Gear Elevator - Space Engineers

A reliable, small grid elevator design that integrates with large grid, can be expanded as long as the player wants, and can stop at any point on the track. It works in space as well as on moving ships.
Leave a like if you enjoyed this concept!
Steam Workshop Link:
steamcommunity.com/sharedfile...
Music:
Intro: Coastline - TrackTribe
Outro: Smooth and Cool - Nico Staf
00:00 Intro
00:11 Concepts
04:49 Gear Elevator
#spaceengineers #elevator #gears #clever #blackarmor

[@bruckenpfeiler6550]

i like how, in a game built around engineering and space travel, it's a hassle to build with cogs and wheels :D

[@BlackArmor718]

It comes down to block size. This was the smallest reliable gear I could come up with.

[@ImieNazwiskoOK]

And you also can't travel fast or orbit (without scripts, mods etc)

[@tra7017]

@@BlackArmor718 could you use wheels as the teeth of the gears? The suspension made stiff and adjustable height along with the fact that they are designed to get grip and not damage other blocks could be helpful

[@BlackArmor718]

@@tra7017 Gears out of wheel suspension?

[@mikewhitaker2880]

i could see a gear out of wheel suspension... would be a larger gear, but would have built in cushioning with the wheels....

[@CameraManBlaise]

showing the progression in the learning was great.

[@BlackArmor718]

Thanks, trying to do more of that

[@thehotdogman9317]

A good engineer always shows their thought process when they design something.

[@speedbumps8373]

@@thehotdogman9317 Yep, never cross it out, just draw the next one

[@barmetler]

The little arrow on the rotor is ingenious. My first idea would've been to use a programmable block to display information, but this is so much easier, I'll definitely use that in the future!

[@zacharyhutchison4006]

I fucking facepalmed when I saw that. I needed that solution like a year ago and it eluded me, now I feel dumb. I was trying to do a jump light for a drop ship only to realize you can't actually change light colors with actions.

[@ex1988]

2:15 i can imagine someone doing a vault door from fallout using this

[@BlackArmor718]

Someone has made this: www.reddit.com/r/spaceengineers/comments/i7fcg6/any_fallout_fans_on_this_sub_been_wanting_to_make/?context=3

[@gameknight0130]

my exact thought

[@prof.maniak5925]

I removed my comment seeing that you already said this

[@BlackArmor718]

@@prof.maniak5925 I wish there were more like you because I’ve gotten the suggestion of using sensors to stop on different floors like 15 times.

[@prof.maniak5925]

@@BlackArmor718 Hehe, yeah, it would be nice for more folks to look around in the comments first before saying anything

[@Gottaculat]

I love how there are multiple ways to accomplish the same task in SE. So many different elevator methods, and that's just elevators!

[@BlackArmor718]

That’s the beauty of the game

[@Archris17]

And then there's those of us who got sick of having to build something so complicated and clunky and that doesn't work as soon as a ship starts moving and who just decided to download a mod xD

[@user-kg1ce7tw2h]

God damn it if I just scale up this gorgeous thing it will be a perfect fit to a mech cage deployment system! LAUNCH THE EVA!!!

[@tackytrooper]

*[SHEEPISHLY REFUSES TO PILOT THE ROBOT]*

[@bi0hazardxiii28]

@@tackytrooper fine, then leave. We will just pick another kid from your class....unless of course, you are the only one that can pilot it....then ummm, please come back 😢 🙏

[@tackytrooper]

@@bi0hazardxiii28 Are you trying to ply me with teenage girls? Do you think that will compensate for being an absent father??? *[EMO INTENSIFIES]*

[@gelobledo]

Titanfall drop incoming. Oooops physics work here your titan exploded.

