First Simple Machine

In this chapter we’ll create a simple machine which simply counts the items and types of items that pass through it, outputting them again on the other side.

Create the machine

First thing to make our counting machine, you’ll need to create another buildable with descriptor and recipe, but this time use this as the mesh and this (TODO make this icon) as icon so that it looks a bit more like a machine.

As this is a simple counting machine we’re using FGBuildable as our base class; however, if we were making a machine that produces or mines for things we should look for a better starting point in the available classes. For now, to make sure we’re looking at the same thing during the tutorial, stick to FGBuildable.

Now we simply want to add the factory-connectors (conveyor input and outputs). For that, we’ll be adding two components of type FGFactoryConnectionComponent to the actor and placing them where they looks appropriate. Use + Add Component to add a component of type FGFactory Connection to the actor and name it "Connection Input". Duplicate it and rename the copy to "Connection Output". Rotate them so that their positive x faces the correct direction.

Set the output component’s direction property to output and the type to Item. Do the same for the input component, but change its direction property to input. Be sure that both components have M Forward Peek and Grab to Buildable checked. This step is essential for the item counting code to function correctly.

We also want to make our machine depend on electricity. For that we’ll need to add two more components via + Add Component. First is a FGPowerConnection; place it at the position of the power connecter visual of the mesh. Set M Max Num Connections to 1 so it behaves like the machines in the base game. However, you could raise this if you so desire. Second, add a FGPowerInfo component. If we had used one of the other types of base class this will exist automatically, but since we chose FGBuildable, we need to add one ourselves. It does not have a physical position and doesn’t need to be moved or have any settings changed.

Init logic

The init logic happens in the BeginPlay event and initializes the base state of the factory (also based on the save information). There is not that much we need to do here. The only thing we need to do is to set the PowerInfo on the PowerConnection and configure the target consumption of the FGPowerInfo to something like 1.0.

image (Logic in the Event Graph)

Grab logic

The FGBuildable class provides a FactoryGrabOutput function that will get executed by our output connector when a new item gets requested. Connecting a belt will cause a new item to be requested at the speed of the belt. It wont know how to respond to a request by default - to control how our machine behaves we’ll need to setup and override of the FactoryGrabOutput function.

image

Because we want to store the count of items transferred and the count of different item-types, we will need to add a new global integer variable. Let’s call it "itemAmount". We’ll also need an array of FGItem Descriptor-Classes, which we’ll call "itemTypes". image

Now, in the grab logic, first we check if the machine has power. We do this by using the "HasPower"-node of the FGPowerInfoComponent. If it responds false, we return nothing and set the output to false. But if it’s true, we use the grab function of the input connector to request a new item.

If the input grab boolean is true, we increase the "itemAmount" integer by one and add the item unique to the "itemTypes". Now we simply log "itemAmount" and the size of the "itemTypes"-array. After that we return the item we got from the grab and set the output boolean to true.

If the input grab boolean is false, we just return nothing and the output boolean is set to false.

Overall the logic becomes: checks if we have power. If we do, try and get a item from the input. If there’s no item, we do nothing. But if we get a item, we count it and then return it to the output.

image

That’s should be it, try out your newly created machine!