[HreDaak]

Here is how i 'think' it works:
SPACE divided by the AMOUNT set on the spaces per line and always rounded down to next integer is the amount of components the design has.

For example:

Base ship has 1500kt space and the spaces per one line is set to 255kt. Base ship will now have 1500kt/255kt=5.88 rounded to 5 components. Note that each design will ALWAYS have atleast one component regardless of the space the design has. This is if the spaces per one line is set to something else than 0.

Now if you would like to have say 13 components on the Base ship you should divide 1500 by 13 and round it down to next integer. 1500/13=115.384 rounded to 115. Now if you set the spaces per one line to 115 then each Base ship will have 13 components.

Note that there are other lines that add components to designs. Must have ability X adds one component with the ability in question. This component is not counted in the amount of components stated on the spaces per one line even if they have same ability.