This puzzle can be solved without using any bugs and the top solutions for each metric can be reached without using any bugs.

The only trick that gets used(inputs not spawning as long as something is over their spawning pad) is something that is an intended feature, not a bug

It would seem that many of these solutions are using some sort of "bug" in the game, not registering colisions properly?

Do those still work in the current version?

There is a really nice 3 instruction solution.

Very nice puzzle, doesn't need two quicksilvers though: https://imgur.com/a/zuaxo

Will say, very nice idea moving the Quicksilver and salt at the same time with a 6 arm.

50 cycles. https://i.imgur.com/AvM0Wao.gifv :)

49 is probably possible, but I can't quite see it yet. Someone smarter than me should be able to get it working though.

Don't be so quick on the trigger of it being done yet! I have a 14/2 period proof-of-concept machine ;)

And this should finish the puzzle off, for cycle count at least.
https://i.imgur.com/LAeKA0N.gif
(350/51/212) This is a copy of your machine Snowball, I just cleaned it up.
The track piece on the far right is to zoom out without costing me too much

Well first off here's a cleaner version of my 69 cycles (300/69/76)
https://i.imgur.com/RtiKRnw.gif

And after stealing your ideas again
https://i.imgur.com/IGnUhY2.gif
Boom, a 52 cycle, this aint over yet :P

The end of my machine is pretty sloppy it may be posible to get this down to 51 or maybe even 50. As far as reducing the period, 15/2 is as low as it can go.

Hey now we're not done yet... Just got 53 cycles ;)

SPOILER: https://i.imgur.com/i9wjOgB.gifv

And boom, got a 330/69/107 now ;D
https://i.imgur.com/J6QlxWN.gif

Just want to say I had a real fun time with this puzzle.

Actually, I just managed to shave another cycle off the period! 69 cycles now, good luck ;)

Nice, that's pretty similar to how I got 74 cycles as well! Except for mine, the loop is bugged and I can't make a gif :P

This is my 79 cycle machine.
https://i.imgur.com/NH8annY.gif

And here is my 74 cycle magic creation if you want to spoil yourself.
https://i.imgur.com/0ZbbrYk.gif

My 74 has an extra arm and a bit of extra track so the machine settles into place about halfway through it's period. If you take a good look at both of the gifs you might be able to piece it together. I had a heck of a time getting it to work.

84 cycles, 13 period. I have no idea how Daedamid got the period down to 12 :(

Just worked my cycle cutting black magic, bascialy, I just sent an arm to the void. This let me move a grab function, thus turning my 13 period to a 12 period machine.
Now a 295/74/96. Pretty sure 74 is the limit for this puzzle.

37 area now... Will try and beat your 79 cycles ;)

First solution was 255/91/89
Just got a 255/79/81 with your encouragement author.
Might get it down to 73/74 if I learn some cycle shifting black magic :D

Had me scratching my head for a while, but was incredibly satisfiying to solve. Got a 50/186/71 on my first solution.
Keeping new Quicksilver from spawning preemtively was a really interesting problem

Also got 50cost and 38area just now! :)

I have 82 cycles on this one now, can anyone do better? :)

Fun Puzzle. I got 105 cost / 246 cycles / 81 area

Very satisfying puzzle to solve. Now to see if I can optimize it :-)