Machine

Robotic Arm

Orange robotic arms surround a hay pile beside several conveyor routes.
Look at how close the arms sit to several belts. When checking your own layout, follow each belt an arm can reach. Official Steam screenshot. View full-size image ↗

Robotic arms are part of the game’s automation. When diagnosing sold needles, inspect all reachable belts: players report arms placing material onto nearby alternative routes.

Checks and decisions

What to check
Trace every possible receiving belt through a scanner before the sell stand. Test the routing with a small flow before buying more arms.
Community advice
Observe the arm while its usual destination is backed up. The September discussion suggests that another reachable belt can receive material; this is player advice, not a confirmed explanation for every lost needle.