Description
Sorts ore (or any other items you may need to sort). Accepts six input belts, outputs six belts per item. The core sorting module can sort input into three groups of items, runs off a central substation for power supply and can be tiled horizontally for yet more item choices. Return line and refeeder prints provide a method to manage overflow; the refeeder uses the splitter's input priority to ensure that the overflow is prioritized when feeding the sorter, so the items should keep circulating freely through the sorter as it does its thing.
The book contains versions using yellow/red/blue belts depending on your needs. The layout between them is identical except for the grades of transport machines used to facilitate upgrading as needed, though by the time you get to that you'll probably have robots to rip it up and rebuild it.
Use
At minimum, deploy only the Ore Sorter blueprint of your choice. Note that the sorter will rotate input direction by 90 degrees anti-clockwise, so plan accordingly. One sorter module will let you split things into three output belt groups; use the constant combinator connected to each set of filter inserters to set what items you want output onto that set of belts. Take care to sort outputs from least used to most used as you get further from the input to mitigate backups.
To prevent blockages within the sorter, use the return line blueprint to "cap" the sorter at the farthest end, then use the refeeder blueprint between the input and the sorter module. This uses significantly more space, but provides a way for items that hit the end of the sorter to cycle back to the beginning and keeps things circulating.
Notes
- The blue version replaces the filter inserters with stack filter inserters for maximum throughput, but this does mean you can only output one item to a set of output belts.
- Not included in the blueprints are the belts/underground belts you will need to build above the core sorter to connect the return lines to the refeeder, which is left as an exercise to the builder.
- It's possible to stack the core sorters vertically, too, though you will probably run into capacity problems with the output belts. But if you're going for maximum throughput, why is your input not already sorted? :)