Applied-energistics-2: Keep a certain number of items in stock and craft on demand

[rosavi]

So, this is actually more of a question than a feature request or bug report, but this seemed the best place to ask since I don't have a reddit account and am currently unable to use IRC (long story).

Is there a way to keep a certain number of items always in stock but still be able to craft them when needed without duplicating everything? I have my printed circuits on automated crafting by way of level emitters, but if I want to auto-craft anything in bulk that requires more printed circuits than I currently have in stock it won't work. I could either duplicate everything (making more presses, inscribers, and using interfaces with patterns instead of level emitters) or I could greatly increase the number of items to keep in stock. Both seem very wasteful.

On the same note, I have my processors automated, but making each one takes a long time and I would like to keep a small number of each always in stock to speed up trivial crafting tasks.

Is there a way to do this? If there isn't, is there a chance such a feature could be added? Maybe an option on the interface that will autocraft stuff everytime it falls below a certain level without it needing to be manually requested?

[thatsIch]

Level Emitter > Export Bus (+Crafting Upgrade+Redstone Upgrade) > ME Interface

will keep a set items in your network. You just need to configure it what to craft and how many items the level emitter needs before activating or deactivating the redstone signal

[rosavi]

I'm guessing I need to export the crafting ingredients into the ME interface and not the finished product, right?

(I'm still coming to grips with how to set up networks and autocrafting, sorry if this is a stupid question)

[thatsIch]

You export (due to the crafting upgrade) the result into the ME Interface.

No, feel free to ask your questions, better ask, before you get sad :-)

[rosavi]

But where does the crafted product go? Does the interface work as an import bus in that case and just puts it inside my ME Drives (or whatever I'm using for storage in the network)?

(Edit: Just rechecked the wiki and it appears that is the case and it was documented all along. I can't believe I've been using such a roundabout way, with buffer chests, Dimensional Transceivers and a ton of import buses, when I could just throw it all back into an interface)

Just to make sure I'm getting this right, say I want to keep 50 Logic Processors in my network at all times but still be able to craft them without using two separate Inscriber setups.

A level emitter sends a redstone signal if there's less than 50 LPs in the network -> activates an export bus with a crafting upgrade that exports the LPs into an ME interface -> ME interface has the LP processing pattern and is next to my inscriber.

I've been thinking about it (haven't tested it yet) and one possible solution I got was simply using an export bus (+crafting upgrade) on a chest with a storage bus in it. That way I will always have a chest full of the items, bypassing the level emitters and freeing up my inscribers to be used for crafting on demand. Your solution is certainly a lot more elegant, I'm just wondering if my understanding of AE2 mechanics is sound.

[thatsIch]

But where does the crafted product go? Does the interface work as an import bus in that case and just puts it inside my ME Drives (or whatever I'm using for storage in the network)?

yes

A level emitter sends a redstone signal if there's less than 50 LPs in the network -> activates an export bus with a crafting upgrade that exports the LPs into an ME interface -> ME interface has the LP processing pattern and is next to my inscriber.

yes

I've been thinking about it (haven't tested it yet) and one possible solution I got was simply using an export bus (+crafting upgrade) on a chest with a storage bus in it. That way I will always have a chest full of the items, bypassing the level emitters and freeing up my inscribers to be used for crafting on demand. Your solution is certainly a lot more elegant, I'm just wondering if my understanding of AE2 mechanics is sound.

also possible, but you are set to a specific amount, if you want to fine tweak it, it is not really possible. There is also the possibility to use a ME Interface's crafting option (put a crafting card into the ME Interface) to craft up all items, if not available in the system which are set in the config. If you put a storage bus on it, you can read them. That way you can easily auto-craft 1 to 8x64 items. If you want more you can duplicate it or just use the level emitter. Its generally a trade-off and a personal touch.

[thatsIch]

I am closing this for now, to take it off the tracker, but you can still ask questions for clarifications

[Holladiewal]

You can also have an storage bus pointing on an interface with an crafting card as long as both the bus and the interface are in the same network. Just define your desires in the interface and the storage bus is able to read the inventory of the interface causing configured items to show up in the system.

[Morpheus1101]

This is essentially what im trying to do, but without success. I have 15 interfaces, all with storage buses on them to maintain 1 stack of 15 different types of ore blocks, but once i run lower then 64, it isnt Automatically crafting more. I have patterns for everything an 15 processors, but im not figuring out what im missing to why it isnt working. Do i need ot have those 15 on the same colored cable as m y dirves/autocrafting system ?

[mindforger]

i think if you attach a storage bus on to an interface some special code is kicking in, i tried this one in 1.7.10 and it does not work because of an infinite loop it would cause or something like that

you should try the way @thatsIch already provided in 2014

interface and storage bus have a special relationship

[Morpheus1101]

I ended up working it all out. I had to have the Interfaces on the same Network as my monitors then a completely separate colored cable again connected to the storage buses for it to do what i wanted.

[mindforger]

please send a picture of it, how it works :) would be a great reference to have

[Morpheus1101]

The Orange Cables are connected To 1 controller which has the interfaces you see here as well as my Interface, Crafting & Pattern Terminal, this enabled the autocrafting to start when the level of each ore block dropped below 64. Then i had to use a separate sub network being the Lime Green Cables to connect to the StorageBuses in order for the network to see them.