Set up a quarry to dig out a large area automatically
A quarry clears a whole region without you swinging a pickaxe. It needs three things: a defined area, power, and somewhere for the items to go.
Mark the area and place the quarry
1. Choose a flat spot at the surface where you want the hole to start.
2. Use markers to outline the digging area. The quarry digs inside the region you mark.
3. Place the quarry block so it lines up with that area, and check that nothing is in the way of the frame it builds around the area.
4. Clear any obstacles you don't want to be part of the frame.
Power and output
1. Put an engine against the quarry, or run power to it with kinesis pipes. Quarries use a lot of energy, so a single weak engine makes it slow.
2. Make sure the engine has fuel. A redstone engine needs a redstone signal. Stirling and combustion engines need their own fuel.
3. Place a chest or an item pipe directly next to the quarry. Mined items are pushed into adjacent inventories and pipes.
4. Once powered, the quarry builds its frame and then starts digging down.
Tips
- If the quarry stalls, check whether the output chest is full.
- Keep lava and water in mind. Pumps or a fluid-safe setup around the edges help if you dig into liquids.
- Dig a small test area first to confirm your power supply keeps up.