Enabling larger projects by separating resource gathering from factory building
I was learning more about another favourite game of mine, Transport Fever 2, and the video I was watching talked about logistics hubs and the benefit of hooking up resources to the transport network meant that they would be available for use anywhere in the network. Now the logistics handling in Transport Fever 2 is much more automatic than Satisfactory in terms of allocating resources and materials. But the concept of connecting materials first and then sending them off to manufacturing later made something click in my brain.
When I start to build a large factory, the most intimidating aspect of it is sourcing materials and importing raw materials or parts. In the early game this is the most efficient way, direct to factory. But as parts get more complex it gets more challenging to efficiently import materials and avoid spaghetti and/or convoluted and inefficient transport networks.
The Plan
Starting with Sandstorm Logistics Hub, which I wrote about earlier, I will begin bringing resources to the hub and setting up train stations to be able to transport these resources to nearby factories.
Longer term I might replace my starter factories and decommission them in favour of a consolidated factory, but that is not even on my list at the moment.
Regional Hubs
I will start with Sandstorm Logistics Hub as my first regional hub. These regional hubs will be connected to a central logistics hub, more on that later, and resources will be distributed that way.
Regional hubs are gathering spots for all the materials in a region of the map, hence the name. From there, materials will be distributed to factories within the region, and transported in or out via this hub.
Central Hub
The central hub is a mega-project for later, and I will need to do some R&D on how to best balance resources so that I can automate resource sending. I think it may be as simple as saturating storage containers with resources and therefore any demand will not exhaust supply to another regional hub. I will experiment and see how that goes.
I want to get my first regional hub going before commencing work on the central hub. I am currently unsure where I want it located.
Hub Design
I am thinking of having at least two yards in each hub area. A large yard for the main system where train car arrangement is standardised, and then a smaller yard where local trains come and go.
The main yard (yard A) will have a siding for inputs from the central hub, and a siding for outputs to the central hub. Including two through tracks.
Resource Tracking
I have a spreadsheet to track inputs and outputs from each hub, and transfers. This way when I am designing factories I know what I have to work with, or the alternative, knowing if I must secure more resources for the desired output.
Next steps
Now, this has me excited to play and work on end-game parts to complete the game and space elevator. I was always daunted by building large factories and organising inputs and finding/sourcing materials near a good site to build on.
Now I am split into two modes; resource gathering, and planning and building. I will have a good sense of what resources are available. When I am planning a large factory I can decide what I want to produce and then work on gathering the resources required from wherever in the map now rather than relying on what is close enough geographically to use.
This may have been obvious to some players but I never stuck to a save this long to reach this realisation.