Windmill - Revision history

Woeisme: added info for a bug affecting random windmill collapse

2025-11-09T17:46:38Z

added info for a bug affecting random windmill collapse

Quietust: Rule T

2025-08-18T17:35:14Z

Rule T

Jack Redfield: Article correction

2025-08-18T14:30:24Z

Article correction

Silverwing235: /* Synchronization */

2024-12-15T15:51:04Z

Synchronization

Zippy at 22:44, 2 April 2024

2024-04-02T22:44:26Z

Zippy: Added animated image. Replace bottom image with Wikimedia Commons one.

2024-04-02T22:28:58Z

Added animated image. Replace bottom image with Wikimedia Commons one.

Cali: Removed extra parenthesis

2024-04-02T17:38:25Z

Removed extra parenthesis

JasonMel: "give it a few ticks to start spinning"

2024-04-01T00:59:14Z

"give it a few ticks to start spinning"

Zippy at 00:17, 15 August 2023

2023-08-15T00:17:47Z

74.195.235.66 at 06:29, 11 January 2023

2023-01-11T06:29:55Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:46, 9 November 2025
Line 26:		Line 26:

	Due to what is assumed to be a bug, windmills can sometimes transmit their power through a solid floor without channeling. They only have this effect if the windmill is built ''first'', and whatever it's powering ''second''; however, this does not always work reliably.		Due to what is assumed to be a bug, windmills can sometimes transmit their power through a solid floor without channeling. They only have this effect if the windmill is built ''first'', and whatever it's powering ''second''; however, this does not always work reliably.
		+
		+	Putting a windmill directly on top of a gear you disengage can cause the windmill to collapse, so don't try that unless it says the windmill has a stable foundation. (copied over from the [[Pressure_plate#Latching_Pressure_Plates\|Pressure plate]] article)

	As with other machines, windmills freeze if the floor under them is natural ice.		As with other machines, windmills freeze if the floor under them is natural ice.

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:35, 18 August 2025
Line 14:		Line 14:

	In order for the windmill to generate power, its center tile must have the "outside" [[Tile attributes\|attribute]]. A windmill can produce 40, 20, or (rarely) 0 units of power, depending on how much wind there is in a map. If its power output is zero, but you've just built it, give it a few ticks (fifty or so) to start spinning. It may need to reorient itself to align with the wind direction first. If that doesn't work, there may still be hope.		In order for the windmill to generate power, its center tile must have the "outside" [[Tile attributes\|attribute]]. A windmill can produce 40, 20, or (rarely) 0 units of power, depending on how much wind there is in a map. If its power output is zero, but you've just built it, give it a few ticks (fifty or so) to start spinning. It may need to reorient itself to align with the wind direction first. If that doesn't work, there may still be hope.
−
−	~~In previous versions, wind was fixed and did not change depending on the embark map, seasons, location, or elevation.~~

	If a windmill built on solid ground did not generate any power, then you simply didn't have enough wind on your map and would never be able to use windmills. While this may still be true for some maps, there are numerous reports in the Steam version of elevation and location affecting the power output. If a windmill at ground level does not generate power, placing the windmill on a platform at a higher elevation can sometimes make the windmill begin generating power again.		If a windmill built on solid ground did not generate any power, then you simply didn't have enough wind on your map and would never be able to use windmills. While this may still be true for some maps, there are numerous reports in the Steam version of elevation and location affecting the power output. If a windmill at ground level does not generate power, placing the windmill on a platform at a higher elevation can sometimes make the windmill begin generating power again.

