Powering and automating a RoC extractor

[GreenZombie]

The extractor is a 4 stage ore processing facility in a box. The 4 stages have wildy varying torque and speed requirements and supplying enough torque and speed to a single extractor requires 4MW of power - the output of about 8 hydrokinetic (max fall) wheels.

By contrast, supplying the stages indivudually requires a mere 115kW - less than half the output of a single hydrokinetic wheel. (This power total assumes the 1st and 4th stages are on the same device as the requirements for stage 1 cause the extractor to implicitly meet the power and torque requirements for stage 4).

So, thats the exposition, here is the problem: I can't find any way to take a shaft carrying a total power of 115kW and split it correctly amongst 3 extractors. The bevel gears and split the power into (powers of two) and divide the power between their outputs according to the ratios 1:1, 1:3, 1:7, 1:15 and 1:31

Looking at the (3) extractors if we say that x=16384, the extractor 1 requires 4xW, extractor 2 1xW and extractor 3 2xW - so I need to split the power 3 ways: (4:1:2) - which adds up to 7.

The best ive been able to do is supply 131072kW to my network of gears, split it into 8 (4:1:2:1) and essentially waste 16384kW (it does't really help to feed it to a stage - if one stage runs faster than the others - the extractor only runs as fast as the slowest stage.

Ive been contemplating using a bevel gear to actually feed the excess 16384kW back into the system at the start - boosting the input power - but that feels like it might break RoC...

--
Different question: In monster - which 'transport' mods can extract partially completed products from an extractor? I havn't had much luck with buildcraft and thermal expansion that can only (seem) to extract from the final output slots. "Hoppers" are completely out as the extractor is powered from below so a hopper cannot be placed below it.

 

[GreenZombie]

The simplest way of phrasing the problem. Assuming RoC:

Given a shaft with "some" nM and rads/2 that totals 114688W... how to split it, exactly, into 3 outputs: 16384W, 32768W and 65536W

 

[Jacobbelveder]

I'd suggest maybe try playing with the control bus blocks added recently, I haven't spent time working out how they work yet, but as far as I understand they can intelligently divide power up into each output & that might be the best solution.

or alternatively, and the way I found easiest, instead of switching between extractors mid process, I put a cvt in redstone mode, and toggle it between 1x speed & I think 16x speed, set that on a timer, and fiddle around with timings and it'll change the power as most ores are in the correct stages. It's not perfect, but it was the quickest way I could find to get ores through the extractor.

 

[GreenZombie]

Now thats clever and completely bypasses the need to try and extract the intermediate products.

 

[jokermatt999]

I used gasoline engines (so underrated) with gear assemblies. I did one for stages 1 and 4 and another for 2 and 3. To extract between them, the only thing I could find to work was routers. I suspect Computer Craft could do it, but I lack the knowledge to check. I've give over my setup in further detail if you search my post history, although it may be on the MCF Rotary Craft thread.

 

[Reika]

...the need to try and extract the intermediate products.

Which is not possible anyway.
This is because it would then force the Extractor to use the traditional "this item in this side, this item out this side" system I strongly despise to the fact it kills all design flexibility.

 

[jokermatt999]

Which is not possible anyway.
This is because it would then force the Extractor to use the traditional "this item in this side, this item out this side" system I strongly despise to the fact it kills all design flexibility.

Wait, so are you saying that's specifically *not* supposed to be supported, like automating the basic bee houses in Forestry? Or do you just not want to force sided behavior (which would be tricky with all that extractors need anyway)?

 

[Reika]

Wait, so are you saying that's specifically *not* supposed to be supported, like automating the basic bee houses in Forestry? Or do you just not want to force sided behavior (which would be tricky with all that extractors need anyway)?

The latter; otherwise it would be impossible to tell something like BuildCraft pipes (which do not have fancy item controls) not to extract the intermediate ingredients in a normal setup.

 

[SynfulChaot]

Could have a setting on the extractor itself, like as with Thermal Expansion, that allows you to select which output slot is for extraction. And have it affect all sides so you won't need to worry about sided behaviour.

 

[Reika]

Could have a setting on the extractor itself, like as with Thermal Expansion, that allows you to select which output slot is for extraction. And have it affect all sides so you won't need to worry about sided behaviour.

A lovely idea except for implementation. That GUI is packed enough as it is, and there are already tabs on both sides.

 

[SynfulChaot]

A lovely idea except for implementation. That GUI is packed enough as it is, and there are already tabs on both sides.

Have a toggle on each arrow that goes to the next stage and add one on the output slot. Have the 'selected' output point straight up instead of towards the next 'input' slot?

 

[Reika]

Have a toggle on each arrow that goes to the next stage and add one on the output slot. Have the 'selected' output point straight up instead of towards the next 'input' slot?

I do not really understand what you mean. Can you make an image?
Here is the GUI image for aid in doing so:

 

[SynfulChaot]

I do not really understand what you mean. Can you make an image?

For example, this might be how it could look if the second output slot is selected:

As for where to put the 'toggle', perhaps make the arrow icons clickable?

 

[Reika]

For example, this might be how it looks if the second output slot is selected:

As for where to put the 'toggle', perhaps make the arrow icons clickable?

You have given me an idea. A big one.

 

[SynfulChaot]

Woo! I like it when you have ideas. Good things happen. ^.^