Inserters

Basics

Inserters are the fundamental structure of a factory. They take an item from behind it and place it in front of it. Inserters can pick up items off the ground, off a transport belt, or from any object that can hold items (eg. chest, furnace), and place them onto the ground, on a transport belt, or into any object that can hold items.

Inserter mechanics

Inserters will act differently depending on what they are moving items to/into so as not to monopolize all of the items being picked up and allow other machines and inserters on the same transport belt to have items. [1]

• Boilers/Burner Items: Inserters will only place up to 5 pieces of coal into a boiler, burner inserter, or furnace before stopping.
• Assembly Machines: Inserters will place up to twice the items needed to make one of the specified item.
• Transport belts: Inserters will always place the item on the further lane.

Types

Burner inserter

• Low tech version of the basic inserter.
• Speed: Normal
• Power source: Fuel (wood/coal)
  

Note: Manual refilling is required, but no electricity is needed, so it is useful mainly in the early game.

Inserter

• Speed: Normal
• Power source: Electricity
  

Long handed inserter

• Longer reach (both input and output are 1 tile further from the inserter)
• Speed: Normal
• Power source: Electricity
  

As seen in the picture, the furnace needs to get coal from the farther transport belt, and the long-handed inserter is able to reach the farther transport belt.

Fast inserter

• More expensive
• Speed: Fast (2x as fast as normal)
• Power source: Electricity
  

Filter inserter

Removed in newest version.

Smart inserter

• Will move only selected types of items (up to 5 types) or all items when no type is chosen and the inserter is connected to a circuit networks
• Speed: Fastest (2.4x as fast as normal)
• Power source: Electricity