How to Use AE and Virtual Items to Automate the Crafting of Recipes Involving Programming Circuits or Molds
Introduction
Throughout the entire GTO process, AE’s automated crafting functionality is critically important and should be implemented as early as possible. However, when setting up automated crafting networks and populating blueprints with recipes, I believe many staff members will find themselves at a loss over one particular issue: some recipes require specific programmable circuits—so how exactly should I address this challenge?
In the following text, I will provide the corresponding solutions, hoping they can be of help to you.
Step 1: Build a virtual item supply machine and connect it to the AE network.
The virtual item supply machine can only connect AE cables from the front side; please ensure that this block is connected to AE as shown in the diagram below.
At this point, check the AE terminal—if you see a virtual item provider appear in the terminal, the connection was successful; proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Place the items in the recipe that are not consumed into the virtual item supplier.
Right‑click the virtual item supplier to open its GUI, where you’ll see the interface shown in the figure below.
Next, simply place the programming circuits we’ll be using. Taking the vinyl chloride synthesis recipe from the introduction as an example, if we need Programming Circuit #1, then just place Circuit #1.
At this point, we can start writing the template.
Step 3: Write the template
In this step, the only thing you need to pay attention to is that when filling the recipe into the template, you must hold down Ctrl while left‑clicking to fill the template.
Step 4: Attach programmable cover plates to the corresponding machines.
After crafting the blueprint and placing it into the corresponding blueprint provider, we must also affix a Programmable Cover to the machine that will execute the blueprint. This cover can be attached to any side of the machine and primarily serves to enable the machine to receive virtual items sent by AE. Note that the Programmable Cover is only suitable for small, single-block machines; for multi‑block machines, please replace the Input Bus/Input Chest with a Programmable Chest.
At this point, we can happily automate the synthesis of similar recipes (don’t forget to enable Blockage Mode on the Template Supplyer). Finally, there are three key points to keep in mind: First, this method isn’t limited to recipes that require programmable circuits—items like die heads, molds, and lenses needed by press machines, alloy furnaces, and laser etchers, as well as nickel plates and other such components, can all be placed into the Virtual Item Supplyer for automated synthesis, provided they aren’t consumed in the recipe itself. Second, virtual items themselves cannot be stacked; therefore, if a recipe calls for more than one instance of a non‑consumable item—for example, if a recipe requires 16 non‑consumable platinum foils—using the Virtual Item Supplyer will not suffice for synthesis. Third, single‑block machines and programmable chests can only accept one type of virtual item at a time. If you need to supply two non‑consumable items for synthesis, place one item into the machine in advance while putting the other into the Virtual Item Supplyer—and follow the steps outlined above.