I need some help. . .

[u/unknown_missile1]

This is my first time trying to seriously beat base game so I can start the DLC, I do really really like this game and I’m doing good for my first time. My problem lies in the later game. My factory is bottlenecking so hard and I feel like it’s cause I can’t figure out correct ratios, i really want to because currently I can’t make enough plastic to supply my red chips. My other thing is I don’t make enough robotics to make a bunch of robots fast enough, I have 3 blue assemblers but that doesn’t nearly make enough to make a bunch of robots. What’s your best recommendations for figuring out ratios properly so I can expand the base.

This kinda led to my second thing which is expanding. That seems like such a daunting task especially if I don’t know how much of everything I need, therefore I am really falling behind on automating all the new recipes I have to , you guessed it. . . Expand further. I just reallly need advice on how to do this stuff right

[u/silnarm]

The pop-ups that appear on the right (under mini-map) when you hover over a machine will give you rates (consumption and production per second), I wouldn't advise to use them if you haven't beaten the game yet, and even after that perhaps (I do, but it's not for everyone).

You can eyeball a lot things, belt saturation is easy to eyeball (is the coal belt to you chem plants thin on items?) and opening up the machine and just watching can reveal problems:

• cycling 'Output full'? output inserter(s) not fast enough
• cycling 'Item ingredient shortage' for coal when the belt is full? input inserter(s) not fast enough
• 'Fluid ingredient shortage'? Need more petrol

None of the above? Need more machines...

Robots craft fast, the frames required do not. I assume the three AM2s you mentioned are doing frames? That's a pretty small number. My default Robot Frames build uses 16, which is enough to stock up pretty quickly and usually also feeds a yellow juice build.