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Belt transport system: Difference between revisions

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The belt transport system is the first transport system available in Factorio, and together with [[Railway|Trains]] and [[Logistic network|Logistics Robots]] make up the backbone of any Factorio base. Transport belts (sometimes called conveyors) are used to transport [[Items]].
The belt transport system is the first transport system available in Factorio, and together with [[Railway|Trains]] and [[Logistic network|Logistics Robots]] make up the backbone of any Factorio base. Transport belts (sometimes called conveyors) are used to transport [[Items]].


There are three types of belt, each with three different speed tiers. The three types of belt are:
== Beginner ==
 
{| class="wikitable"
[[File:Basic-transport-belt.png|link=Transport belts]] [[File:Fast-transport-belt.png|link=Transport belts]] [[File:Express-transport-belt.png|link=Transport belts]] ''' - [[Transport belts]]
! [[Transport belts]] !!  [[Underground belts]] !!  [[Splitters]] !! Speed ([[tile]]s/[[Game-second|second]]) !! Needed research
 
|-
[[File:Basic-transport-belt-to-ground.png|link=Underground belts]] [[File:Fast-transport-belt-to-ground.png|link=Underground belts]] [[File:Express-transport-belt-to-ground.png|link=Underground belts]] ''' - [[Underground belts]]
| {{imagelink|basic-transport-belt|Basic transport belt}}
 
| {{imagelink|basic-transport-belt-to-ground|Basic underground belt}}
[[File:Basic-splitter.png|link=Splitters]] [[File:Fast-splitter.png|link=Splitters]] [[File:Express-splitter.png|link=Splitters]] ''' - [[Splitters]]
| {{imagelink|basic-splitter|Basic splitter}}
| ~1.8
| [[Logistics 1]] Basic underground belt and Basic splitter
|-
| {{imagelink|fast-transport-belt|Fast transport belt}}
| {{imagelink|fast-transport-belt-to-ground|Fast underground belt}}
| {{imagelink|fast-splitter|Fast splitter}}
| ~3.6
| [[Logistics 2]]
|-
| {{imagelink|express-transport-belt|Express transport belt}}
| {{imagelink|express-transport-belt-to-ground|Express underground belt}}
| {{imagelink|express-splitter|Express splitter}}
| ~5.6
| [[Logistics 3]]
|-
|}


== Differences between the belt tiers ==
== Differences between the belt tiers ==


The main difference between different tiers of belt is the speed at which they operate. As belt is upgraded from yellow to red to blue, it gets faster and is able to move more items. The [[Transport belts/Physics|Physics]] page has some technical information on exact values for each tier of transport belt.
The main difference between different tiers of belt is the speed at which they operate. As belt is upgraded from yellow to red to blue, it gets faster and is able to move more items. The [[Transport belts/Physics|Physics]] page has some technical information on exact values for each tier of transport belt.
== General behavior ==


=== Power usage ===
=== Power usage ===
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This type of deadlock is avoided by allowing transport belts to operate without power.
This type of deadlock is avoided by allowing transport belts to operate without power.


== Advanced ==
=== Debug mode ===
=== Debug mode ===


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When [[Debug mode|debug mode]] is used and the [[Lua/Game#speed|game speed is reduced]] to around 0.3, the collision boxes of moving items can be clearly seen.
When [[Debug mode|debug mode]] is used and the [[Lua/Game#speed|game speed is reduced]] to around 0.3, the collision boxes of moving items can be clearly seen.


== Puzzling game element ==
=== Puzzling game element ===


Transport belts introduce a puzzle-like game element. The player needs to plan the transport belt system ahead of time, or else risk having to tear them up at a later time when things need to be expanded or moved around. Transport belts have [[Transport belts#Belt Management|many applications]] that are not immediately obvious, such as merging belt lanes together, balancing belt lanes, and overcoming logistical challenges such as maximizing throughput while minimizing size.
Transport belts introduce a puzzle-like game element. The player needs to plan the transport belt system ahead of time, or else risk having to tear them up at a later time when things need to be expanded or moved around. Transport belts have [[Transport belts#Belt Management|many applications]] that are not immediately obvious, such as merging belt lanes together, balancing belt lanes, and overcoming logistical challenges such as maximizing throughput while minimizing size.


