Automated IC2 Advanced Machines

[Dalinkwent]

So I am using the Direwolf20 1.6.4 pack (version 1.0.23) and I installed the IC2 Advanced Machines Add-On. I'm currently using that mods Macerator, Extractor and Compressor and then IC2's own Induction Furnace. I'd prefer to not have them running all the time and only run when there is items in their inventories but I don't know how to go about it.

For instance, I'd want to connect the machines to my ME system and be able to craft Advanced Alloy from my Crafting Terminal. I'd like the mixed ingot to be placed into Compressor, a redstone signal be applied automatically (turing the machine on) and then have the redstone signal removed once the Compressor is finished. Is something like this possible without getting into ComputerCraft or any other mod that requires the writing of code?

Thanks, and if you have any questions I'll try to answer them the best I can.

 

[malicious_bloke]

I hate to keep saying this, but "have you tried a vanilla comparator"?

In a lot of cases you can get a redstone signal from having anything in an entity's inventory.

 

[RenzosNips]

I hate to keep saying this, but "have you tried a vanilla comparator"?

In a lot of cases you can get a redstone signal from having anything in an entity's inventory.

You know, I rolled my eyes when Mojang added the comparator, but it's actually quite useful. Which... is weird, considering Mojang.

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

Buildcraft gate to emit redstone when "item in inventory"(or vice versa as I can't remember if a redstone signal keeps the machine on or disables it).

However this will be pointless as Advanced Machines take a while to "warm up" so are very slow to start and only reach max speed after a long while.

 

[RamblinWreckGT]

Buildcraft gate to emit redstone when "item in inventory"(or vice versa as I can't remember if a redstone signal keeps the machine on or disables it).

However this will be pointless as Advanced Machines take a while to "warm up" so are very slow to start and only reach max speed after a long while.

It keeps the machine on and warmed up.

You're right, it would be pretty pointless, especially since the power requirement to keep them running isn't much at all.

 

[Dalinkwent]

Buildcraft gate to emit redstone when "item in inventory"(or vice versa as I can't remember if a redstone signal keeps the machine on or disables it).

However this will be pointless as Advanced Machines take a while to "warm up" so are very slow to start and only reach max speed after a long while.

So maybe something like an Autarchic Iron AND Gate set to "when items in inventory emit redstone signal" and "when items in inventory = Energy Pulser"? Then I could just put that on a Wooden Transfer Pipe and pipe it back into the ME Interface? Even if this exact setup won't work I'm sure I could get it to with some fiddling.

I know it's pretty much pointless to set this up, especially when a lever on the front of the machines keep them at 100% the whole time but I wanted to get into learning the different types of Gates and their usage and figured that this would be a good stepping stone since I had the machines and ME infrastructure already in place. I came into this thinking I wanted to learn Project Red Gates, but I think Buildcraft Gates would be a bit easier right now.

 

[Dalinkwent]

I hate to keep saying this, but "have you tried a vanilla comparator"?

In a lot of cases you can get a redstone signal from having anything in an entity's inventory.

It's funny, I actually did come across the comparator when originally searching how to do this, but I don't know if it's just me or the tutorials I saw (probably me) but I just couldn't grasp the idea of how it would apply to my situation.

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

So maybe something like an Autarchic Iron AND Gate set to "when items in inventory emit redstone signal" and "when items in inventory = Energy Pulser"? Then I could just put that on a Wooden Transfer Pipe and pipe it back into the ME Interface? Even if this exact setup won't work I'm sure I could get it to with some fiddling.

I know it's pretty much pointless to set this up, especially when a lever on the front of the machines keep them at 100% the whole time but I wanted to get into learning the different types of Gates and their usage and figured that this would be a good stepping stone since I had the machines and ME infrastructure already in place. I came into this thinking I wanted to learn Project Red Gates, but I think Buildcraft Gates would be a bit easier right now.

Yip, that'll work. Nice solution.

Ah I see, buildcraft is your way to go here, project red not really useful in a case like this.

 

[Dalinkwent]

Yip, that'll work. Nice solution.

Ah I see, buildcraft is your way to go here, project red not really useful in a case like this.

Thanks for the help. I'd completely forgotten that Buildcraft even had gates lol

 

[RamblinWreckGT]

Thanks for the help. I'd completely forgotten that Buildcraft even had gates lol

How? That's the best part of the whole mod! Make a test world, place a bunch of stuff you typically use (tanks, chests, machines, etc.), and slap a pipe and gate on it. Look through all the possible options the gate gives you on each one. Then, start thinking of ways to use those options to trigger actions and try them out! It's so much more fun to "figure out" how to automate something like this than to have it handed to you.