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Difference between revisions of "40d:Windmill"

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A '''windmill''' is a [[machine component]] that provides [[power]] via wind on the surface of a fortress map. Currently, a windmill provides 40 units of power (sometimes less, apparently depending upon the available wind) and requires 4 pieces of [[wood]]. Using multiple windmills increases the power production.
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{{quality|Exceptional|16:45, 4 August 2011 (UTC)}}{{av}}
 +
{{Machine_component|name=Windmill|key=m
 +
|construction=
 +
* 4 [[Log]]s
 +
|construction_job=
 +
# [[Architecture]]
 +
# [[Carpentry]]
 +
|power=Generates 40, 20, or 0 power, depending on wind level
 +
}}
 +
 
 +
A '''windmill''' is a [[machine component]] that provides [[power]] via wind on the surface of a fortress map. The power produced by each windmill depends on your fortress location.
 +
 
 +
''For a basic overview of how the different machine parts work and work together, see [[machinery]].''
 +
 
 +
== When it works ==
 +
 
 +
A windmill generates power under the following conditions:
 +
# Its center tile possesses the [[Tile_attributes|"Outside"]] tag when loo{{k|k}}ed at.
 +
# The map has wind. (Turning weather on/off in the inits has no effect)
 +
#* Some maps have strong wind (40 power per windmill), some have weak wind (20 power), and some have no wind at all.
 +
# It is not connected to frozen machinery, such as a screw pump or water wheel in ice.
 +
 
 +
When all of these conditions are met, the windmill will produce power at its center square and transmit it downwards.
  
 
== Construction ==
 
== Construction ==
  
To get some useful power out of a windmill:
+
A windmill is placed with {{k|b}}, {{k|M}}, {{k|m}}.  It must either be supported by machinery from below or on a stable foundation (floor) under all its tiles.  In either case, the build site must be reachable, either from one of the tiles the windmill is being built on or from adjacent surrounding tiles.
 +
 
 +
=== Variants ===
 +
 
 +
==== Standard windmill ====
 
# Build the windmill.
 
# Build the windmill.
 
# Excavate a path under it to the center of its base, 1 [[z-level]] down.
 
# Excavate a path under it to the center of its base, 1 [[z-level]] down.
# Add a vertical [[axle]], [[gear assembly]] or machine there, which will have power. A floor between the windmill and this is fine.
+
# Add a vertical [[axle]], [[gear assembly]] or machine there, which will have power. A floor between the windmill and this is fine, but the machine part below will only receive power if it is built ''after'' the windmill itself is finished. If you built the machine part first, you may have to deconstruct and reconstruct it to make it work.
# [[Gear assembly|Gear assemblies]] can be used to transport the power back to the surface, if desired.
 
  
In rare cases, building a gear assembly before the windmill will not connect the gear assembly to the windmill. Simply reconstruct the gear assembly to connect it.
+
==== Windmill tower ====
  
== Windmill tower ==
+
The "windmill tower" option is useful if you can't dig below your windmill (if, for example, there is a room or underground river there).
  
The "windmill tower" option is useful if you can't dig below your windmill (if, for example, there is a room or underground river there). This option is also often more power-efficient, as it often eliminates the need to transfer power between [[z-level]]s.
+
# Build a 3×3 platform (or 8-tile ring) out of floors one level above the ground floor.
 +
# Leave the center tile as ''open space'' (this is optional, as power will somehow go through the floor).
 +
# Directly beneath the center of the future windmill, on the ground floor, build a gear assembly.
 +
# Build the windmill on top of the platform.
 +
# Connect this assembly to horizontal axles, and power your machines.
 +
# If desired, remove excess floors/stairs.
  
# Build a 3×3 platform out of floors one level above the ground floor.
+
'''NOTE:''' The game will not let you build over an open space unless there's a machine or gear assembly underneath it on the floor below.
# Build the windmill on top of the platform.
+
 
# Directly beneath the windmill, on the ground floor, build a gear assembly.
+
'''NOTE:''' The windmill is only supported by the center tile, although there is the 8-tile ring below it. If you remove the gear assembly beneath it and there is no floor, the windmill will be destroyed at once. If you disengage the gear assembly, the windmill will not be destroyed at once, but after a short period of time.
# Connect this assembly to horizontal axles, and power your machines. No digging required!
 
