One of the EXTREMELY COMMON questions on this forum has been people indirectly asking how to go about making a Retracting piston-door like on Jeb_'s piston demonstration video. The snag people hit when making this is that although they can get the pistons to extend without issue, getting them to retract again is problematic. They need to extend "A first, then B", but then retract "B first, then A".
This extremely simple Redstone circuit will provide you with the functionality you require:
The two torches turn ON from right-to-left, and turn OFF from left-to-right.
I'm sure you can figure out what to do with this.
(Warning, attempting to retract 3 or more sticky-pistons in a sequence can get extremely complicated. This device is intended only for double-piston actions. I am not responsible for any involuntary piston disconnections that may result from improper use of this device. If your pistons experience an extension lasting more than 4 hours, seek help immediately.)
Edit:
If you want to use sticky-pistons to retract a block 2 spaces, you'll need to use a slightly different control mechanism:
Again I'll be lazy and leave it as an "exercise to the reader" to figure out how to use it, but I am planning on making a video about this.
(note: as of 11 months after writing, I still haven't made a video about it)
Hans Lemurson's Thread of Links:http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/371610-hans-lemursons-thread-of-links/
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
So you thought of this device just now? O.o I thought you've used it before... Amazing how quickly you thought of this.
I don't think putting this thread in the forums will help much... people don't seem to search before asking.
Edit: actually, you probably should explain what it does... In the future, when nobody remembers the 1.7 video any more, people won't have a clue what it does.
Making a video, and posting it to questions is easier than re-explaining things over and over again.
Making a video, and posting it to questions is easier than re-explaining things over and over again.
A video...there's an idea. I might do a little tutorial on piston-control after they come out and give proper explanations rather than posting a picture and just saying "I'm not lazy, it's self-explanatory!!!"
Of course the video will have to wait until after I finish my SEEEECRET PROJECT. Oh crap, now people know. @%*%!!!
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Hans Lemurson's Thread of Links:http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/371610-hans-lemursons-thread-of-links/
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
What's funny is that, since you posted this in another thread, I thought about it while I was making something completely different with pistons - something where I wanted a signal to be held on for a set amount of time before turning off. This little circuit idea of yours (though I used it slightly differently - the repeaters in the middle row are on top of blocks with single redstone wires behind and in front of them, but that's hardly a difference of utility) turned out to be PERFECT for what I had in mind!
You could add that functionality to the OP, if you like :biggrin.gif:
A screenshot? IN-GAME? But that would mildly inconvenience me!!! :sad.gif:
It's so much easier to blather on about how cool and smart I am without actually providing anything of benefit to other people.
What's funny is that, since you posted this in another thread, I thought about it while I was making something completely different with pistons - something where I wanted a signal to be held on for a set amount of time before turning off. This little circuit idea of yours (though I used it slightly differently - the repeaters in the middle row are on top of blocks with single redstone wires behind and in front of them, but that's hardly a difference of utility) turned out to be PERFECT for what I had in mind!
You could add that functionality to the OP, if you like :biggrin.gif:
What's funny is that I've actually BUILT the kind of device you're describing for generating a precisely-timed 12 tick pulse. However, it wasn't until you just mentioned this that I realized how structurally similar the two devices are.
Hans Lemurson's Thread of Links:http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/371610-hans-lemursons-thread-of-links/
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
What's funny is that I've actually BUILT the kind of device you're describing for generating a precisely-timed 12 tick pulse. However, it wasn't until you just mentioned this that I realized how structurally similar the two devices are.
really love the circuit. just made a short video on it and the 1.7 doors, just to save you the trouble :tongue.gif: hope you like it and others can understand how to build it.
Hahaha, yeah I could tell you had experience with blathering about your contraptions :tongue.gif:
Anyway, you get the "Don't help n00bs!" badge for this. Congratz. (Decide for yourself if this was sarcastic. I'm not sure myself.)
OR I could just wait for some good soul to come along and do a video FOR me! :smile.gif:
really love the circuit. just made a short video on it and the 1.7 doors, just to save you the trouble :tongue.gif: hope you like it and others can understand how to build it.
Your first post on the forums is WAY BETTER than my first post!
You did an alright job of explaining how to build this device, but I think some more clarification might be needed on the actual nature of its structure.
This was actually the original design I came up with:
The fundamental principle is that of a line that is doubled-back on itself, but has a one-way crossover between the halves. When it powers up, the upper path bleeds into and over-rides the lower path, but when it powers down, the "Off" signal has to come all the way around before it starts having its effect.
The "Crossover" Repeaters aren't important for timing; their function is purely that of a Diode, and so should be kept to minimal delay. Timing should be taken care of by the Repeaters that make up the 2 halves of the main line.
These distinctions of its anatomy are hard to see though when it's presented as a square, but I realized fairly early that nothing longer than 2 outputs was actually useful for retracting sticky-pistons in the proper sequence(Retracting 3 or more requires an actual algorithm, not a simple "order reversal").
Oh, that's another thing I think you should have shown in the video. Why the proper order is important: Sticky-pistons can't pull-back extended pistons.
