Manifold vs Load Balance

There's lots of debate between which is the better choice, Manifold or Load Balance. This article demonstrates both techniques.

This article needs to be revised for Update 4

Manifold

The Manifold method (sometimes called the overflow method) is the simplest and fastest method to build. It is also the slower method for all machines to start producing due to the nature of a manifold.

 

Here you can see the manifold method expanded after the copper factory was upgraded.

 

At 3:30  in the coal power video you get to see a great example of a manifold explained while the coal enters the coal generators.

 


Load Balance

Load Balance is a method of splitting resources (usually evenly) across all machines, resulting in all machines producing sooner rather than later. This can be a more time consuming and space consuming build style, however there is plenty of space in the game and who needs to rush when you can build aesthetically. Load balancing is my normal go-to build method, I really love to see how the resources flow and I love the aesthetics of it.

At 0:35 you will notice one split gets more ore and the fourth machine gets more ore initially. However, when performing upgrades to belts later and more ore comes in, you will have more machines to distribute the resources to and at that point the load balanced will be more “balanced”. This is a demonstration of how you can build cleanly right from the start of the game and expand as you progress.

 

In the steel factory the conveyor layer underneath the foundries is another example of load balancing.

 

This load balancing style has become my go-to build method, once you understand where machines are placed and belt / splitter heights you can actually build it quite fast.

 

Manufacturers have four inputs which means you need to plan how you bring in resources. I either use the underneath method below, or the same method above.