[@cloudexmachina]

@@gelobledo just have a set of atmosphere engines on there no probs

[@MightyAssa]

I would probably place the gears above the elevatorcabin and watch those gears as they working :) Lovely piece of engineering 10/10

[@gearandalthefirst7027]

Yeah I was thinking how cool it would be to have a larger version where you ride inside the gear compartment, as in you walk between the gear to enter and there's glass/grates on the inside of the carriage. The roof that would form could also make a better surface for the roof bumpers so it doesn't get tilted like this one does.

[@jeremyortiz2927]

You have excellent problem solving and theory application skill sets. Well done.

[@BlackArmor718]

That's like this whole game haha

[@mickys8065]

You could fix the slanting issue by adding another 4 gears above the platform, meaning there will be 2 gears for each track. That might also allow you to move up and down much faster.

[@AdamBeaudryMasterProton]

I agree, and would also minimze the Klang-risk. :)

[@zwenkwiel816]

Yeah, that's how I usually do it with wheels too, 1 set above and 1 set below the elevator

[@ZEOCMF]

👏👏👏 Black Armor: The Bob Ross of Space Engineers! I'm putting this elevator design in my next base

[@BlackArmor718]

Looking forward to that ZEO

[@zwenkwiel816]

Damn, these are surprisingly smooth. Never thought Lord Klang would allow something like this to exist...

[@zeugsman]

I play space engineers for over 5000 hours and can still learn something from you. Simply great buildings that you deliver again and again. Thanks a lot for this!

[@sebione3576]

I'd be interested to see what you've built, René.

[@rextron6437]

Trust me there is always things to be learnt in SE no matter your hours.

[@ectior]

I wonder how much load you could lift with a system like this. It would be interesting to experiment with cantilevered versions that just use a trailing set of wheels to offset the moment. This opens up some really interesting ideas for elevators that can lift large ships from underground or even to orbit

[@delta4phoenix4]

That was my first thought. I wonder if one could make this out of large blocks and lift proper capital ships

[@ectior]

I think having them as small rotors is probably more advantageous since if I remember correctly both large and small rotors have the same torque and detach limits so it’s more space efficient to use small

[@SCOR3S3TT3R]

"What if we turn it, vertically." God, I just love that smooth delivery and turn, you make this so much fun

[@BlackArmor718]

Thanks Wikus!

[@mattp1337]

I suspect this can be done more compactly by tucking the gear mechanism into the left and right walls of an elevator car, but that's just tweaking. You've done the hard work. Very nice.

[@ravenbolt7677]

Neat! I love the use of the letters on the elevator!

[@BlackArmor718]

Thanks!

[@edwardbryan9501]

No matter how I try and how long, I still feel like a DUNCE from brilliant creators and ingenious designs.

[@shahbazfawbush]

I had a grin on my face through the whole video, saying "yes, yes ,yes!". Maybe one day Keen will make a track block that integrates with a gear (or linear accelerator) block. And if Keen adds some curved track blocks we will have Space Engineers roller coaster edition! Think of the possibilities.....

[@brodriguez11000]

Spiral gears would allow for scissor jack lifts.

[@tonyflury2291]

Or Even a simple way to build train tracks - flying from A to B shouldn't be the only solution when you are planet side.

[@torinnbalasar6774]

This feels like a high invocation of Klang, but now I'm interested in trying this as a large grid for moving big ships on a space elevator.

[@Daman2287]

combine it with the Waffle iron from @CaptainJack

[@stevenraycopley8885]

Its is kinda funny when you think about it. The dev's gave us reactors, jump drives...combustion engines, but God help us if we ask for a elevator and elevator shaft in vanilla lol

[@chaomatic5328]

You could compact it even further out by having the cogs displaced by 1+ block, but at that point I would rather resort to the "climbing piston" elevators that are better for displacing one player. I really wish this sees the days in an underground base as a massive vehicle platform, it would be so badass

[@Azzio92]

That’s why I love this game ♥️ Thinking about a concept, testing it’s behavior and limitations in the game and finally using it in a suitable build and trying it until it works 👌🏻 that’s just beautiful…

[@BlackArmor718]

Well said Luke

[@ChristopherMocko]

you could have a central shaft with teeth for the elevator gears to climb if you wanted something more open. For bonus Imperial credits, forgo any railings or safety features.

