}} || 40 W || Able to connect to [[Circuit network]] and [[Logistic network]] to specify working conditions. Can also grab specific item types only.
|-
|}

== [[Chests]] ==

[[File:Transport-Belt-Storage.jpg|thumb|300px|Inserters storing extra iron ore in wooden chests.]]
Chests are used to store [[Items|items]]. [[Chests]] [[Storage/Stack]] similar items together:
{| class="wikitable"
! Item !! Max [[Storages/Stack|stacks]] !! Description
|-
| {{imagelink|wooden-chest|Wooden chest}} || 16 || Basic storage chest.
|-
| {{imagelink|iron-chest|Iron chest}} || 32 || Larger basic chest.
|-
| {{imagelink|steel-chest|Steel chest}} || 48 || Basic chest with maximum capacity of 48 stacks.
|- style="background: #DDEEDD"
| {{imagelink|smart-chest|Smart chest}} || 48 || Connectable to [[Circuit network]].
|- style="background: #EEDDEE"
| {{imagelink|provider-chest|Active Provider chest}} || 48 || Used for [[Logistic network]], [[Circuit network]].
|- style="background: #EEDDEE"
| {{imagelink|Logistic-chest-passive-provider|Passive Provider chest}} || 48 || Used for [[Logistic network]], [[Circuit network]].
|- style="background: #EEDDEE"
| {{imagelink|storage-chest|Storage chest}} || 48 || Used for [[Logistic network]], [[Circuit network]].
|- style="background: #EEDDEE"
| {{imagelink|requester-chest|Requester chest}} || 48 || Used for [[Logistic network]], [[Circuit network]].
|-
|}

=== Other entities with stacks ===

As said, [[Storage/Stack|stacks]] are needed to store items. Entities with stacks are
* [[Burner inserter]], [[Burner mining drill]],
* [[Furnace]]s,
* [[Assembly|Assemblies]] or even the
* [[Car]] or [[Diesel locomotive]]/[[Cargo wagon]] but also
* [[Gun turret]]s
* [[Robots]] and [[Inserters]] (but only very small)
* your [[Inventory]] (plus the quick bar, the weapon bar, and what you have in hand).

== [[Storage]] ==

[[Storage]] is a concept about '''storing enormous masses of items'''. Under normal circumstances, you don't need to store many items. Especially in the beginning of the game every item counts and that means you should try to keep the distances short (belts store a serious amount of items) and don't use chests so much. Instead, you should '''keep the items in flow''', pass them as fast as possible/affordable from production step to the next step to create higher leveled items, instead of storing them.

So, when speaking about storages, we mean '''concepts which are needed to keep the production in flow'''. Some of them only work together with [[Logistic network]]. Most used for:

* [[Railway network/Train station]]
* [[Storage/Production buffers]]
* [[Storage/Handling overproduction]]

== See also ==
* [[Belt transport system]]
** [[Transport belts]]
** [[Splitters]]
** [[Underground belts]]
* [[Transport]]
* [[Crafting network]]
* [[Logistic network]]

[[Category: Transport network]] [[Category: Networks]]

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Transport network