Overview#
Silent's Mechanisms is a standalone tech mod designed to provide essential automation tools and resource processing capabilities. It operates primarily on Forge Energy (FE), making it compatible with most other modern industrial mods. The mod focuses on a tiered progression system where players mine new ores, smelt them into specialized alloys, and construct complex machinery to multiply ore yields and refine fluids like oil into high-efficiency fuels.
Key features include:
- Ore Doubling: Using the Crusher to turn ores into dusts.
- Alloying: Combining base metals to create advanced materials like Steel and Bronze.
- Fluid Refining: A multi-step process to turn crude oil into Diesel and Gasoline.
- Modular Upgrades: Enhancing machine speed and efficiency using upgrade chips.
Ores and Materials#
The mod adds several new ores to world generation, which are essential for crafting machine frames, wires, and alloys. These ores generate at various heights and can be processed into ingots or dusts.
World-Generated Ores
| Ore Name | Typical Y-Level | Harvest Level | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | 0 to 96 | Stone | Wires, Bronze, Brass |
| Tin | 0 to 64 | Stone | Bronze, Lumium |
| Silver | 0 to 32 | Iron | Electrum, Signalum |
| Lead | 0 to 32 | Iron | Enderium, Storage Blocks |
| Nickel | 0 to 24 | Iron | Invar |
| Platinum | 0 to 16 | Iron | Enderium |
| Zinc | 0 to 48 | Stone | Brass |
| Bismuth | 0 to 48 | Stone | Bismuth Brass |
| Uranium | 0 to 24 | Iron | Future power generation |
| Antimony | 0 to 32 | Iron | Specialized alloys |
Alloys
Alloys are created in the Alloy Smelter by combining specific ratios of metals.
- Bronze: 3 Copper + 1 Tin. A durable early-game metal.
- Brass: 3 Copper + 1 Zinc. Used for decorative and technical components.
- Invar: 2 Iron + 1 Nickel. High-strength metal for advanced machine frames.
- Electrum: 1 Gold + 1 Silver. Excellent for high-tier wiring.
- Steel: 1 Iron + Carbon (Coal/Charcoal). Essential for mid-to-late game machinery.
- Lumium: 3 Tin + 1 Silver + Glowstone. Used in advanced electronics.
- Signalum: 3 Copper + 1 Silver + Redstone. Used for signal-sensitive components.
- Enderium: 3 Lead + 1 Platinum + Ender Pearl. The highest tier material for end-game tech.
Power Generation#
To power your factory, you must generate Forge Energy (FE). The mod provides three primary generators, ranging from early-game solid fuel burners to advanced liquid fuel engines.
Coal Generator
The entry-level generator. It burns solid fuels like Coal, Charcoal, or Wood.
- Output: 60 FE/t.
- Internal Buffer: 10,000 FE.
Lava Generator
Consumes Lava buckets or piped-in Lava to produce steady power.
- Output: 100 FE/t.
- Internal Buffer: 50,000 FE.
Diesel Generator
A high-output engine that requires liquid fuels produced via the Refinery.
- Output: Depends on fuel quality (Diesel: 200 FE/t, Gasoline: 400 FE/t).
- Internal Buffer: 1,000,000 FE.
Processing Machines#
Machines are the core of the mod. Most machines have an internal energy buffer and slots for Upgrade Chips.
| Machine | Function | Energy Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Furnace | Smelts items like a standard furnace but uses FE. | 20 FE/t |
| Crusher | Grinds ores into 2x dusts. Has a chance for secondary outputs. | 60 FE/t |
| Alloy Smelter | Combines multiple items into alloys (e.g., Bronze). | 80 FE/t |
| Compressor | Compresses items (e.g., Blaze Powder into Blaze Rods). | 60 FE/t |
| Mixer | Mixes items and fluids together (Agitator). | 40 FE/t |
| Refinery | Distills Crude Oil into Diesel, Gasoline, and Ethane. | 100 FE/t |
| Solidifier | Converts fluids into solid items (e.g., Latex to Rubber). | 60 FE/t |
| Drying Rack | A non-electric block that dries items over time (e.g., Rotten Flesh to Leather). | 0 FE/t |
Machine Mechanics
- Auto-Input/Output: Machines can be configured to automatically pull from or push to adjacent containers using a Wrench.
- Redstone Control: Machines can be set to Always On, Work on Signal, or Disabled.
Fluid Management#
Silent's Mechanisms introduces a fluid system primarily focused on Oil processing.
Oil Processing Flow
- Oil Seeps: Found naturally in the world. Use a Pump to extract Crude Oil.
- Refinery: Input Crude Oil to produce Diesel (fuel), Gasoline (high-tier fuel), and Ethane (used for plastic production).
- Mixer: Combine fluids with items to create specialized chemicals.
Fluid Tools
- Canisters: Portable fluid storage. Canisters come in various tiers (Copper, Iron, Steel) with increasing capacity.
- Fluid Pipes: Used to transport liquids between tanks and machines.
Items and Tools#
Essential Tools
- Wrench: The primary tool for rotating machines, configuring I/O sides, and instantly picking up machines without losing their internal energy.
- Battery: Portable FE storage. Can be placed in machine upgrade slots or held in the inventory to charge electric tools.
Components
- Circuit Boards: Used as the base for all machine upgrades.
- Machine Frames: Crafted from Iron, Invar, or Enderium; these are the base blocks for all machinery.
- Dusts: Obtained by crushing ores. Dusts can be smelted into ingots or mixed into alloy blends.
Upgrades#
Most machines feature three upgrade slots. These allow players to customize the performance of their factory.
- Speed Upgrade: Increases the processing speed of the machine but significantly increases energy consumption per tick.
- Efficiency Upgrade: Reduces the energy cost per operation. Ideal for setups with limited power generation.
- Output Upgrade: Increases the chance of receiving secondary outputs from the Crusher or Refinery.
- Range Upgrade: Increases the effective area for machines like the Pump.
Mod Compatibility#
Silent's Mechanisms is designed with cross-mod play in mind:
- Forge Energy (FE): Fully compatible with any mod using the FE or RF standard.
- ComputerCraft (CC: Tweaked): Machines can be interfaced with computers to monitor energy levels, progress, and inventory via Lua scripts.
- CraftTweaker: Server owners can add or remove custom recipes for the Crusher, Alloy Smelter, and Refinery using scripts.
- JEI (Just Enough Items): All machine recipes, including fluid outputs and alloy ratios, are viewable within the JEI interface.