[@BlackArmor718]

Hey that would be interesting for a larger version

[@marty7442]

I ran into a similar problem trying to put that oversized 'gatling railgun' into a more practical setup. I was bound to the arbitrary size of the large-grid and small-grid block, and I had to write my own trig formulas for overall size and shape, number of 'barrels', RoF, how to aim it reliably, and not kill your ship's batteries; without having an irregular shaped unit which would misfire or fire into the subgrid it was attached to, as funny as that was when I was testing it, lol.

[@BlackArmor718]

Nice and impressive!

[@austynlarocque3918]

That is by far the coolest intro to any youtube channel I have seen

[@swapertxking]

man this beats a lot of the mobility schemes around bases i've seen so far.

[@jeffersonjones5668]

800 hours spent in this game and I've never even had the slightest idea or even like heard of gears in space engineers this is legendary

[@BlackArmor718]

Now you can come up with the next big thing

[@mindmachinepsy]

This is actually a really cool idea. I could see it being used for a landing platform, that lowers your ship into a station. But i can already hear clang laughing in the distance just thinking about that idea xD

[@ultmateragnarok8376]

Very interesting to see the conceptualizing process. I could imagine some quite interesting steampunk-styled builds utilizing these gears and potentially some other less functional parts.

[@Vinnidict]

This is amazing, I would love to use it for my future ships!

[@BlackArmor718]

Link in the description, I hope you get some use out of it!

[@lacai527]

Add connector to uptairs aswell and make it connect when its on floor, otherwise if not connected and ya start flying, soon yar front elevator is back engine heat sink.

[@BlackArmor718]

@@lacai527 the elevator operates no problem on a moving ship

[@lacai527]

@@BlackArmor718 time flies when having fun! Sadly had no fun and still over year gone fast

[@kevinkearney902]

The one that spins around could be a interesting sheild, door or mount for something that follows you.

[@BlackArmor718]

There you go

[@Gottaculat]

I guess to build it in survival you'd have to build the elevator carriage nearby, then fly the elevator to the top of the track, set it in, then seal the top.

[@BlackArmor718]

That would do it

[@SuperS05]

Seeing your failures and abandonments are more educational. They have given me a few more ideas. PS. IRL, Geared tracks are great for inclined slopes where friction isn't enough. Typically you only have one track and cog, with the remaining regular wheels offset to run on their own rail or surface.

[@BlackArmor718]

That would be a cool part of a base with some inclined slope elevator!

[@SuperS05]

@@BlackArmor718 maybe it'll will work with the rail track blocks, as a mountain train.

[@nuonites5620]

This will make large scale vehicle transport so much easier. No longer will we have to worry about scratching the side of our ships as we ascend from our cavernous bases. With the press of a button we could have any number of ships or rovers delivered to us. Personally, I would look into a way to make it more omnidirectional; able to go up and down, left to right and forward and back as well. Although, that would likely require a little over engineering and a handful of custom scripts

[@BlackArmor718]

It would need more gears to lift heavier things, but fun ideas

[@assaultghost00]

You could make a door system that runs on a track, I imagine there wouldn’t be much of a issue if this works, just make it more 2 d and turn the tracks 90 degrees. That way you can have a door or entrance as large as you want and looks aesthetically pleasing. There’s so much you can do with such a simple system of cogs.

[@BlackArmor718]

Great idea, I'd love to see it done

[@timweiner7990]

So, the problem i always have with elevators is creating a call function; some way to summon the elevator to a designated floor with the press of a button. It's easy if the elevator only has two stops, but if you have a middle floor I tend to have difficulty bringing the elevator to that designated point. Suggestions? I know you have the camera idea in this one, but something a little more seamless would be nice.