  
A windmill can also be built directly on top of a gear assembly, obviating the need for a platform.  However, if switched off via lever,  a windmill constructed in this fashion has a tendency to collapse.
+
==== Sunken windmill ====
  
== How to transfer power between z-levels ==
+
You can build windmills underground if the central square in the windmill is "outside" (channel the roof away above it).<br>
  
After you have a [[gear assembly]] in place on a level, you need to switch to the level above it and remove the floor between its tile and the tile above it. Then, build a vertical [[axle]] or a [[gear assembly]] above the first [[gear assembly]].
+
==== Windmill farm ====
 +
Several windmills can be linked together via gear assemblies and axles.  The first windmill needs a gear assembly beneath it.  After that, each windmill will require one gear assembly beneath it and two axles to connect to the next windmill.  All windmills produce normal power for the map, but remember that gears and axles will use power produced by the windmills, meaning you'll lose moderate amounts of power connecting your farm together.
  
== Construction Example ==
+
==== Hanging windmill ====
1. A Pond To Drain <br/>
+
# Build building you want powered and up stairs with one tile between them.
{{gametext|&#x2248;|blue}}{{gametext|........}}<br/>
+
# Build down stairs above the up stairs.
{{gametext|&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x2248;|blue}}{{gametext|......}}<br/>
+
# Build windmill directly over building that needs or transfers power.
{{gametext|&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x2248;|blue}}{{gametext|......}}<br/>
+
# (optional) remove the stairs.
{{gametext|&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x2248;|blue}}{{gametext|......}}<br/>
+
This option has one main weakness: It can't be used to power gear assemblies that are linked to levers/pressure plates, because as soon as the assembly turns off it stops supporting the windmill which falls down.
{{gametext|&#x2248;|blue}}{{gametext|........}}<br/>
 
  
2. Add Some walls to control output, and an access ramp (leaving access is a good idea)<br/>
+
== Using the power ==
{{gametext|
 
&#x2248;.....&#x25B2;..<br/>
 
&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x2248;.&#x25CB;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;<br/>
 
&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x2248;......<br/>
 
&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x25CB;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;<br/>
 
&#x2248;........}}<br/>
 
  
3. add 3 floor tiles above the gap, then build your windmill<br/>
+
Getting power out of a hanging windmill is straightforward. As long as the machinery it's hanging on is a vertical [[axle]], [[gear assembly]], [[screw pump]], or [[millstone]], it will be powered.
{{gametext|
 
......&#x25BC;..<br/>
 
....+++++<br/>
 
....+++..  (&#x2190; here)<br/>
 
...++++++<br/>
 
.........}}<br/>
 
4. build a lever and gear assembly, then link your lever to the gear<br/>
 
{{gametext|
 
&#x2248;...&#xF2;.&#x25B2;..<br/>
 
&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x2248;.&#x25CB;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;<br/>
 
&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x2248;..&#x263C;...<br/>
 
&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x25CB;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;<br/>
 
&#x2248;........}}<br/>
 
  
5. Finally, throw the lever, add your screw pump and the final wall section<br/>
+
Windmills with stable foundations are harder. A vertical axle or gear assembly beneath the center tile should always be powered, but the actual behavior seems buggy or non-intuitive; if it doesn't work, try re-building the machinery below the windmill.
{{gametext|
 
&#x2248;...&#xF3;.&#x25B2;..<br/>
 
&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x25CB;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;<br/>
 
&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x2248;%%&#x263C;...<br/>
 
&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x25CB;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;<br/>
 
&#x2248;........}}<br/>
 
=== Alternatives ===
 
* Skip the lever and gear and power the pump directly, "always on".
 
* The "Blowback" wall method:
 
{{gametext|
 
&#x2248;...&#xF3;.&#x25B2;..<br/>
 
&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x25CB;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;<br/>
 
&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x2248;%%&#x263C;...<br/>
 
&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x2248;&#x25CB;.&#x2554;&#x2550;&#x2550;&#x2550;<br/>
 
&#x2248;..&#x255A;&#x2550;&#x255D;...}}<br/>
 
  
This allows water to flow past the pump when the pump is off, allowing for two pumps to use a single set of walls to contain the flowing water, with the direction based on which pump is on.  It also allows for maintenance access from the pipe, at the cost of 3 extra wall sections and one extra floor.
+
== Construction Examples ==
  
 +
See [[Machinery/Examples]].
  
