Automatic Dispenser
Dumps stored materials back into the world when it receives a Green Signal.
Red: Keeps content
Automatic Dispenser is a variant of the Storage Bin that spits its contents on the ground to the side of it when given a Green automation signal. However, it has to be powered to hold items, and has a power draw of 60W and a heat output, unlike a basic storage container.
Rationale
Q: What's the point of Automatic Dispensers?
A: Besides Alt+Q when in debug mode, there is no way to command your Dupes to place Debris in a certain spot. The Automatic Dispenser building adresses this.
Tile Replenishment
Automatic dispensers can be used to increase a natural tile's mass. In order to do so, the dispenser must be placed in a specific way : there must be two vertically aligned natural tiles directly on the side the dispenser is facing, one next to the bottom tile of the dispenser, and the other under that one (and therefore next to the tile the dispenser stands on). In such a configuration, when activated through automation, the dispenser will not drop its content on the floor in the form of debris. Instead, if the dropped content consist only of the same material as the lower of the two natural tiles, all of the content's mass will be added to that natural tile's mass, otherwise, if a part or all the dropped content differs from the lower natural tile's primary element, all the content will end up as a Buried Object in that tile.
Tips
- It will drop items just fine while non-powered, only automation functions require power.
- Since they draw power constantly even when not in use, it is recommended to leave them unpowered whenever possible.
- Dispensers generate Supply errands rather than Storage. Therefore, care should be taken while setting those up, as not to generate infinite hauling loops.
- Automatic Dispenser set to "sweep only" are useful as quantum stockpiles.
- Placing those on the edges of shafts can cut out some climbing time for haulers.
- When placed on the edges of Auto-Sweepers range it can daisy-chain them into the single sweeping system, where throughput is now limited by Sweeper, which exceeds single Conveyor Rail line in at least x25 times.
- Tile replenishment can be used in combination with tile flaking to reliably produce Tungsten from Abyssalite, which would otherwise be extremely hard to melt, given its almost zero Thermal Conductivity and very high melting point.
History
- QLM3-326232: Introduced.
