Set Up Your First Water Wheel and Shaft System

Gather Materials

Collect wood from trees and iron ore from underground. Smelt the iron in a furnace to get iron ingots. You'll need these to craft your first mechanical components.

Build the Water Wheel

Place your water wheel next to a flowing water source—rivers, waterfalls, or artificial channels all work. The water wheel generates rotational power when water flows through it. Position it so water flows perpendicular to the wheel's face for maximum efficiency.

Connect Shafts

Attach shafts to your water wheel to transmit rotational power. Shafts can be placed in a line to carry power across distances. You can rotate shafts in any direction, but they must connect end-to-end without gaps.

Test Your Setup

Once connected, your water wheel should spin and power any machines attached to the shaft network. Watch the rotation speed—faster rotation means more power output. If nothing spins, check that water is flowing correctly and all connections are solid.

Next Steps

Now that you have rotational power, you can attach your first mechanical press or conveyor belt to begin automating simple recipes.