Fluid Pipe

Lay pipes end to end between two blocks that hold fluid: they join neighbouring pipes and any tank, basin or machine they touch on their own. A network can have more than two ends: every block it touches becomes a possible source or destination. A pipe that touches nothing stays an open end, which can pick up or spill fluid into the world.

Right-clicking a straight pipe with a Wrench adds a glass window: it is the only way to watch the fluid travel. The same action removes it. Note that a Glass Fluid Pipe stays straight: it refuses any connection on its sides, which is also handy for running two pipes side by side without merging them.

Without a Mechanical Pump, nothing moves. Once the pump turns, fluid advances pipe by pipe from the source, goes through the pump and on to the destination, faster or slower depending on the speed. Transfer starts when the fluid has reached the far end: the first tank slowly drains while the second one fills. The pipes themselves hold nothing back: breaking a pipe line loses no fluid.

Right-clicking with Copper Casing wraps a pipe in a full block, which looks tidier in a factory. It is not only cosmetic: an Encased Fluid Pipe keeps exactly the connections it had. Placing or removing a pipe next to it changes nothing any more, so a network cannot accidentally join a neighbouring line. A Wrench takes the casing off.

At the end of a network, a pipe can fill or empty any block that stores fluid: Fluid Tank, Basin, Spout, Item Drain, Hose Pulley or cauldron. A Spout cannot be connected from below, and an Item Drain cannot be connected from above.

An open end placed right in front of a water or lava source picks it up and draws it into the network. The other way round, an open end pushing into empty space places a source block there: enough to fill a pool, feed a water wheel or put out a fire. On a server, this can be turned off with the pipesPlaceFluidSourceBlocks option.

A few ordinary blocks can be emptied directly: a pipe against a full beehive or bee nest pulls its honey out, no bottle or shears needed. With a tank at the other end, a bee farm becomes a liquid honey supply for your spouts.

The Fluid Valve sits inside a pipe line to cut it off or open it. It is controlled through its shaft: a Shaft, a cogwheel or a valve handle on top. Closed, it stops fluid like a wall; open, it behaves like an ordinary pipe.

Rotation in the opening direction unfolds the valve and the honey resumes its way to the second tank. The valve keeps its state once rotation stops: a short turn is enough. Rotation the other way closes it and cuts the network. With a Hand Crank or a valve handle, you get a manual tap.