Inserters are the fundamental components used to move items from one part of the factory to another. They are a vital component in almost all contraptions. They look and operate like a robot arm: they take items from behind and place them in front. For example, inserters can move items between machines, into or out of storage (such as chests) or onto transport belts.
Place the item onto the ground, onto a transport belt, or into any object that has storage space for stacks.
Inserters act differently depending on what they are moving items to/into so as not to monopolize all of the items being picked up. This allows other machines and inserters on the same transport belt to pick up a share of the items.
Insertion Limits
Inserters will stop inserting items into certain buildings if they already have enough of that item. For example, if a boiler has 5 or more items of fuel in it, an inserter will not insert additional fuel. When the fuel drops below 5 items, the inserter will continue to insert more fuel, up to the limit of 5 items.
Double the number of items needed for one research point
An inserter that takes items from an object containing stacks of items (such as a chest) can overfill the target building due to the Inserter item stack size. Overfilling can also happen if you use multiple inserters to insert items into the building.
Inserters and transport belts
Inserters will always place the item on the further lane.
The end of the belt places the items in it onto the next Tile, so that the inserter can grep it. The last input should be one off. This can prevent the two items from simply sitting there at the end of the belt.
Curves, but their behavior is then very "special" and the items have a big chance to block.
They cannot place on splitter
Inserters can pick up from
Splitters
First half of the conveyor belt
Inserters have problems to pick up
from fast belts, cause the items are moving too fast for them.
picking up from curves
from the entry/exit of an underground belt
Inserters and Transport Belts
Transport belts have two lanes on which items can travel. When Inserters place an item on the belt, they place it on the lane furthest from them (see above).