[@SweaterPower]

I think there is a way to do it using sensors, configured to detect small grid. You can place it one block underneath the floor level, and time it to stop the elevator. Call buttons on floors and floor buttons on elevator can disable all sensors except one on the selected floor. It will be hard to configure, but i think it should work

[@SweaterPower]

The only problem I see - how to detect is elevator higher or lower the selected floor. System should remember which floor is elevator on, and decide the direction of the rotor. Sounds like a job for programming block, which is not as exiting as doing it "vanilla way"

[@BlackArmor718]

Unless the elevator is at the bottom and locked to the connector, it is not attached to the surrounding structure. You can't communicate with it without an RC block/antenna or making a ridiculously long line of cable using hinges.

[@simonloock9366]

@@BlackArmor718 I Build an elevator 2 years ago that has all these functionalities. I can call it from any of my 4 floors. It goes 50m/s (if i make it goes faster my character start to float when i go down). I Basically build a big Drone along a vertical mine shaft, and with a small script i made, it reconnects and recharge at each stops, making it able to be called from any floor with only one button push.

[@BlackArmor718]

@@simonloock9366 So it moves using thrusters?

[@sebione3576]

There's a lot more that could be done with this concept. Very cool.

[@BlackArmor718]

Sure is!

[@pyroparagon8945]

This is the most impressive space engineers video I've ever seen. That into just wowed me

[@BlackArmor718]

Good to hear! Did you see the Lightning Saix or Pteras vids? Because those are some of my favorites

[@pyroparagon8945]

@@BlackArmor718 not yet, but I'll definitely check them out now!

[@Bruh-bx9mh]

That intro was top tier

[@R1po]

That's what I love about this game. People with ingenuity come up with the craziest and coolest stuff.

[@_samtsa]

1:45 dude made a God damn differential holy shit

[@FigoNOVA]

This blew my mind man. Nothing to say other than amazing

[@BlackArmor718]

Thanks Lux

[@azafreak]

Bruh I can't get over how accurate you were on stopping it flush with the other floors

[@KaneyoriHK]

actually makes for a pretty good elevator design, especially for very long elevator shafts, I'll be using this in the future, it's really cool

[@axialivanov6101]

thia has to be his coolest creation yet

[@williamhealy6381]

One of the only games that really lives up to it's name This game is literally engineering at it's finest, it gives you the tools and the possibilities are endless

[@BlackArmor718]

Well said William

[@Stoney3K]

I would add one thing and that is a set of landing gear on either side to act as an emergency brake system in case the batteries lose power.

[@SeanRiney]

Just started getting back into Space engineers and am loving your videos, lots of good ideas and inspiration. Hope you keep making them!

[@BlackArmor718]

Thanks Sean, I expect to

[@FireroseNekowolf]

I wonder then if you could do a kind of retractable landing platform... like, a door opens, and the gears extend a platform outward for you to land a ship on, then they can retract back into the base and the door closes behind it. Or, if you wanted to go really out there, maybe a kind of self-building mine. Place a main vertical structure over the ore spot with the main machine in the center; have a drill setup underneath, and above that a series of welders that could build the gear track as it descends, with the gears near the top of the machine above the welders.

[@BlackArmor718]

Both interesting ideas, thanks

[@tau-5794]

I dunno if this game even has them but one way to solve the energy issue would be to just have electrical pickups on either side of the shaft, so the elevator is always being charged even while moving. Or just some sort of short-range remote charging devices, at regular intervals.

[@BlackArmor718]

Interesting thought

[@Matthewzilla]

Coolest intro, 10/10. Love the content. Subbed on first video watched.

[@BlackArmor718]

Welcome!

[@Trogbane]

been a fan since day one! glad to see you're still kicking it!

[@BlackArmor718]

You too Trog

[@viralshark]

So cool that the game has been out for a long time now and people are still coming up with really creative stuff!

