Item Pipeline

Item Pipeline runs parallel to power. It moves items from chests and machine outputs without using UE. Endpoints are Output or Input, with optional Item Filter Board whitelists.

Used to transport items
Right-click to quickly dismantle and retrieve the target pipe (only when holding a pipeline)
Right-click a pipe endpoint to switch between Output and Input modes (only when NOT holding a pipeline)
Output mode pipes extract items from connected containers and transfer them to containers connected to Input mode pipes

— In-game tooltip

Stats

Field	Value
Tile size	1×1
Craft yield	333 segments / craft
Place cost	20 UE
Power network	Independent (no UE drain in operation)
Travel speed	~1 segment / 0.08 s at full speed
Extract interval	Output endpoints about every 0.13 s
Extract cap	64 items per pull

Material	Count	Yield
Iron Bar / Lead Bar	5	333 segments
Chest	2
Glass	5
Workstation	Anvil

Material	Count	Yield
Suspicious Scrap	5	333 segments
Mysterious Circuit	5
Iron Bar / Lead Bar	5
Chest	2
Glass	5
Workstation	Anvil

Structure

flowchart LR
    Chest1[Source Chest] --> OutPipe[Output Endpoint]
    OutPipe --> Pipe1[Normal Pipe]
    Pipe1 --> Pipe2[Normal Pipe]
    Pipe2 --> InPipe[Input Endpoint]
    InPipe --> Chest2[Target Chest]

Node	Role
Normal	Mid segment; no container interaction
Output	Pulls from adjacent container into the network
Input	Accepts items from network into adjacent container

Only endpoints (at most one pipe neighbor) can be Output or Input. Mid tiles stay Normal.

Mode Switch

Right-click a placed segment without holding Item Pipeline cycles:

Normal → Output → Input → Normal → …

Non-endpoints refuse and ask you to use an endpoint.

Mode changes mark the network dirty and rebuild routing.

Routing

The network precomputes routes from all Input endpoints backward through pipes. Each segment knows the next hop toward a reachable Input that can accept the item.

Dirty on place, break, mode change, or connection change
Rebuild allowed after ~0.2 s minimum (anti-jitter)
Forced rebuild about every 10 s

In transit, items only look up the next hop. Large networks stay cheap.

Output Behavior

About every 0.13 s:

Find reachable Input that can accept the item. Else no pull (backpressure)
Apply Item Filter Board whitelist if set
Pull up to 64 items
Inject at progress 0; advance toward the next hop over time

Input Behavior

At progress ≥ 1, deposit to adjacent container:

Full stack fits → merge
Partial space → split stack
No space → ~0.5 s cooldown, item returns to network
Magic Storage supported when installed

Filtered endpoints reject non-whitelist items.

Stuck-Item Rescue

Stuck time	Behavior
~1 s	Relaxed routing: ignore target receive checks, any reachable Input
~3 s	Any empty neighbor pipe
~6 s	Reverse flow up to 8 hops
60 s	Force deposit into any adjacent container
Still failing	Drop to world

Rewiring mid-run won’t permanently jam items.

Quick Reference

Action	Result
Left-click with Item Pipeline	Place
Right-click pipe while holding Item Pipeline	Remove segment
Right-click endpoint empty hand / non-pipeline item	Cycle Normal / Output / Input
Right-click endpoint with Item Filter Board	Copy whitelist
Hover Output / Input	Show filtered item icons

vs Power

Fully separate from Energy Pipeline:

Different tiles and networks
No UE cost in operation (only 20 UE place cost on the item)
No interaction with power routing

Typical miner setup: one power pipe + one item pipe + chests.

Recommended Setups

Smelt line: ore chest → Output → Incinerator → Input → bar chest
Sorter: one source, multiple Outputs with different filters
Long distance: no throughput loss; mind corners and endpoint orientation