Tips and Tricks
Best practices and pro tips from experienced Smart! users.
Always test with a small grid (2×2) before committing to large builds. This helps you:
- Verify spacing is correct
- Check that items fit properly
- Confirm settings before using resources
The HUD displays all your current settings. Always check it before placing!
- Grid dimensions (X × Y × Z)
- Spacing values per axis
- Steps and stagger amounts
- Rotation angle
Press K to open the Smart! Panel when you need to:
- Set multiple values precisely
- Select recipes from a dropdown
- Configure auto-connect settings
- See all options at once
Use modifier keys with scroll wheel:
-
X+ Scroll → X axis -
Z+ Scroll → Y axis -
X+Z+ Scroll → Z axis
Press NumPad 0 while holding a mode key to cycle axes:
- Spacing: X → Y → Z
- Steps: X → Y
- Stagger: X → Y → ZX → ZY
To reset a value, cycle it back to 0 or use the Smart! Panel.
Add 2-4m spacing between production buildings to leave room for belt routing.
Use 8m foundations as your base unit — they align well with most buildings.
When scaling Z (height):
- Storage containers stack perfectly
- Add Z spacing for floor separation
- Use Steps for ramped access
Auto-connect shows hologram previews. Check them! If connections look wrong:
- Adjust your position
- Check tier settings
- Verify building compatibility
- Auto uses your highest unlocked tier
- Manual lets you choose specific tiers
- Match tiers to your production needs
For manifolds, enable Distributor → Distributor connections. Splitters/mergers will chain together automatically.
Extend clones exactly what you built. A clean template = clean clones.
Extend skips occupied connectors. If connections are missing:
- Check if source connectors are already in use
- Extend intelligently handles partial manifolds
- Scale your first building
- Set up the manifold
- Extend to duplicate the entire setup
- 15° rotation = 24 items per circle
- 30° rotation = 12 items per circle
- Use Y scaling for parallel lanes
- Use ZX/ZY stagger for lean effects
- Small values (0.25-0.5m) for subtle lean
- Larger values for dramatic angles
- X/Y stagger creates diagonal lines
- Match stagger to item size for 45° angles
Smart! warns you when grids exceed 100 items. Consider:
- Breaking into smaller sections
- Placing in batches
- Checking your resource supply first
Large grids consume lots of materials. Check your inventory before placing 400 foundations!
If items overlap:
- Add spacing
- Check that spacing matches item dimensions
- Some items need more gap than others
If buildings have wrong recipe:
- Use Recipe Selection before placing
- Or use Extend from a correctly-configured building
If keys don't work:
- Check Options > Keybindings for conflicts
- InfiniteNudge mod has known conflicts (use NumPad instead)
- Build ONE perfect production setup
- Configure recipe, connect manifold
- Use Extend to duplicate as needed
- Fastest way to build large factories!
- Open Smart! Panel (K)
- Set all values precisely
- Click Apply
- Place with confidence
- Start with foundations (large grid)
- Add buildings (with spacing)
- Add distributors (with auto-connect)
- Extend for duplication
Have a tip that helped you? Share it on the Discord!