[@PS2ltdan83]

With the new turret control block you could use this in your ceiling as a rolling crane to pick up fighters or vehicles. Have this slide horizontally along the width of your fighter bay and us a rotor and hinge to make the crane.

[@BlackArmor718]

Nice idea!

[@dhruel]

With the new signal update, sensors and such can be used to make the elevator stop at floors and have a smoother “call” function.

[@louisleeson7512]

first video of yours that I've watched and I have to stay that your intro is the coolest thing I've ever seen!

[@BlackArmor718]

Awesome! There should be more fun stuff for you then

[@michaelhixson6939]

This is just absolutely beautiful! I feel like such a ninny for never seeing this possibility. But now, I can't not see it. So frigging cool!

[@DrummClem]

Wow that's some really creative thinking ! Great job !

[@BlackArmor718]

Thank you!

[@Jay-fy4zy]

2 things. Your intro was awesome. Super cool. And I wanted to say thanks for taking us step by step through your process and thoughts instead of just showing the final product. Keep doing your thing man.

[@BlackArmor718]

Will do Jay, thanks

[@indigenous.rabbit2877]

Amazing creation, I've got some great Ideas to improve upon your work. You could use sensors to automatically make it stop at floors. I would also change it so that the elevator itself doesn't have a railing but the floor you are going to does. This way, whenever the elevator is in use there is a rail instead of a hole to fall into for the people on the floors where the elevator isn't.

[@gearandalthefirst7027]

The same sensor could operate at-floor grates, like how irl industrial elevators have two sets of doors (which make a bloody horrendous noise when they close)

[@MarkusRomtaah3061]

Nor only you got me to subscribe to your channel thanks to thst insane intro but also to your impressive engineering design

[@BlackArmor718]

Lol dang, glad I put that intro together

[@deadaces7949]

Fasinating! Your builds never cease to amaze me. My elevators always seem to explode!

[@BlackArmor718]

Glad to hear it! Except that last part :D

[@FH-cn3mg]

Great video. I love seeing new ways to do different things in this game.

[@PIG_B.R.D.]

This is so simple and yet so ingenious and well made

[@BlackArmor718]

Thanks Jakub

[@Lathnor]

could also minimize the size more and make a mining rig, as you go down it projects more pieces and builds them, so you could essentially build instead of a piston miner, a gear miner basically, or keep the size, and build a bigger mining drill under. the thing i want to say is there is endless possibilities to this type of construction

[@BlackArmor718]

There are quite a lot

[@kylepearce9979]

i just started playing space engineers, and this just blows my mind, awesome!!

[@BlackArmor718]

Welcome to the game!

[@AllDayBikes]

That intro was dope too.

[@deadchadron0793]

... im speechless this is amazing

[@gloverelaxis]

you're a genius; this is so elegant and functional

[@BlackArmor718]

Thanks!

[@80okas]

Good engineering. Simples but effective! Keep it comming

[@Xero1of1]

This is amazing! I think I'll use it in my playthrough. I'll give you massive credit for it!

[@BlackArmor718]

Thanks Xero

[@bk_Syndicate_FL850KH]

That intro was really cool

[@jafiwam]

The gears at right angles need bright colors, hinges and some flashing colored spotlights and rotating lights. A visual beacon... or just as a giant disco ball.

[@MsWolf1978]

i absolutely love all your designs and videos I just wish there were more creators like you to make tunnel boring machines that build tunnels with lights in them that actually work I've downloaded 7 different machines so far and every one of them has failed I'm quite new to space engineers so have no clue what I'm doing but trying to attempt to build my own planetary survival tunnel bore tunnel maker

[@BlackArmor718]

If you're interested in tunnel boring machines I suggest you start becoming familiar with pistons, timers, merge blocks, and projectors/welders. Those are the components that usually go into a self constructing tunnel machine. Become knowledgeable with those blocks and you will start getting an idea on how to put one together. Splitsie has some good tutorials on those blocks if I recall.