[[Category:Constructions]]
+
{{Category|Machine components}}
[[Category:Machine components]]
 

Latest revision as of 15:24, 8 December 2011

This article is about an older version of DF.
Windmill

b-M-m

  O  
X X X
X X X
X X X
Construction
Materials Jobs
  1. Architecture
  2. Carpentry
Power

Generates 40, 20, or 0 power, depending on wind level

A windmill is a machine component that provides power via wind on the surface of a fortress map. The power produced by each windmill depends on your fortress location.

For a basic overview of how the different machine parts work and work together, see machinery.

When it works[edit]

A windmill generates power under the following conditions:

  1. Its center tile possesses the "Outside" tag when looked at.
  2. The map has wind. (Turning weather on/off in the inits has no effect)
    • Some maps have strong wind (40 power per windmill), some have weak wind (20 power), and some have no wind at all.
  3. It is not connected to frozen machinery, such as a screw pump or water wheel in ice.

When all of these conditions are met, the windmill will produce power at its center square and transmit it downwards.

Construction[edit]

A windmill is placed with b, M, m. It must either be supported by machinery from below or on a stable foundation (floor) under all its tiles. In either case, the build site must be reachable, either from one of the tiles the windmill is being built on or from adjacent surrounding tiles.

Variants[edit]

Standard windmill[edit]

  1. Build the windmill.
  2. Excavate a path under it to the center of its base, 1 z-level down.
  3. Add a vertical axle, gear assembly or machine there, which will have power. A floor between the windmill and this is fine, but the machine part below will only receive power if it is built after the windmill itself is finished. If you built the machine part first, you may have to deconstruct and reconstruct it to make it work.

Windmill tower[edit]

The "windmill tower" option is useful if you can't dig below your windmill (if, for example, there is a room or underground river there).

  1. Build a 3×3 platform (or 8-tile ring) out of floors one level above the ground floor.
  2. Leave the center tile as open space (this is optional, as power will somehow go through the floor).
  3. Directly beneath the center of the future windmill, on the ground floor, build a gear assembly.
  4. Build the windmill on top of the platform.
  5. Connect this assembly to horizontal axles, and power your machines.
  6. If desired, remove excess floors/stairs.

NOTE: The game will not let you build over an open space unless there's a machine or gear assembly underneath it on the floor below.

NOTE: The windmill is only supported by the center tile, although there is the 8-tile ring below it. If you remove the gear assembly beneath it and there is no floor, the windmill will be destroyed at once. If you disengage the gear assembly, the windmill will not be destroyed at once, but after a short period of time.

Sunken windmill[edit]

You can build windmills underground if the central square in the windmill is "outside" (channel the roof away above it).

Windmill farm[edit]

Several windmills can be linked together via gear assemblies and axles. The first windmill needs a gear assembly beneath it. After that, each windmill will require one gear assembly beneath it and two axles to connect to the next windmill. All windmills produce normal power for the map, but remember that gears and axles will use power produced by the windmills, meaning you'll lose moderate amounts of power connecting your farm together.

Hanging windmill[edit]

  1. Build building you want powered and up stairs with one tile between them.
  2. Build down stairs above the up stairs.
  3. Build windmill directly over building that needs or transfers power.
  4. (optional) remove the stairs.

This option has one main weakness: It can't be used to power gear assemblies that are linked to levers/pressure plates, because as soon as the assembly turns off it stops supporting the windmill which falls down.

Using the power[edit]

Getting power out of a hanging windmill is straightforward. As long as the machinery it's hanging on is a vertical axle, gear assembly, screw pump, or millstone, it will be powered.

Windmills with stable foundations are harder. A vertical axle or gear assembly beneath the center tile should always be powered, but the actual behavior seems buggy or non-intuitive; if it doesn't work, try re-building the machinery below the windmill.

Construction Examples[edit]

See Machinery/Examples.