Basic Engineering in Space Engineers

“Hey look buddy, I'm an engineer; that means I solve problems.
Not problems like 'What is beauty?', because that would fall within the purview of your conundrums of philosophy.
I solve practical problems.”
- The engineer
So the idea behind this guide is to give those of you who want to go beyond making things look beautiful and start making things practical.

Introduction

“Hey look buddy, I'm an engineer; that means I solve problems.
Not problems like 'What is beauty?', because that would fall within the purview of your conundrums of philosophy.
I solve practical problems.”
- The engineer

Note this guide is outdated. I am not currently playing space engineers as I have a list of games a mile long I need to at least try. I'm also a bit busy with work making things not fall down. The philosophy behind this guide remains the same however for those wanting to play as a real engineer instead of some form of artist.


So the idea behind this guide is to give those of you who want to go beyond making things look beautiful and start making things practical.
To begin we need to start asking questions such as; do I need that many reactors? Do I need that many thrusts? Do I need that many gyroscopes? What is the purpose of this ship; cargo, scouting, battle, mothership? Et cetera.
This guide will mainly focus on reactors and thrusts. So let’s begin:

Data - Small Ships

Large thrust

• Requires: 20 GW
  
• Mass: 721 kg
  
• Thrust: 140kN

Small thrust

• Requires: 1.68GW
  
• Mass: 93kg
  
• Thrust: 12kN

Small reactor

• Mass: 118kg
  
• Provides: 4GW

Large reactor

• Mass: 2716 kg (thanks Imhotep)
  
• Provides: 108 GW

Data - Large Ships

Large thrust

• Requires: 336GW
  
• Mass: 43212kg
  
• Thrust: 1200kN

Small Thrust

• Requires: 28GW
  
• Mass: 3384 Kg
  
• Thrust: 100kN

Large Reactor

• Mass: 72054kg
  
• Provides: 1512 GW

Small reactor

• Mass: 4721kg
  
• Provides 56GW

Equations

F= ma
V=U+ aT
S=UT+0.5aT^2
t=Fd


Where;

• F= Force in Newtons (N)
  
• m= Mass in kg
  
• a= Acceleration in m/s^2
  
• U= Initial Velocity in m/s
  
• V= Final Velocity in m/s
  
• T= CHANGE in time in seconds (s)
  
• S= CHANGE in displacement. in metres (m)
  
• t= Torque in N.m
  
• d= Distance between Turning point and force in m

Much of the data I have given you is in kN kilo-Newtons. You must multiply this by 1000 to get a value in newtons.
It is also important to note that for some reason thrusts work better when you’re decelerating than when you’re accelerating. This doesn’t seem logical but that’s how it works in game. And deceleration does not work in a linear manner. I have a few ways of modelling it, but I need to more testing to make it work. Acceleration appears somewhat linear, or close enough to be useful.
Another thing I need to mention is that thrusts are only used when Accelerating/decelerating in a particular direction.
In practice U will usually be 0. So the equations become a lot simpler.
You put the values in and you work out the answer you need.

Example - Thrusts

Problem
If I wanted my 2000 tonne large ship to reach 100m/s in less than 10 seconds. How many large thrusters would I require, if the ship is expected to carry 3x 50 tonne small ships (turned off) and 250tonnes of ore? Also how many reactors would be required and would it be better to use large or small reactors?

Solution

Total mass = 2000+150+250 = 2400tonnes =2400000 kg
Acceleration required: = 100m/s/10seconds = 10m/s^2
F required = ma = 2400000*10 = 24000000
Large thrust provides 1200kN of force
24000000/1200000 = 20 Large thrusts exactly.
Each requires 336GW
Total power required = 336 x 20 =6720 GW

Large Reactor
Mass: 72054kg
Provides: 1512 GW

Small reactor
Mass: 4721kg
Provides 56GW

It would take 6720/1512 = 4.44 large reactors
5 large reactors total mass = 360270kg

Or 6720/56 = 120 Small reactors exactly
120 Small reactors total mass = 566520kg

Hybrid 4 large reactors and x amount of small reactors
4 large provide 1512GWx 4 =6048
Required from smaller = 6720 – 6048 = 672 GW
672/56 = 12 reactors exactly, total mass = 56652kg
Total mass of reactors for hybrid configuration: 56652 + 4x 72054 = 344868 kg

Summary
The lightest configuration is the hybrid with 344848 kg total mass and total power of 6720 GW
Which will power 20 large thrusts.

[hurricanepilotbob]

I disagree with the engineer solves problems. They do not solve any problems. They have ideas, the technicians are the ones that solve all your mistakes.

[A strange sphere]

???

[Phantom-04]

how do i make my ship work?

[alos]

This is good, thank you!

[Kapu]

@Aperture, lol ikr!

[Aperture™]

>.< I'm only in 8th grade....

[BOB.Trigger]

Two things: One, this is a very helpful guide! Two: Deceleration is now more linear, as inertial dampeners have been adjusted so that they apply the same force at maximum as when accelerating. In addition, I believe the thrust that ion engines has been adjusted, and since now we have both atmospheric thrusters and the vastly more powerful hydrogen thrusters now, I imagine you'll want to add those when/if you do re-write this guide. :D

[miele dishwasher]

Math came from your desk in school
to haunt you again
in space engineers

[Derp & Junk]

Engineers make things efficient, but this does not preclude making it look nice. We have an innate sense of how things should work and if it looks ugly, that's this sense saying it can be made to work better. Try using combinations of geometry that maximize the function of each area of the ship. Remember that optimal functionality in space means having backup systems in the event of damage, so you can and should have some sense of symetry to the build.

[Gibus]

@vetinarii83, True, if you have a ship with no reactors or thrusters, here though I'm estimating the ship to have a mass of about 2000 tonnes 345 tonnes of which being made of thrusters and reactors.

I plan on rewriting this entire article at some point but i'm currently working on my thesis.