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40d:Gear assembly
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A gear assembly is a machine component that is used to transmit power from one adjacent machine component to another, such as water wheels, windmills, axles, pumps, millstones and other gear assemblies. This allows the transfer of vertical motion (z-axis) to horizontal (x and y-axis) and vice versa, that is, a change in direction of 90°.
Gear assemblies require 5 units of power each.
For a basic overview of how the different machine parts work and work together, see machinery.
Construction
Gears can be constructed from the build menu under Machine Components and gear. They require one mechanism to construct.
After the gear assembly has been constructed, it will automatically draw power from an adjacent power source. Further components can then be connected to the other available sides (East, West, North, South, Above, Below) of the gear assembly, and will automatically draw power from the power source via the assembly. Note that gear assemblies do not transfer power diagonally; they only work orthogonally (N-S, E-W, up-down).
In order to transfer power between z-levels with a gear assembly, you must first dig a channel, and then place the gear over the opening. Then place either another gear assembly, a vertical axle, or a machine (screw pump, etc.) on the z-level below in the same square, and power will be routed to it.
Disconnected gears
Gears can be "disconnected" by being connected to a lever, and then activating that lever. However, be warned that devices connected vertically to a linked gear may collapse when disconnected. The same is true of a horizontally connected hanging device. An example is a windmill built directly on top of a gear: in this case, disconnecting the gear via the lever will cause the windmill construction to collapse. In order to avoid this, create a second gear adjacent to the linked gear but not otherwise connected to the system; This gear will support the windmill if the linked gear is disconnected, but will not transfer power, since it only draws it from the now-disconnected gear.
Note that the above is only necessary if the windmill is entirely unsupported outside of the gear on which it rests. Windmills (and other components) which have "Stable foundation" in their q view should not collapse if a gear beneath them is disconnected.