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 A '''windmill''' is a [[machine component]] that provides [[power]] via [[Weather#Wind | wind]] on the surface of a fortress map.
-In order for the windmill to generate power, its center tile must have the "outside" [[Tile attributes|attribute]]. The power produced by each windmill can be 40, 20, or (rarely) 0, depending on on how much wind there is on your map*. If its power output is zero, but you've just finished constructing it, give it a few ticks (fifty or so) to start spinning. It may need to reorient itself to align with the wind direction first. If that doesn't work, there may still be hope. In previous versions, wind was fixed and did not vary on any embark map, not with the seasons, nor by changing location nor elevation. If a windmill built on solid ground did not generate any power, then you simply didn't have enough wind on your map and would never be able to use windmills. While this may still be true for some maps, there are numerous reports in the Steam version of elevation and location affecting the power generated by a windmill. If a windmill at ground level does not generate power, placing the windmill on a platform at a higher elevation can sometimes make the windmill begin generating power again.
+In order for the windmill to generate power, its center tile must have the "outside" [[Tile attributes|attribute]]. A windmill can produce 40, 20, or (rarely) 0 units of power, depending on how much wind there is in a map. If its power output is zero, but you've just built it, give it a few ticks (fifty or so) to start spinning. It may need to reorient itself to align with the wind direction first. If that doesn't work, there may still be hope.
 : (* The amount of wind is largely based on the latitude at which your fortress is located on the [[World generation|world]] map. See [[Weather#Wind|Wind]].)
@@ Line 21: / Line 25: @@
 [[File:Windmill animation.gif|left]][[File:windmill_anim.gif|right]]The power generated by a windmill is transmitted either horizontally through the surrounding twelve tiles, or downward through its center tile. If you wish to use the center tile, you must first [[channel]] out the central tile and build the windmill on top of an existing [[axle|vertical axle]] or [[gear assembly]] (or the actual machine you wish to power). As the center tile of the windmill has an implied floor, this does not permit passage as long as the windmill stands.
-When building a windmill on top of an existing axle or assembly, you might get a "no access" message even if your dwarves can reach the center space of the windmill. You'll need to build a floor so that there's a place to stand adjacent to one of the nine windmill squares (i.e. one space between the standing platform and the windmill axle). Spaces adjacent to the windmill's axle (i.e. within the 3×3 building area) aren't sufficient for construction access.
+When building a windmill on top of an existing axle or assembly, you might get a "no access" message, even if your dwarves can reach the center space of the windmill. You need to build a floor so that there's a place to stand next to one of the nine windmill squares (i.e. one space between the standing platform and the windmill axle). Spaces next to the windmill's axle (i.e. within the 3×3 building area) aren't enough to build it.
-Due to what is assumed to be a bug, it is sometimes possible for windmills to transmit their power through a solid floor without channeling. They only have this effect if the windmill is built ''first'', and whatever it's powering ''second''; however, this does not always work reliably.
+Due to what is assumed to be a bug, windmills can sometimes transmit their power through a solid floor without channeling. They only have this effect if the windmill is built ''first'', and whatever it's powering ''second''; however, this does not always work reliably.
 As with other machines, windmills freeze if the floor under them is natural ice.
 ==Synchronization==
-Windmills can be synchronized using the method described [https://www.reddit.com/r/dwarffortress/comments/5cxv5t/science_i_have_found_a_way_to_synchronize/ here].
+Windmills can be synchronized using [https://www.reddit.com/r/dwarffortress/comments/5cxv5t/science_i_have_found_a_way_to_synchronize/this] method.
-When collapsing, [[water wheel]]s do not cause a [[cave-in]], and the center tile of the water wheel causes the tiles below it to be indoors. By building a series of hanging [[gear assembly|gear assemblies]], [[axle]]s, and waterwheels connected to a single supported gear assembly, you can deconstruct the supported gear assembly to allow all the windmills to start simultaneously.
+[[Water wheel]]s don't cause a [[cave-in]] when they collapse. Their central tile, however, turns the tiles below into indoor tiles. You can deconstruct the supported gear assembly to make all windmills start at once by building a number of hanging [[gear assembly|gear assemblies]], [[axle]]s, and waterwheels connected to a single supported gear assembly.
 [[File:Windmill_at_Watermill,_Southampton_NY_20180914_080131.jpg|thumb|320px|center|An old windmill.]]
 {{buildings}}

