That machine is already available in IC, it's called a Miner - check the wiki
That machine is already available in IC, it's called a Miner - check the wiki
the thing is that this isn't a miner in that meaning. it's a digger, of holes. it isn't used vertically as the miner but as a tunneler for big underground activity
also while the miner can be used for shafting you just can't make that underground metro you always wanted with it 
I agree that this would be a nice alternative to the mining laser for horizontal clearing, but the only issue is, it's range. You can theoretically go on for ever with the digger (It would stop running upon hitting an unloaded chunk, or being unloaded itself).
How would you suggest that we handle this balancing issue?
I agree that this would be a nice alternative to the mining laser for horizontal clearing, but the only issue is, it's range. You can theoretically go on for ever with the digger (It would stop running upon hitting an unloaded chunk, or being unloaded itself).
How would you suggest that we handle this balancing issue?
well... it would still need to be fed cable and power. also the sampler could have a slot with a charged crystal who acts like the CMOS in a computer e.g the battery that keeps it alive. the crystal depletes after a certain amount of blocks and would need to be replaced with a new one. also it could need new mining drills after a while but i'm not sure how that would influence the sprites and overall stability 
and how would you direct the digger?
because the miner has only one, the digger has 4 sides, you need another block to direct him
and it should mine in an area of 3*3 everything (including smoothstone) so you can easily make subway...
and how would you direct the digger?
because the miner has only one, the digger has 4 sides, you need another block to direct him
and it should mine in an area of 3*3 everything (including smoothstone) so you can easily make subway...
tricky, I must say. that was a hard nut. the 3*3 area thing was actually what I had in mind too but for direction I think the direction of the cable could indicate starting direction but for the continuous movement maybe (pain for alblaka) you could use the EC manipulator to open up a small ui with 6 buttons, forward, upward, downward, turn right, turn left and stop. otherwise a "control box" who acts as a remote control. for turning and such it shouldn't go straight up or down or north or west but follow with first click to southwest and next to either of those directions. also it should never go in a steeper angle than 45* (one block forward one block down).
No buttons :O
No buttons :O
wow, i got alblakas attention yippie. 
then maybe the use of ctrl+movement keys while holding the EC manipulator (after a right-click with it) to change direction? like ctrl+down will make it go downwards while if you push up with ctrl make it go straight forward again and again for up. it could be that you changed the ec to the remote when rightclicking and you use it with ctrl or a key like that. otherwise you could use a targetblock for simple tunneling through an annoying mountain that's in the way for your tunnel. 
EDIT 1: i just saw that alblaka didn't like rc's so i could probably forget about it.
EDIT 2: alblaka, do you have any suggestion on how to navigate it?
I agree that this would be a nice alternative to the mining laser for horizontal clearing, but the only issue is, it's range. You can theoretically go on for ever with the digger (It would stop running upon hitting an unloaded chunk, or being unloaded itself).
How would you suggest that we handle this balancing issue?
i didn't see the range thingy, srry. it could be like 200 blocks away from the closest hv block or something ...
i didn't see the range thingy, srry. it could be like 200 blocks away from the closest hv block or something ...
How about simply putting a limit on the range, like 25-50 blocks then it stops?
Re-reading mastercluffs thread (apologies for the misunderstanding btw mc), the basic requirement is to dig a tunnel for metros. Rather than try and include a lot of functionality for navigation, inclines, declines etc... Just have the machine dig in a striaght line for x number of blocks. It will dig in the direction you face it (tunneling horizontally only) until you either stop it with a wrench or it reaches it's limit or runs out of power.
It's still going to do 80% of the work, leaving inclines to be dug manually.
How about simply putting a limit on the range, like 25-50 blocks then it stops?
Re-reading mastercluffs thread (apologies for the misunderstanding btw mc), the basic requirement is to dig a tunnel for metros. Rather than try and include a lot of functionality for navigation, inclines, declines etc... Just have the machine dig in a striaght line for x number of blocks. It will dig in the direction you face it (tunneling horizontally only) until you either stop it with a wrench or it reaches it's limit or runs out of power.
It's still going to do 80% of the work, leaving inclines to be dug manually.
THAT'S BRILLIANT!!! WHY didn't i think of that?
Why not just use Mining Pipes like the miner, that way to make it dig further you need more pipes & power.
Regards,
Gil
just put cable/glass/reinforcedstone on the sides it should not dig
Why not just use Mining Pipes like the miner, that way to make it dig further you need more pipes & power.
Regards,
Gil
that could work 
just put cable/glass/reinforcedstone on the sides it should not dig
how about the descending phase?
could it like detect a "script" within a 4 block radius and don't dig spots that's covered already?
