In-Depth Advanced Engine/Gearbox Guide!

[Paradoxicc70]

So I'm going to write a build example so you can understand advanced ship building a little better if you are clueless. Which after doing so should make you a better builder overall for all of your creations, and give you a better understanding of the mechanics found inside, and in practice of the game.

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I've only gotten a few gear ratios to make a difference from what I can tell.

They are -1:1, 1;1 (Direct Drive),1;2,1;3, and 2;3 I don't use any of the others for anything.

If you have a medium/small ship and want a speed/patrol boat try this 1 Small engine --> into clutch --> t-pipe --> Top part put a small gen --> into a gear box arrows pointing towards engine --> Second gear box go into another one facing the same way. so it should look like this..

From looking at it on the side Left side of screen (Bow of ship) Engine <<(Arrows) Gear box <<(Arrows) Gearbox <-- Prop ((Only use one prop).
Make sure you don't accidentally flip the second one facing the other way when you pipe it.

Place down a Dial near your dash with values of 0 to 20, and data connect it to the Engine RPS.

------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------------------------Section 2

if you look at your right hand screen in inventory 1 Small engine puts out 20k force, and a prop has a max force of 20k. That means at 100% Throttle (Engine Output) You are outputting maximum force if you had just the (Prop) (Engine Input) on it. But we also have a Clutch, Two Gearboxes, and a Generator attached.

Everything you connect to the Power pipe Increases the load on the Engines which reduces your Maximum (Power Output). This is just looking inside engine room only itself regarding actual performance in workbench.

What also affects it is the Weight, and drag (Air or Water and/or Both). Air has less drag than Water.

(Just for you to know later on) ---------Three Gens only on a Small engine takes 100% of the Engine Power (Engine Output) at a 1:3 Gear ratio.
So in this example we are using 1/3 of the power from the engine to the Gen. Which is roughly (6666 Repeating Power).


So we have a remainder (13332) Engine Power going towards the Clutch, Gearbox, and Props. (I typically make my boats have more power than needed since I cannot find concrete numbers on the Gearbox, and Clutch for maximum efficiency).
(I just round down So in this example we'll say we have 10k going to the Props).


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Section 3

Next Variable in the equation is Fuel Efficiently! We don't run on Hopes, and Prayers!

Fuel consumption is based on ((X) RPS) {Multiplied} (X) Amount of Engines));

Place down a gauge, dial or some form of measuring component('s) to measure the fuel tank content so you can measure the fuel consumption differences between the gears!
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A Small Engines Maximum RPS (Fuel Usage) is capped at 20 RPS. So we want it as low as possible without killing the Engine! (Which is roughly 3 RPS). Which you are measuring using your Dial!
So how do we do this with 100% Throttle otherwise-known as Engine Output? Gear Ratios!


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Set your first Gearboxes ratios in sequence to 2:3 // -1.1;
(This means if you just engage the throttle and clutch for every ((2 Engine RPS) the ((Props get 3.))
Set a Toggle Button "Named Reverse" to toggle this first Gearbox('s) being shifted into their Second gear Ratio which is -1:1. (This is our reverse gear)

Not only does it shift our boat into reverse. But the first Gear Ratio (2:3) is key also!
(Going forward non-reverse) Increases our engine load slightly.

Which lowers our RPS (Fuel Usage). Doing this you should be roughly around 10-14 RPS still on Engine if you took it for a spin here at 100% Throttle (Depending on weight and ship design it's lower or higher RPS).

So we still have a second Gearbox to setup, and ALOT of wiggle room to add more Load onto the Engine.

Second Gearbox in sequence dedicate this one to 2:3, and 1:3 with a (Toggle Button) enabled again named (1st Gear).

Which translates (Non-Toggled) to (Every ((4 Engine Rotations)) the (Props get 6))
(If you don't understand so far (First gearbox 2:3 + Second Gear box 2:3 = 4:6)

If you toggled the Up Gear Button it translates to (Every (( 3 Engine Rotations)) The ((Props get 6)). 2:3 + 1:3
-----------------*(I didn't pay attention to fractions back in the day in school, and how to add them so I may wrong here but this dumb♥♥♥♥♥adds them up in this manner if someone more intelligent than I can correct me feel free down below)*---------------------------------

So we increased the load on the engines even further which reduces Fuel usage by lowering the RPS because of the increase on the Engine Load!


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Section 6

Now how does this translate to speed? The same principle as in Real-Life regarding Torque ((Engine/Prop) (Power Output/Input)) Otherwise known as Engine Load, and Horsepower (RPS).

In this game there are Maximum caps to RPS a Prop or Helicopter Blade can use. I haven't found this number for the propellers but on Helicopter blades I've personally found it at 60RPS.
(If you know this number for Small Prop, Big prop, and Huge Prop please put it down below I'll edit this to give others the info).

So I use this as a rule of thumb do not exceed this number or bad things happen (On a helicopter this is instability death-wobble straight into the ground).

So you want to find that sweet spot of Maximum amount of Torque (Power Output/Input), and Maximum amount of Horsepower (RPS) to the wheels/Props/Blades for your particular vehicle.
Favoring one does a better job at certain things....
(Just so you know later on the torque meter in game can help you find this besides just mental math that we're doing currently).

Favoring Torque (Power) makes you move to (Your setups Max Speed which is dictated based on Drag, Weight, and Prop RPS) Faster. Example of usage. (Cargo Ships/Fuel Trucks)

Favoring Horsepower (RPS) makes you have a faster (Top Speed). Example of usage (Helicopters, Speed Boats).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Section 7

In our example so far we favored (Horsepower ((RPS).
Remember we dedicated our remaining 10k Power (Torque) to convert that mechanical force output from our Engine(s). Through our Gearboxes in favor of (Horsepower) ((RPS to the Props) Remember the 2:3, and 1:3 Ratio translation)).

If you wanted to favor Torque you'd flip the gearbox('s) Arrows around facing the props!
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Now place down a battery make sure all the Data points are connected, and power all the components! If you've followed correctly so far you should have roughly (3-5 Engine RPS) at (14-25MS Linear speed) Depending on Weight, and drag.


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Now quiz time if you want to make sure you understand the principles I just covered..............

Without adding any components into the system I want you to free up Torque (Engine Power) from the components already placed to convert more of it to Horsepower (RPS). If done correctly you still have the same Linear speed as before, and Higher RPS to the Engine.

(If stuck and cannot figure it out go back to Section 2)


Now add in a third gearbox arrows facing to engine and set a ratio that your Engine RPS can utilize without killing the engine. Ultimately to increase the RPS to the Props with the free'd up engine power. How did that effect your build?

(Now to make a fully efficient usable speed boat add in the (Component(s) needed to finalize the build).--------------------------------------------------------


This is how you dictate what you want to favor your build for, and a tutorial on advanced engines! If this guide helped you please comment down below!

[Delle(DK)]

Really good guide..:: suggestion it would be really good if you could insert som images of what you describe that way even more people will be able to follow your guide.
And maybe consider adding your guide to the "guide" tab so people more easy can find it in the future... ;-)

[Woodspeople]

I recommend you google how fractions work. Also you do NOT add gearboxes, as they multiply rps so should be multiplied.
ex: 1 *2/3 = 1.5 1.5*2/3 = 2.25
4/6 is the same value as 2/3 just not reduced.