Production flow
Locate the failure before changing the layout
Follow the material from the stalled stage into its receiver. An upstream pile can be caused by a full downstream bin, so distinguish an input that never converts from a converted product that cannot leave.
| What you see | Check first |
|---|---|
| A machine keeps a small clean batch unchanged | Material state, input face and the required interaction |
| Converted material accumulates | Receiver space and the route leaving the machine |
| Clean input works, mixed input stops | Foreign material and contact at the sorting surface |
| Each module works alone, the whole line backs up | Merged outputs, returning material and incoming feed together |
Limit the incoming feed
A wall above the incoming conveyor can limit pile height. Treat that opening as an input condition to test, rather than assuming a given height guarantees a particular rate.
Change one variable at a time. A faster belt, more mining or a new return route can deliver bursts the next stage cannot clear. Keep surplus stock in a visible buffer while testing a smaller feed.
- Record the inlet opening and conveyor type.
- Test steady supply separately from a large manual dump.
- Include returning unprocessed material when evaluating total input.
Separate mining materials from processing outputs
Inspect a sample of what the mine is actually sending. Ordinary Sand belongs in the Water/Shaker route; Copper and Redsand need separate paths. Keep Snow from reaching a Water contact area where Ice can obstruct it.
Let each sorted material reach its filter surface. A deep mixed pile can carry allowed particles past the intended exit. Reduce the pile and remove the dense obstruction before replacing a filter that works with a clean test.
Keep both outputs and the return path visible
Gold and Seed share the Kinetic Press output, while Flower processing releases Gold with Amethelis. Clearing only the valuable output can leave the other product holding up the whole line.
If rejected input cycles back to the entrance, watch that return together with new supply. A loop gives material another pass; it does not remove a downstream capacity limit. Separate stage outputs where possible and leave an accessible overflow for diagnosis.
Run a repeatable test before copying a module
Write down the build, mods, input materials, feed arrangement and observation interval. Start with clear receivers and one known material, then add the mixed input that caused the original failure.
Record which outputs grow, where material accumulates and whether manual clearing is needed. Close and reopen the feed to check recovery. A short successful run supports that test condition; it does not establish an uncloggable or optimal factory.
- Use the same input setup when comparing two changes.
- Do not change filters, heat and transport speed in the same test.
- Save the working Blueprint before the next redesign.
- Check machine contact, storage and connections after placing the copy.
Treat older ratios and Blueprints as dated experiments
Community measurements can explain how to test a bottleneck, but the August 31 throughput guide used Test Blocks Mod for some experiments and acknowledged an unresolved petal/gas clog. Its rates and layouts are not current-build guarantees.
Version 0.5.7 changed filter-boundary behavior. Check the version and required mods of an imported washer before diagnosing its failure as poor throughput. This page gives a diagnostic method, not a tested maximum-rate Blueprint.
Common questions
Is a smaller factory more efficient?
Size alone does not establish throughput. Compare output under the same input, version and test conditions.
Should I upgrade every conveyor to Mk.2?
Check the next stage first. Faster transport can deliver a larger burst without improving processing or output capacity.
Why does a single-material test work but mining jams the factory?
Check the mixture and feed size. Foreign materials or returning stock can obstruct a contact surface or exceed the tested input.
Is this an uncloggable Blueprint?
No. It is a way to locate, test and repair bottlenecks without claiming a universal layout or rate.