@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 Windmills can be synchronized using the method described [https://www.reddit.com/r/dwarffortress/comments/5cxv5t/science_i_have_found_a_way_to_synchronize/ here].
-When collapsing, [[water wheel]]s do not cause a [[cave-in]] and the center tile of the waterwheel causes the tiles below it to be indoors. By building a series of hanging [[gear assembly|gear assemblies]], [[axle]]s, and waterwheels connected to a single supported gear assembly, you can deconstruct the supported gear assembly to allow all the windmills to start simultaneously.
+When collapsing, [[water wheel]]s do not cause a [[cave-in]], and the center tile of the water wheel causes the tiles below it to be indoors. By building a series of hanging [[gear assembly|gear assemblies]], [[axle]]s, and waterwheels connected to a single supported gear assembly, you can deconstruct the supported gear assembly to allow all the windmills to start simultaneously.
 [[File:Windmill_at_Watermill,_Southampton_NY_20180914_080131.jpg|thumb|320px|center|An old windmill.]]
 {{buildings}}

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 [[File:Windmill animation.gif|left]][[File:windmill_anim.gif|right]]The power generated by a windmill is transmitted either horizontally through the surrounding twelve tiles, or downward through its center tile. If you wish to use the center tile, you must first [[channel]] out the central tile and build the windmill on top of an existing [[axle|vertical axle]] or [[gear assembly]] (or the actual machine you wish to power). As the center tile of the windmill has an implied floor, this does not permit passage as long as the windmill stands.
-When building a windmill on top of an existing axle or assembly, you might get a "no access" message even if your dwarves can reach the center space of the windmill. You'll need to build a floor so that there's a place to stand adjacent to one of the nine windmill squares (i.e. one space between the standing platform and the windmill axle). Spaces adjacent to the windmill's axle (i.e. within the 3x3 building area) aren't sufficient for construction access.
+When building a windmill on top of an existing axle or assembly, you might get a "no access" message even if your dwarves can reach the center space of the windmill. You'll need to build a floor so that there's a place to stand adjacent to one of the nine windmill squares (i.e. one space between the standing platform and the windmill axle). Spaces adjacent to the windmill's axle (i.e. within the 3×3 building area) aren't sufficient for construction access.
 Due to what is assumed to be a bug, it is sometimes possible for windmills to transmit their power through a solid floor without channeling. They only have this effect if the windmill is built ''first'', and whatever it's powering ''second''; however, this does not always work reliably.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{migrated article}}
+{{Quality|Fine}}
 {{V50 machine|name=Windmill|key=m
 |icon=[[File:windmill_icon.png]]
@@ Line 12: / Line 11: @@
 :''For a basic overview of how the different machine parts work and work together, see [[Machine component|machinery]].''
-[[File:Windmill animation.gif|left]] A '''windmill''' is a [[machine component]] that provides [[power]] via [[Weather#Wind | wind]] on the surface of a fortress map.
+A '''windmill''' is a [[machine component]] that provides [[power]] via [[Weather#Wind | wind]] on the surface of a fortress map.
 In order for the windmill to generate power, its center tile must have the "outside" [[Tile attributes|attribute]]. The power produced by each windmill can be 40, 20, or (rarely) 0, depending on on how much wind there is on your map*. If its power output is zero, but you've just finished constructing it, give it a few ticks (fifty or so) to start spinning. It may need to reorient itself to align with the wind direction first. If that doesn't work, there may still be hope. In previous versions, wind was fixed and did not vary on any embark map, not with the seasons, nor by changing location nor elevation. If a windmill built on solid ground did not generate any power, then you simply didn't have enough wind on your map and would never be able to use windmills. While this may still be true for some maps, there are numerous reports in the Steam version of elevation and location affecting the power generated by a windmill. If a windmill at ground level does not generate power, placing the windmill on a platform at a higher elevation can sometimes make the windmill begin generating power again.
@@ Line 20: / Line 19: @@
 Designate a windmill with the ({{Menu icon|b|m|m|sep=-}}) keys. Constructing a windmill requires [[carpentry]].
-The power generated by a windmill is transmitted either horizontally through the surrounding twelve tiles, or downward through its center tile. If you wish to use the center tile, you must first [[channel]] out the central tile and build the windmill on top of an existing [[axle|vertical axle]] or [[gear assembly]] (or the actual machine you wish to power). As the center tile of the windmill has an implied floor, this does not permit passage as long as the windmill stands.
+[[File:Windmill animation.gif|left]][[File:windmill_anim.gif|right]]The power generated by a windmill is transmitted either horizontally through the surrounding twelve tiles, or downward through its center tile. If you wish to use the center tile, you must first [[channel]] out the central tile and build the windmill on top of an existing [[axle|vertical axle]] or [[gear assembly]] (or the actual machine you wish to power). As the center tile of the windmill has an implied floor, this does not permit passage as long as the windmill stands.
 When building a windmill on top of an existing axle or assembly, you might get a "no access" message even if your dwarves can reach the center space of the windmill. You'll need to build a floor so that there's a place to stand adjacent to one of the nine windmill squares (i.e. one space between the standing platform and the windmill axle). Spaces adjacent to the windmill's axle (i.e. within the 3x3 building area) aren't sufficient for construction access.
@@ Line 27: / Line 26: @@
 As with other machines, windmills freeze if the floor under them is natural ice.
 ==Synchronization==
@@ Line 34: / Line 31: @@
 When collapsing, [[water wheel]]s do not cause a [[cave-in]] and the center tile of the waterwheel causes the tiles below it to be indoors. By building a series of hanging [[gear assembly|gear assemblies]], [[axle]]s, and waterwheels connected to a single supported gear assembly, you can deconstruct the supported gear assembly to allow all the windmills to start simultaneously.
+[[File:Windmill_at_Watermill,_Southampton_NY_20180914_080131.jpg|thumb|320px|center|An old windmill.]]
 {{buildings}}

