To upgrade belts and inserters in Factorio, you need to research and unlock advanced technologies through the tech tree. Once you have the necessary technologies, you can craft and replace the basic belts and inserters with their upgraded versions. Additionally, you can use upgrade planners to easily upgrade multiple belts and inserters at once.
First Steps
When looking to upgrade your belts and inserters in Factorio, it's crucial to understand the different tiers available. Belts come in four tiers - yellow, red, blue, and purple, with each tier representing an upgrade in speed and throughput. Yellow belts are the basic tier, while purple belts are the fastest. Inserters have three tiers - yellow, red, and blue, offering varying degrees of speed and efficiency. It's important to note that upgrading belts and inserters can significantly increase your factory's efficiency and productivity.
Upgrading Belts
One of the simplest ways to upgrade belts in Factorio is by directly replacing them with a higher-tier belt. To upgrade a belt, simply remove the existing belt and replace it with a higher-tier one. This process is straightforward and can be done by clicking on the existing belt to remove it and then placing the desired higher-tier belt in its place. It's important to ensure that your new belt is connected correctly to maintain a smooth flow of resources across your factory.
Additionally, you can use underground belts to upgrade your belt system without needing to dismantle the entire structure. By using underground belts, you can maintain the layout of your factory while upgrading the belts to higher tiers. This can save time and resources, especially in complex factory setups where restructuring the entire belt system may be challenging.
Upgrading Inserters
Upgrading inserters in Factorio is a similar process to upgrading belts. To upgrade an inserter, you need to remove the existing inserter and replace it with a higher-tier version. This can be done by clicking on the existing inserter to remove it and then placing the upgraded inserter in its position. Upgraded inserters offer faster speeds and increased efficiency, allowing for quicker movement of items on your factory's belts.
Inserters play a crucial role in automating the movement of resources within your factory. By upgrading inserters to higher tiers, you can improve the overall efficiency of your production lines and reduce bottlenecks in resource transportation. It's essential to strategically upgrade inserters in key areas of your factory to optimize resource flow and maximize production output.
Advanced Techniques
As you progress through the game and your factory becomes more complex, there are advanced techniques you can use to optimize your belt and inserter systems further. One such technique is using circuit networks to control inserter behavior based on specific conditions. By programming inserters to act based on signal inputs from the circuit network, you can create sophisticated automation systems that increase efficiency and flexibility in your factory.
Another advanced technique is using splitters to balance the flow of resources on your belts. By strategically placing splitters along your belt lines, you can ensure that resources are evenly distributed across all lanes, preventing backups and optimizing throughput. Balancing the flow of resources is crucial in maintaining a smooth and efficient production process in your factory.
Conclusion
Upgrading belts and inserters in Factorio is essential for increasing the efficiency and productivity of your factory. By understanding the different tiers available and strategically upgrading your belts and inserters, you can streamline resource transportation and automation processes within your factory. Advanced techniques such as using circuit networks and splitters can further optimize your factory's operations and maximize production output. Continuous upgrades and optimizations to your belt and inserter systems will help you build a highly efficient and productive factory in Factorio.