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
| 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 |
Recipe
Section titled “Recipe”| Material | Count | Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Iron Bar / Lead Bar | 5 | 333 segments |
| Chest | 2 | |
| Glass | 5 | |
| Workstation | Anvil |
| Material | Count | Yield |
|---|---|---|
| Dubious Plating | 5 | 333 segments |
| Mysterious Circuitry | 5 | |
| Iron Bar / Lead Bar | 5 | |
| Chest | 2 | |
| Glass | 5 | |
| Workstation | Anvil |
Structure
Section titled “Structure”A typical run looks like:
Source chest → Output endpoint → Normal pipe → Normal pipe → Input endpoint → 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
Section titled “Mode Switch”Right-click a placed segment without holding Item Pipeline cycles: Normal → Output → Input → …
Non-endpoints refuse and ask you to use an endpoint.
Changing a mode flags the network for a rebuild of its transmission paths.
Transmission Paths
Section titled “Transmission Paths”The network plans its transmission paths ahead of time. Working backward from every Input endpoint, each pipe segment remembers which direction an item should travel next toward an Input that can accept it.
- Flagged for rebuild on place, break, mode change, or connection change
- A rebuild is allowed at most once every ~0.2 s, which prevents jitter
- A forced rebuild runs about every 10 s
While moving, an item just follows the recorded direction, so even large networks stay cheap to run.
Output Behavior
Section titled “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, then advance along the recorded direction over time
Input Behavior
Section titled “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
Section titled “Stuck-Item Rescue”| Stuck time | Behavior |
|---|---|
| ~1 s | Relaxed pathfinding: ignore the target’s receive check and head for any reachable Input |
| ~3 s | Move into any empty neighbouring pipe |
| ~6 s | Reverse flow back up to 8 pipe segments |
| 60 s | Force deposit into any adjacent container |
| Still failing | Drop to world |
Rewiring mid-run won’t permanently jam items.
Quick Reference
Section titled “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
Section titled “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
Section titled “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