40d:Gear assembly

A gear assembly is a machine component that is used to move power between adjacent machine components such as water wheels, windmills, axles, and other gear assemblies. This allows the transfer of vertical motion to horizontal and vice versa. Note that gear assemblies do not transfer power diagonally; they only work orthogonally (N-S and E-W). Each gear in a chain of gears requires 5 units of power.

Construction

Gears can be constructed from the build menu under Machine Components and gear. They require one mechanism to construct.

Gears may be used to transfer power between z-levels. In order to do so, 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.