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Hans Lemurson's Thread of Links:http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/371610-hans-lemursons-thread-of-links/
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
Oh, that's another thing I think you should have shown in the video. Why the proper order is important: Sticky-pistons can't pull-back extended pistons.
ill explain that in the hidden door tutorial, when 1.7 comes out :smile.gif:
which was like a minute later after i posted this. lol
Instead of extending the circuit, why not just attach the second output that's activated to another one? I know it's not economic at all, but it's safe.
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I realized I was god when I tried praying and found I was talking to myself.
I created a few fun things using your design. Hope you like.
Nice designs there! I never realized how many opportunities there are to make things pop out of walls. I laughed when I saw the "Dog Deployment" mechanism.
I've been studying piston-retraction a bunch today now that I can actually TEST my theories, and found that my "Reversible Signal Generator" is actually slightly less useful than I had originally hoped. While it's good for getting a multi-stage event to happen in reverse, it falls short in the department of multi-block retraction.
Using 2 sticky-pistons to pull a block back 2 squares is more complicated than simply reversing a sequence for two reasons:
-When a sticky-piston is pulled, it doesn't drag anything with it.
-When chains of pistons extend, their position changes as well and they are now taking commands from different inputs.
Fortunately I've come up with some algorithms for getting multi-block retraction to work. 2-block retraction can be done staticly like so:
I'll add this to the first post.
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Hans Lemurson's Thread of Links:http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/371610-hans-lemursons-thread-of-links/
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
Vertical pistons don't respond to inputs the same way that horizontal ones do. It's really quite annoying. Horizontally, my 2-block-retractor sequence works fine, but you can't get the isolated inputs you need for vertical pistons.
Good job on getting something functional for vertical pistons out of my design, Mortvert.
As for that video, I saw it a while ago and have a very low opinion of the design. If you want a small and compact version of what he's doing...just read this thread.
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Hans Lemurson's Thread of Links:http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/371610-hans-lemursons-thread-of-links/
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
I managed to make one without help, but mine spans a 12x7 space. Don't feel like trimming it down though, might make another, more compact one, but this was my first true complicated circuit and I'm proud of it.
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Warning: It is always a possibility this user is talking out of his ass.
One of the EXTREMELY COMMON questions on this forum has been people indirectly asking how to go about making a Retracting piston-door like on Jeb_'s piston demonstration video. The snag people hit when making this is that although they can get the pistons to extend without issue, getting them to retract again is problematic. They need to extend "A first, then B", but then retract "B first, then A".
This extremely simple Redstone circuit will provide you with the functionality you require:
The two torches turn ON from right-to-left, and turn OFF from left-to-right.
I'm sure you can figure out what to do with this.
(Warning, attempting to retract 3 or more sticky-pistons in a sequence can get extremely complicated. This device is intended only for double-piston actions. I am not responsible for any involuntary piston disconnections that may result from improper use of this device. If your pistons experience an extension lasting more than 4 hours, seek help immediately.)
Edit:
If you want to use sticky-pistons to retract a block 2 spaces, you'll need to use a slightly different control mechanism:
Again I'll be lazy and leave it as an "exercise to the reader" to figure out how to use it, but I am planning on making a video about this.
I used your signal gerator in most of my designs in this post if you want to see. I was also able to make a set of pistons move a block two down and two up with some modifications, in fact, that's what I used for the 3x3 door.
You can do that or just power the area where the secondary pistons are before the powering the primary pistons so that the secondary turn off before the primary aka with a repeater set to delay on 3.
I find it interesting how little minecrafters actually had been taught about electronics and especially logic systems. Now I look back, I am really glad I learnt all that.
I fail to see how what you just said applies, if you want A powered before B and then for A to lose power after B. What you said, B would gain power first and lose it first, just reversing the order in which it happens, not truly altering it.
You can do that or just power the area where the secondary pistons are before the powering the primary pistons so that the secondary turn off before the primary aka with a repeater set to delay on 3.
I find it interesting how little minecrafters actually had been taught about electronics and especially logic systems. Now I look back, I am really glad I learnt all that.
Yes, you can achieve a similar effect by simply relying on the fact that even if Piston2's input is getting power first, it won't actually be in position to receive that signal until Piston1 has shoved it there.
I posted my design because although the above method does work for most situations, I think there are a few where it might not. The outputs of the "Reversible signal generator" can be used for any mechanical device that requires "First on, last off" sequencing.
I fail to see how what you just said applies, if you want A powered before B and then for A to lose power after B. What you said, B would gain power first and lose it first, just reversing the order in which it happens, not truly altering it.
It does actually work, because B has to be slid into position before it can receive its "extend!" signal. B's signal comes first for both ON and OFF, but it's not always there to receive it.
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Hans Lemurson's Thread of Links:http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/371610-hans-lemursons-thread-of-links/
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
This extremely simple Redstone circuit will provide you with the functionality you require:
The two torches turn ON from right-to-left, and turn OFF from left-to-right.
I'm sure you can figure out what to do with this.