[@corporalsilver6981]

Damn. That is the most creative channel intro I have seen in a long time. Really well done dude!

[@BlackArmor718]

Thanks Silver

[@R33F3RMONSTER]

Dude this is brilliant! Got yourself a new subscriber

[@BlackArmor718]

Nicholas I appreciate you

[@litlclutch]

That is really cool. I wouldn't have thought the game would handle it so well. very cool.

[@rdm22]

Wow that's so cool. Amazing what you can do in this game!

[@kubel83]

I’m learning so much. You are awesome 😎

[@LethinGabbins]

Finally. My dream of having a functional vault door has come true. You can make some big and fun doors with gears. :)

[@nikkeri99]

Idk but that intro is lit as hell

[@fredpryde8555]

wow that is incredible you have such great ideas

[@Alpha-cx8vl]

Finaly! A worthy vanilla custome elevator for any length of track!

[@BlackArmor718]

Indeed

[@Alpha-cx8vl]

@@BlackArmor718 I can sleep easily knowing my space stations will no longer clang out due to pistons... ... Tho... Clang is clang... And it does not like me... ._. I'm sure this is now a set up made by clang! >:| you shall not eat my station! Feend!

[@noahbluecoat]

It's amazing on how you figure on how to make a elevator with game made gears.

[@freemannn3789]

This is true engineering here ! Congrats it's just awesome.

[@boomvsdoom9537]

This is so cool. I’ve never would have thought of using cogs. Great video too 👍

[@BlackArmor718]

Thanks dude!

[@Dont_be_a_karen]

Nice Job, many thanks!

[@AlexCory21]

Amazing design! I'd love to see a space elevator with this design. Hookup the earth and moon. Though I realize that might take a really long time to make haha.

[@gahmuretvanbegonia994]

thats one hell of an intro

[@BlackArmor718]

Thanks!

[@AndrewmanGaming]

This is AMAZING!!! Great job :D

[@BlackArmor718]

Thanks dude! Glad you enjoyed

[@AndrewmanGaming]

@@BlackArmor718 Stuff like this is so inspirational! Now you know sooner or later someone is gonna make a large-scale ticking watch in SE!

[@BlackArmor718]

@@AndrewmanGaming I think we need to find bigger gear sizes first

[@kristofferbae7258]

i allways used pistons and a cockpit... this is something else

[@shade7367]

This is so awesome! Looks like it could do with some gyros working to keep it level, maybe that's the next upgrade

[@BlackArmor718]

I did add 1 of those in the workshop version

[@MurriciTerceiro]

Omg, you solved the piston problem on elevators on this game in definitive!

[@star79708]

You did very well, but you could still use the wheels to balance the sides. Think about the floor call buttons. Thank you very much for your contribution to the development of modless engineers.

[@iveneverplayeddaggerfall1042]

Dude that looks really cool

[@darthslackus499]

Very nice engineering. In additions to the wheels cushioning the stops. You could add sensors at each ends to stop the elevator.

[@nickdouglas736]

First off, thanks for explaining your thought process and including the things that don't really work it's really educational (and inspiring at least for a noob like me lol) but tbh I'm most impressed by the indicator V which is just a simple yet genius solution. Keep up the great work mate

[@BlackArmor718]

Glad you enjoyed it Nick

[@artificer111]

Awesome. Feels like an Medieval engineers type build but with SE systems. Hope they add more vanilla support for these systems now that physics are improved

[@hyfive2111]

Just found your channel and damn thats an awesome intro

[@BlackArmor718]

Thanks HyFive

[@spacemanspiff7283]

All I was thinking was how cool this would be if you scaled it up some to be able to carry rovers, miners, or other vehicles.

[@BlackArmor718]

That would be pretty easy yeah

[@arkthefennecfox2366]

brand new to your channel, that intro was sick.

[@BlackArmor718]

I did enjoy constructing it, thanks