Smart Filter Inserter (count-aware stack size)


Inserters whose filters are set from the circuit network use each filter signal's COUNT as a per-item hand stack size, trimmed by what the drop target already holds. Lets a circuit-filtered inserter load an exact amount with no overshoot. Useful on its own, and pairs with Precise Train Logistics for exact train loading.

Content
7 days ago
2.0
15
Logistics Circuit network Storage
Owner:
ed_mercer
Source:
N/A
Homepage:
N/A
License:
MIT
Created:
7 days ago
Latest Version:
0.1.0 (7 days ago)
Factorio version:
2.0
Downloaded by:
15 users

Smart Filter Inserter

Make a circuit-controlled inserter load an exact amount, instead of always grabbing a full hand.

In vanilla, an inserter set to "set filters from circuit network" reads which items to move — but it still swings a full stack at a time, so you overshoot. This mod reads the count of each filter signal as the per-item hand size, trimmed by whatever the drop target already holds. The inserter then delivers precisely the requested amount, no more.

What it does

  • An inserter set to "set filters from circuit network" uses each filter signal's count as its hand stack size.
  • The amount is trimmed by what's already in the drop target, so a chest / wagon / machine fills to exactly the requested count — no overshoot.
  • Works for any inserter dropping into an item container (chests, wagons, machines). Belts are skipped.
  • The inserter is held disabled until the amount is known and its hand size is set, so it never grabs a full stack on the first swing before the override applies.

How to use it

  1. Place an inserter and connect it to the circuit network.
  2. In its GUI, enable "set filters from circuit network".
  3. Feed it a signal like iron-plate = 9. It loads up to 9 iron plates into the drop target — accounting for what's already there — and stops.

No special entities or extra setup beyond the vanilla circuit wiring you'd use anyway.

Settings

  • Inserters updated per tick — how many managed inserters are refreshed each tick (round-robin). Higher = snappier loading, slightly more UPS.

Commands

  • /sfi-debug — inspect the hovered inserter (its drop target, the signal it's reading, and the hand size it set).

Notes

Useful on its own for any exact-loading need, and pairs naturally with Precise Train Logistics, which uses it to load trains to an exact manifest.