(Warning, attempting to retract 3 or more sticky-pistons in a sequence can get extremely complicated. This device is intended only for double-piston actions. I am not responsible for any involuntary piston disconnections that may result from improper use of this device. If your pistons experience an extension lasting more than 4 hours, seek help immediately.)
Edit:
If you want to use sticky-pistons to retract a block 2 spaces, you'll need to use a slightly different control mechanism:
Again I'll be lazy and leave it as an "exercise to the reader" to figure out how to use it, but I am planning on making a video about this.
(note: as of 11 months after writing, I still haven't made a video about it)
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
Making a video, and posting it to questions is easier than re-explaining things over and over again.
A video...there's an idea. I might do a little tutorial on piston-control after they come out and give proper explanations rather than posting a picture and just saying "I'm not lazy, it's self-explanatory!!!"
Of course the video will have to wait until after I finish my SEEEECRET PROJECT. Oh crap, now people know. @%*%!!!
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
What's funny is that, since you posted this in another thread, I thought about it while I was making something completely different with pistons - something where I wanted a signal to be held on for a set amount of time before turning off. This little circuit idea of yours (though I used it slightly differently - the repeaters in the middle row are on top of blocks with single redstone wires behind and in front of them, but that's hardly a difference of utility) turned out to be PERFECT for what I had in mind!
You could add that functionality to the OP, if you like :biggrin.gif:
A screenshot? IN-GAME? But that would mildly inconvenience me!!! :sad.gif:
It's so much easier to blather on about how cool and smart I am without actually providing anything of benefit to other people.
What's funny is that I've actually BUILT the kind of device you're describing for generating a precisely-timed 12 tick pulse. However, it wasn't until you just mentioned this that I realized how structurally similar the two devices are.
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
I had a feeling you had, haha xD
OR I could just wait for some good soul to come along and do a video FOR me! :smile.gif:
Your first post on the forums is WAY BETTER than my first post!
You did an alright job of explaining how to build this device, but I think some more clarification might be needed on the actual nature of its structure.
This was actually the original design I came up with:
The fundamental principle is that of a line that is doubled-back on itself, but has a one-way crossover between the halves. When it powers up, the upper path bleeds into and over-rides the lower path, but when it powers down, the "Off" signal has to come all the way around before it starts having its effect.
The "Crossover" Repeaters aren't important for timing; their function is purely that of a Diode, and so should be kept to minimal delay. Timing should be taken care of by the Repeaters that make up the 2 halves of the main line.
These distinctions of its anatomy are hard to see though when it's presented as a square, but I realized fairly early that nothing longer than 2 outputs was actually useful for retracting sticky-pistons in the proper sequence(Retracting 3 or more requires an actual algorithm, not a simple "order reversal").
Oh, that's another thing I think you should have shown in the video. Why the proper order is important: Sticky-pistons can't pull-back extended pistons.
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
ill explain that in the hidden door tutorial, when 1.7 comes out :smile.gif:
which was like a minute later after i posted this. lol
Ill work on it in the mornin
Nice designs there! I never realized how many opportunities there are to make things pop out of walls. I laughed when I saw the "Dog Deployment" mechanism.
I've been studying piston-retraction a bunch today now that I can actually TEST my theories, and found that my "Reversible Signal Generator" is actually slightly less useful than I had originally hoped. While it's good for getting a multi-stage event to happen in reverse, it falls short in the department of multi-block retraction.
Using 2 sticky-pistons to pull a block back 2 squares is more complicated than simply reversing a sequence for two reasons:
-When a sticky-piston is pulled, it doesn't drag anything with it.
-When chains of pistons extend, their position changes as well and they are now taking commands from different inputs.
Fortunately I've come up with some algorithms for getting multi-block retraction to work. 2-block retraction can be done staticly like so:
I'll add this to the first post.
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
Good job on getting something functional for vertical pistons out of my design, Mortvert.
As for that video, I saw it a while ago and have a very low opinion of the design. If you want a small and compact version of what he's doing...just read this thread.
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.
I used your signal gerator in most of my designs in this post if you want to see. I was also able to make a set of pistons move a block two down and two up with some modifications, in fact, that's what I used for the 3x3 door.
I fail to see how what you just said applies, if you want A powered before B and then for A to lose power after B. What you said, B would gain power first and lose it first, just reversing the order in which it happens, not truly altering it.
Yes, you can achieve a similar effect by simply relying on the fact that even if Piston2's input is getting power first, it won't actually be in position to receive that signal until Piston1 has shoved it there.
I posted my design because although the above method does work for most situations, I think there are a few where it might not. The outputs of the "Reversible signal generator" can be used for any mechanical device that requires "First on, last off" sequencing.
It does actually work, because B has to be slid into position before it can receive its "extend!" signal. B's signal comes first for both ON and OFF, but it's not always there to receive it.
Look here to find links to my inventions, creations, and my Youtube channel featuring Amazing Creations of Mine (Redstone engineering FTW!!!) and charming Music-Videos about clones. I also made "Minecraft in Minecraft" (2D platformer/building game). I'm currently trying to make a computer.