I don't know if there is some magical place that allows me to figure out what the items in-game do, but since I can't find it I will post here.
I have questions about some of the items that I recently got, like the 3D scanner and the Alternate pusher. What do they do? I mean I know that the pusher pushes stuff, but seriously to what use does it have? If my items don't fit into the box on the first try (which is the only use I can think of) I just use another box loader behind it.
Then theres the 3D scanner. If I put an item on it it turns into a square and launches out of my factory into the void.
Would love a reply being a noob to both the game and forums.
Normally, I would point you to http://moi.wikia.com, but that's not populated enough to answer your question yet, since it's so new.
The 3d scanner is designed to be used paired with a 3d printer. If you place a 3d printer in the path of the square that the 3d scanner creates, the 3d printer will print the item that you scanned. Imagine it to be a linear form of teleporter, with the scanner being the entry teleporter and the printer being the destination.
The alternating pusher will push an item in the direction it's facing every 2 items. This means, for example, you could have 1 box of iron, but have half of the iron going to a One Input Machine, and the other half to a Two Input Machine.