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 {{Quality|Unrated}}
 {{V50 machine|name=Windmill|key=m
 |construction=
 * 4 [[wood|Log]]s

@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 :''For a basic overview of how the different machine parts work and work together, see [[Machine component|machinery]].''
-[[File:Windmill animation.gif|left]] A '''windmill''' is a [[machine component]] that provides [[power]] via [[Weather#Wind | wind]] on the surface of a fortress map. In order for the windmill to generate power, its center tile must have the "outside" [[Tile attributes|attribute]]. The power produced by each windmill can be 40, 20, or (rarely) 0, depending on on how much wind there is on your map*. Wind is fixed and does not vary on any embark map, not with the seasons, nor by changing location nor elevation. If a windmill built on solid ground does not generate any power, then you simply don't have enough wind on your map and will never be able to use windmills.
+[[File:Windmill animation.gif|left]] A '''windmill''' is a [[machine component]] that provides [[power]] via [[Weather#Wind | wind]] on the surface of a fortress map. In order for the windmill to generate power, its center tile must have the "outside" [[Tile attributes|attribute]]. The power produced by each windmill can be 40, 20, or (rarely) 0, depending on on how much wind there is on your map*. In previous versions, wind was fixed and did not vary on any embark map, not with the seasons, nor by changing location nor elevation. If a windmill built on solid ground did not generate any power, then you simply didn't have enough wind on your map and would never be able to use windmills. While this may still be true for some maps, there are numerous reports in the Steam version of elevation and location affecting the power generated by a windmill. If a windmill at ground level does not generate power, placing the windmill on a platform at a higher elevation can sometimes make the windmill begin generating power again.
 : (* The amount of wind is largely based on the latitude at which your fortress is located on the [[World generation|world]] map. See [[Weather#Wind|Wind]].)