Workshop blueprint / FRM-08

Vacuum Harvester - Collect One Crop Row Reliably

A slow four-wheel row harvester that keeps a Vacuum Pump aligned with mature crops and sends them into one dedicated chest.

Intermediate40–60 minutes1 mechanicVersion 1.0

Choose this build when

Straight, consistently spaced crop rows
Farms with repeat harvest cycles
Players who can separate seeds from harvested produce

Choose another approach when

Rows curve or change spacing
One mixed chest must also hold seeds and supplies
The driver cannot see the pickup mouth

01 / Size the job

Workshop baseline

Use these dimensions and targets for the first working version. They are a practical starting layout, not a fixed in-game preset; adjust them only after the baseline passes its tests.

Plan the craftable parts →

01Footprint: 8 × 14 blocks
02Row guide: One visible edge or guide wheel
03Pickup: 1 Vacuum Pump in In mode
04Storage: 1 dedicated Large Chest
05Travel speed: Lowest reliable pass
06Row test: Count misses before speeding up

02 / Prepare the bench

Part manifest

The quantities below describe one baseline build. Optional parts are marked so you can prove the working system before spending on lighting, storage, or automation.

PartQtyJob in this buildPriority

Metal Block Level 1× 56

Low row-following chassis

Required

Wheel× 4

Slow crop-lane travel

Required

Bearing× 6

Wheel hubs and steering

Required

Driver's Seat Level 1× 1

Row alignment

Required

Gas Engine Level 1× 1

Low-speed drive

Required

Vacuum Pump× 1

Crop pickup

Required

Large Chest× 1

Harvest destination

Required

Switch× 1

Independent Pump control

Required

Sensor Level 1× 1

Optional row-end stop

Optional

03 / Count before crafting

Direct crafting cost

This total multiplies each listed part by its preferred Craftbot or Mechanic Station recipe. Processed materials and block recipes are shown as direct inputs instead of being expanded into every earlier production step.

Craftable part types: 9/9
Station time: 4m 15s
Input types: 11

Recalculate in the Crafting Planner →

Combined direct inputsFRM-08

Scrap Metal Block× 120

Metal Block Level 1× 88

Wood Block Level 1× 80

Metal Block Level 2× 20

56 neededMetal Block Level 1

Craftbot6 batches · 30sAvailable from the start

Scrap Metal Block × 120

4 neededWheel

Craftbot4 batches · 1mAvailable from the start

Wood Block Level 1 × 80Metal Block Level 1 × 20Beeswax × 12

6 neededBearing

Craftbot6 batches · 30sAvailable from the start

Metal Block Level 1 × 6

1 neededDriver's Seat Level 1

Craftbot1 batch · 30sAvailable from the start

Metal Block Level 1 × 20Component Kit × 2Circuit Board × 1Cotton × 10

1 neededGas Engine Level 1

Craftbot1 batch · 30sAvailable from the start

Metal Block Level 1 × 20Component Kit × 5Circuit Board × 1Crude Oil × 5

1 neededVacuum Pump

Craftbot1 batch · 30sAvailable from the start

Metal Block Level 1 × 20Component Kit × 1Circuit Board × 1Glue × 3

1 neededLarge Chest

Craftbot1 batch · 30sGrowlab reward

Metal Block Level 2 × 20Circuit Board × 5Glue × 5

1 neededSwitch

Craftbot1 batch · 5sAvailable from the start

Metal Block Level 1 × 1Circuit Board × 1

1 neededSensor Level 1

Craftbot1 batch · 10sTrader recipe offer

Metal Block Level 1 × 1Glass Block × 1Component Kit × 1Circuit Board × 3

04 / Build in testable systems

Construction sequence

Do not place the next system until the checkpoint under the current stage is true. That keeps steering, motion, power, and storage failures separate.

Stage goal

Straighten one test row

Make the farm geometry predictable before building the machine.

Use one straight row with consistent plot spacing.
Leave a service lane beside it.
Mark the side the guide will follow.

Stage goal

Prove Pump and storage

Collect one mature crop into an empty dedicated chest.

Set the Vacuum Pump to In mode.
Connect it to one empty Large Chest.
Activate it with its own Switch.

Stage goal

Set pickup alignment

Hold the Pump at a constant distance and height.

Mount the Pump where the driver can see it.
Add a guide edge or wheel beside the soil line.
Push the empty vehicle through the row before powering it.

Stage goal

Find the reliable speed

Choose speed from missed crops, not preference.

Harvest one row at the lowest power.
Count missed crops and confirm chest contents.
Increase one step only after a zero-miss pass.

05 / Use the right tool at the right moment

Workshop tools

Each tool below has a specific job in this build. Finish that job, then move to the next stage instead of wiring and tuning everything at once.

Collection setup

Connect Tool

Confirms the Pump, chest, and control are isolated from vehicle drive.

Alignment

Lift

Sets pickup height and allows wheel-guide adjustment.

Before mixed-crop use

Paint Tool

Marks the guide edge, Pump mode, and harvest chest.

06 / Check every signal

Connection map

Read each row from input to output. Name or color the physical controls to match this map before closing the bodywork.

Driver's SeatRow travel

Gas EngineLowest reliable power

Gas EngineMovement

Drive bearingsMatched direction

Pump SwitchHarvest pickup

Vacuum PumpIn mode

Vacuum PumpCrop destination

Large ChestConnected storage path

07 / Commission the build

Test bench

Run these checks with the normal load fitted. If one fails, make the listed physical change and repeat that same test before changing another variable.

TestPass conditionIf it fails

Single-crop pickup

Crop reaches the intended chest

Check Pump mode and storage connection

Row alignment

Pickup crosses every crop center

Adjust the guide, not driving speed

Full chest behavior

Operator can stop before crops are lost

Add a capacity check and unload rule

08 / Adapt after it works