that isn`t an overflow protection that i`d use in limited space for early ore processing. and it`s more like a work around buildcraft`s pipe overflow issue, rather than a proper solution.
It's an unavoidable side effect of how items in Minecraft work. Either you have an infinite storage space (which you don't) or you have to decide what to do with excess incoming items (which is what this does) or you have to guarantee there won't ever be excess incoming items (which is kind of what RP2 does, and it has its own problems).
Fact: When you only have one machine you don't even need an insertion pipe. Just make the last pipe segment an iron pipe, pointed towards the machine. If items can't fit in the machine, they'll bounce instead of overflowing.
The Buildcrafty ways to handle the problem are:judging by screenshot provided by Poppycocks, mechanic similar to transfer node is what buildcraft is lacking at.
if chute could take items from inventories attached to it`s sides(which hopper doesnt do) then it would be a perfect solution to IC2`s problem, while being different from hopper.
- If you don't care about excess items (they're free to make, like the cobblestone in Poppycock's screenshot) then use an insertion pipe and void pipe - simple.
- If you usually have enough capacity to process all the items, but there may be bursts (such as in ore processing) then use a buffer chest and insertion pipe loop (the old way), or a chest+hopper (the new way), or a chute (if you need the speed).
- If you usually don't have enough capacity to process all the items and don't want to destroy them (maybe you have a UUM crafting table feeding a coke oven and don't want to waste UUM) then you can use gates to slow down the upstream process. (But notice how the other two scenarios do not require gates)