Many of the pages below include more information on those and other advanced applications of transport belts.
Many of the pages below include more information on those and other advanced applications of transport belts.
== Overview ==
{| class="wikitable"
! [[Transport belts]] !!  [[Underground belts]] !!  [[Splitters]] !! Speed ([[tile]]s/[[Game-second|second]]) !! Needed research
|-
| {{imagelink|basic-transport-belt|Basic transport belt}}
| {{imagelink|basic-transport-belt-to-ground|Basic underground belt}}
| {{imagelink|basic-splitter|Basic splitter}}
| ~1.8
| [[Logistics 1]] Basic underground belt and Basic splitter
|-
| {{imagelink|fast-transport-belt|Fast transport belt}}
| {{imagelink|fast-transport-belt-to-ground|Fast underground belt}}
| {{imagelink|fast-splitter|Fast splitter}}
| ~3.6
| [[Logistics 2]]
|-
| {{imagelink|express-transport-belt|Express transport belt}}
| {{imagelink|express-transport-belt-to-ground|Express underground belt}}
| {{imagelink|express-splitter|Express splitter}}
| ~5.6
| [[Logistics 3]]
|-
|}


== See also ==
== See also ==
* [[Transport network]]
* [[Transport network]]
** [[Transport belts]]
** [[Transport belts]]

Revision as of 09:33, 22 March 2016

The belt transport system is the first transport system available in Factorio, and together with Trains and Logistics Robots make up the backbone of any Factorio base. Transport belts (sometimes called conveyors) are used to transport Items.

Beginner

Transport belts Underground belts Splitters Speed (tiles/second) Needed research
Basic transport belt Basic underground belt Basic splitter ~1.8 Logistics 1 Basic underground belt and Basic splitter
Fast transport belt Fast underground belt Fast splitter ~3.6 Logistics 2
Express transport belt Express underground belt Express splitter ~5.6 Logistics 3

Differences between the belt tiers

The main difference between different tiers of belt is the speed at which they operate. As belt is upgraded from yellow to red to blue, it gets faster and is able to move more items. The Physics page has some technical information on exact values for each tier of transport belt.

Power usage

Belts don't need power for transportation. This is one of the many Mysteries of the Factorio World.

But, like other Mysteries of the Factorio World, this is purely for gameplay reasons. If transport belts needed power, the game would be much more difficult and the player would have to worry about the entire factory coming to a standstill if power was lost.

For example, if belts needed power, a player might lose the ability to get Coal to their Steam engine. This would mean the player can't generate more power using the steam engine, which means the belts don't bring coal to the engine, etc.

This type of deadlock is avoided by allowing transport belts to operate without power.

Advanced

Debug mode

Belts can be envisioned as "moving ground." Every item on a belt is moved in the belt's direction each tick.

Every item is a small entity with a collision box (to see this, turn on "collision box" in debug mode). When the belt moves, the item (and the item's collision box) moves along with it. When on a belt, item's collision boxes never overlap (see image below).

File:Belts2.png

In the image above, imagine the items moving upward tick by tick. When the items come to the turn, they aren't rotated but are instead moved to the side.

When debug mode is used and the game speed is reduced to around 0.3, the collision boxes of moving items can be clearly seen.

Puzzling game element

Transport belts introduce a puzzle-like game element. The player needs to plan the transport belt system ahead of time, or else risk having to tear them up at a later time when things need to be expanded or moved around. Transport belts have many applications that are not immediately obvious, such as merging belt lanes together, balancing belt lanes, and overcoming logistical challenges such as maximizing throughput while minimizing size.

Many of the pages below include more information on those and other advanced applications of transport belts.

See also