Windmill

Basic windmill attached to a house.

A windmill is a multi-block structure used to harness wind and transform it into mechanical power . Windmills can be used to automate querns , helve hammers , and pulverizers . Out of these, only the quern can be used manually, without any need for mechanical power.

Considerations for the structure

Sails

A structure with sufficient height and clearance is needed to accommodate the sails, the power train, and machines being powered such querns and helve hammers . Sails too low to the ground may not receive enough wind speed to generate any wind power. Likewise, a structure with insufficient clearance might prevent the sails from rotating freely. If the sail hits any block during its function, the sail breaks immediately and turns into an item that drops to the ground.

Wind speeds

The location and height of the structure affects the amount of power generated. Wind speed increases by 1% per block elevation starting from 10 blocks above sea level, with a maximum bonus of 50% at 60 blocks above sea level. For a world with a default height of 256 blocks, sea level would be Y-level 110. At Y-level 121 and above, a windmill starts to get the height wind speed bonus. For example, a windmill rotor at Y-level 121 could reach a potential wind speed of 101%, and a rotor at Y-level 170 could reach up to 150% wind speed.

Conversely, wind speeds decrease by 50% at 4 blocks below sea level, by 66% at 8 blocks below sea level, and continue to drop rapidly to 100% reduction at greater depths.

Wind speeds naturally vary and at times there may be no wind at all. If there is zero wind, a windmill with 150% potential wind speed would still produce no mechanical power.

On a technical level, wind speed varies from region to region and is linearly interpolated between the 4 nearest weather regions, for a given block location.

Materials

To create a windmill, a player needs:

Windmill rotor

The mechanism that supports the rotating sails. Each windmill requires one rotor to work, and each rotor can support up to 5 sets of sails.

Ingredients	Crafting Recipe
1x Hammer 1x Chisel 2x Log 1x Resin 1x Fat

Set of sails

The wind-catching part that allows for the generation and harness of wind power. Each set of sails will increase the power output by 20% and require one full block of clearance. If the sails do not have space to move freely, they will break and fall to the ground below.

Ingredients	Crafting Recipe
6x Stick 4x Linen

Sails are constructed in sets, with one set containing four sails. that means each set takes:

Sails	1 set	2 sets	3 sets	4 sets	max 5 sets
Sticks	6	12	18	24	30
Linen	4	8	12	16	20

With the mouse cursor over the rotor, the Block info HUD will display the current windspeed and potential power output. One set of sails at 100% windspeed produces 20 kN of power; two sets produce 40 kN, and so on. But if the windspeed drops to 50%, two sets of sails would produce only 20 kN.

• A single set of sails (20 kN) can power a quern (slowly) with a strong breeze.
• A single set of sails can power a pulverizer (slowly) with a strong breeze.
• A single set of sails isn't enough to budge a helve hammer at sea level, even with storm-level winds. 2 sets of sails may be barely enough to power a helve hammer slowly, with a strong breeze. 3 sets of sails can get a helve hammer moving with a medium breeze, barely.

More sails doesn't necessarily lead to higher speed. Rather, more sails can make the difference between getting a machine moving in lower and lower windspeeds. One way to achieve higher speeds for machines is to "change gears" like a street bicycle. See mechanical power for details.

Wooden axles

Used to transmit the wind power in a straight line. These may be placed vertically or horizontally in any of the cardinal directions. However, a supporting block is often required before an axle can be placed; the support may then be removed.

Ingredients	Crafting Recipe
1x Hammer 1x Chisel 1x Log 1x Fat

Angled gears

Allows the mechanical power to make a right angle turn by connecting a horizontal axle to a vertical one. Usually optional, but often needed depending on the design of the power train.

Ingredients	Crafting Recipe
1x Hammer 1x Saw 2x Stick 1x Chisel 1x Resin 1x Log 1x Fat

1. Angled Gears. 2. Wooden Axle. 3. Rotor with Sails

Building the windmill

The windmill requires at least 5 blocks of vertical space between the rotor and the ground or any other solid block to accommodate a full complement of 5 sets of Sails.

	Place one wooden axle on the top or side of the building you’re planning on turning into a windmill. It’s recommended this be the first part you place, since it will help keep the rotor suspended outside the building while attaching it to the axle. This suspended rotor will provide the space needed for the sails to rotate.
	Next, sails are added to the rotor in sets of four (one for each windmill blade), with the maximum adding up to 20 sails in total.
	Once this setup is complete, all that’s left is to direct the mechanical power where you want it, using axles to extend it, and angled gears to turn at a right angle where needed.

For power train designs, see mechanical power .

Video tutorials

How To Build A Windmill & Automate a Quern.