Modular Tunnel Boring Machine

aka The Almighty Digtron

More examples: Digtron Luanti Forum Topic

This mod contains a set of blocks that can be used to construct highly customizable and modular tunnel-boring machines, bridge-builders, road-pavers, wall-o-matics, and other such construction/destruction contraptions.

Basic functionality

A digging machine's components must be connected to the control block via a path leading through the faces of the blocks - diagonal connections across edges and corners don't count.

Crucial Digtron blocks

• Digger heads excavate material in front of them when the machine is triggered.
  • The mined blocks are shunt into the inventory module. Excess is dropped to ground.
• Builder heads build a user-configured node in the direction they're facing.
  • Useful for situations where a tunnel-borer intersects a cavern.
• Inventory modules hold material produced by the digger and provide material to the builders.
• Fuel modules hold flammable materials to feed the beast.
• Control blocks trigger the machine and move it in a particular direction.
  • The auto-controller triggers automatically for a custom number of cycles.

Builder heads can be set to construct their target block "intermittently", allowing for regularly-spaced structures to be constructed. Common uses include building support arches at regular intervals in a tunnel, adding a torch on the wall at regular intervals, laying rails with regularly-spaced powered rails interspersed, and adding stairs to vertical shafts.

A player can ride their Digtron as it goes.

Other specialized Digtron blocks

• "Axle" block: allows an assembled Digtron to be rotated into new orientations without needing to be rebuilt block-by-block
• Crate: stores an assembled Digtron and allows the player to transport it to a new location
• Duplicator: creates a copy of an existing Digtron (if provided with enough spare parts)
• Item ejector: moves excavated materials from a Digtron's inventory into pipeworks tubes.
• Light: can be mounted on a Digtron to illuminate the workspace as it moves
• Structural components to make it look cool

License

• Code: MIT
• Textures: CC-BY-SA 3.0
• Sounds: CC BY 3.0 / CC 1.0 (sounds/license.txt)

See also: LICENSE.txt.

Dependencies

Mandatory

• Luanti/Minetest >= 5.5.0
• default mod (from Minetest Game or compatible games)
• fakelib

Optional

• doc, an in-game documentation mod. Detailed documentation for all of the Digtron's individual blocks are included as well as pages of general concepts and design tips.
  • Note: The mods doc and doc_items should be enabled for the best experience.
• pipeworks for item transport automation.
• hopper for item transport automation.
• awards to add over 30 Digtron-specific achievements (progression) to the game.
• technic to power Digtron with electricity (including batteries!).
• TechAge, a mod that adds technology stages where the player advances from the water mill and steam engine into future technology. It includes a rechargeable Digtron Battery.