Mechanisms

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Revision as of 05:46, 23 January 2021 by Sub4rctic (Talk | contribs) (Quern)

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Parts

Axle

Axles transmit power from a mechanical power source to the device where the power will be used.

Wooden Axle
Grid layout Arrow (small).png Wooden Axle
Copper Saw Support Beam (Acacia)

Bearing

Axle Bearings support Axles, to extend their range (beyond 7 blocks), and they are also used to connect Axles to Devices and Gears. Horizontal Axle Bearings must have a solid block or Support Beam below them, while vertical bearings need a solid block or Support BeamVerify on two opposite sides. Sneak to rotate the Bearing when placing.

Wooden Axle Bearing
Support Beam (Acacia) Grid layout Arrow (small).png Wooden Axle Bearing
Lumber (Acacia) Lumber (Acacia)
Support Beam (Acacia)

Gear

Gears allow Axles to change direction vertically or horizontally, and they allow the player to change the speed to power ratio of a mechanical system. Right click the end of an axle to attach a Gear. Shift click a Gear to remove it.

Wooden Gear
Copper Saw Lumber (Acacia) Grid layout Arrow (small).png Wooden Gear (18 teeth)
Lumber (Acacia) Wooden Axle Lumber (Acacia)
Lumber (Acacia)

Gears are crafted by surrounding an Axle with 4 Lumber and a Saw. The Axle and Saw are not consumed in the crafting recipe. Gears start with 18 teeth. Crafting a Gear with a Saw will return a gear with 1 less tooth. This can be repeated until the gear reaches 9 teeth, which is the smallest Gear. An existing Gear can be copied in one step by adding it into the Gear recipe along with the Saw and Axle.

Axle Couple

The Couple engages the axle when powered by a redstone signal and disengages the Axle when not powered by a redstone signal.

Wooden Axle Couple
Lumber (Acacia) Grid layout Arrow (small).png Wooden Axle Couple
Wooden Axle Wooden Axle
Lumber (Acacia)

Crankshaft

The Crankshaft converts rotation into linear motion. Crankshafts can be attached to the back of a Bellows when there is an Axle adjacent to the space behind the Bellows.

Crankshaft
Grid layout Arrow (small).png Crankshaft
Lumber (Acacia) Wooden Axle Lumber (Acacia)
Wooden Axle Wooden Axle

Waterwheel

Waterwheels produce power from falling water. The hub of the waterwheel needs to be mounted between two Axles, with the Axle Bearings two blocks away from falling water. The speed of the waterwheel does not matter - instead, the distance that the water falls determines power. The water can fall from any height, but a greater height has diminishing returns - i.e. the taller the waterfall, the less power each block of height the waterfall has will add to the wheel.

Waterwheel
Planks (Acacia) Planks (Acacia) Planks (Acacia) Grid layout Arrow (small).png Waterwheel
Planks (Acacia) Wrought Iron Sheet Planks (Acacia)
Planks (Acacia) Planks (Acacia) Planks (Acacia)

Power and Load

Power is supplied by a Waterwheel, then transmitted by Axles, Couples, Gears, and Crankshafts to be used by Devices (currently: the Quern and Bellows).

Each turning block (Axles, Axle Supports, Axle Couples, Gears) and Device adds load on the system. As long as power is greater than load, the system will continue turning. If load becomes greater than power, the system will lock up.

Connecting blocks (Axles, Couples, Crankshafts) add 1 load per block. A Quern adds 5 load. A Bellows adds load depending on the speed its crankshaft is turning. The increase is nonlinear, so doubling the speed more than doubles the load.

Gear Ratio

Gears with ratios other than 1:1 will multiply or divide the load downstream. A Large 18-tooth gear turning a small 9-tooth gear (2:1 ratio) will double the load and rotation speed of all subsequent blocks and devices. A small 9-tooth Gear turning a large 18-tooth Gear (1:2 ratio) will half the load and rotation speed of subsequent blocks and devices.

Usage

Mechanical systems can currently be used to power the Quern and the Bellows.

Quern

Querns can be adapted for mechanical automation by adding a Rind and Millstone.

Bellows

Bellows can be automated by attaching a turning Crankshaft to the back of the Bellows. If gears are used to increase the pumping speed, the Forge can reach higher temperatures than they could if the Bellows were pumped by hand. This is essential for late-game metalworking, such as during the Steel age, where Steel must be melted at Brilliant White to create Black Steel.

History

Beta
0.86.0Added Waterwheels, Axles, Axle Bearings, Axle Couples, Wooden Gears, Crankshafts, millstones and rinds.