How to dig a straight tunnel?

[-_Tyger_-]

I've dug into an asteroid and I'm building a base. I want to "tunnel" out, basically just have a single line of amor blocks to carry power from a solar panel array on the surface. Any tips on keeping this straight, other than drilling out a little and placing a block behind me to line it up?

Second question, is this an good idea/overall design to put a solar array out there?

[VelxraTV]

Really only several options here. One, build a series of pistons that slowly extend out with drills on the end. Two, create a long line of blocks from a projector to follow with your miner or build a tunnel with blocks and project it then you dig it out. Three, use scripts to create a drone that follows wave points to finely bore out the tunnel.

Personally if I was you just making a small tunnel for a solar array. I would just place a single block from the base, dig it out, and repeat until you reach the surface. Then you can set up your solar array on the end. No need to make a fancy maintenance shaft.

[Darkaiser]

You can fly to the far side of the asteroid, place a GPS marker where you want the tunnel to come out and then drill towards that. Not precise but it should be straight enough for it to work.

The Projector idea posted above works well too because you can work THROUGH the projection without damaging anything.

[Nightwing]

The issue with the waypoint method, though, is in making the tunnel line up with the grid of the main station. If you get the waypoint even a meter or two off, it could create a tunnel that skews to one side, making it impossible for a single line of blocks to connect correctly. This effect only gets worse the farther you go.

Honestly, I think the projector idea is your best bet, since it's already prealigned with the station, and all you'd have to do, is simply drill along the projected line of blocks.

[Rox]

It's actually quite simple :) The basic technique is to latch the hand drill into 'delete' mode by double right clicking, then just dab gently on the W intermittently, waiting for the rock to clear before each movement. This will produce an almost straight tunnel wide enough to place a block part embedded into the rock with enough space to move alongside it. Align the start position to the grid and dig just a few blocks deep at first to place the guide blocks and check alignment, then you can proceed and probably only need to check every 10 or so blocks distance, place the blocks and adjust trajectory if needed - or just dig the whole tunnel uninterrupted and figure out corrections as you place the blocks.

https://i.imgur.com/nQf1rcT.png

[HyggeDane]

i always give my ships a hotkey for forward facing thrusters on/off. this let the ship conserve a lot of fuel, but it also lets me dig straight tunnels like you want.

simply use the right click drilling mode for the drills, turn off the said thrusters and set the ships speed slow enough for it not to have contact with the voxels ahead :)

[-_Tyger_-]

Originally posted by Geronimo:

Two, create a long line of blocks from a projector to follow with your miner or build a tunnel with blocks and project it then you dig it out.

Project with long line of blocks it is! I think I'll publish it on the workshop! Maybe call it Ramrod. That will confuse them.

[Corvus]

I've successfully tunneled using the waypoint method for decent distances. But you really have to survey from the surface to determine the correct path. I pick my straight point and drill straight down, then create the waypoint.

Then I go back to my starting point, stand directly centered with my grid to my waypoint and move forward. No crouching, no changing aim.

If there's any deviation, it's only been a half a block for every 5-10 blocks. This would only be a problem in a very very tight space.

Also, you can create a bridge from your grid to your desired tunnel exit on the surface. This way, when you drill down, your tunnel will be centered with your 1x1.

I just say practice it a few times first and you'll get it.

[Daynen Drakeson]

If you're in space and using a ship, no matter how small, all you have to do is not turn. If you can scrape up the materials, build a cockpit with thrusters, a drill and a gyro. Set a control button to "override controls" for your gyro. When on, this will fight your ship's natural inclination to turn in response to impacts and basically disable turning. Set your drills (under "block tools" not a control group) on a button and right click just like your hand drill to tunnel. Line yourself up right and just slowly tunnel on through all in one go.