Moon Sweepers Base Building Guide: Foundations, Depots & Belts

Transitioning from manual handheld sweeping to an expansive, automated outpost is the defining milestone of Moon Sweepers. Thanks to the major building system overhaul introduced in Patch 1.0.5, constructing and redesigning your outpost is smoother and more forgiving than ever.

For conveyor logistics and sorting setups, see our automation guide. For power requirements, consult the power and night guide, or inspect equipment in the tools guide.

Essential Building Hotkeys & Mechanics (Patch 1.0.5)

Press B to enter construction mode at any time. When designing your outpost, use these hotkey shortcuts:

• B – Open / Close Construction Menu
• R (in Build Menu) – Rotate structure 90 degrees clockwise
• R (targeting existing piece) – Move Mode: Pick up structure and relocate for free
• F – Toggle Machine Snapping vs Freeform Placement
• Ctrl + Mouse Scroll – Raise or lower conveyor pole elevation by 0.5m
• Middle Mouse Button (Click) – Eyedropper: Copy rotation and style from targeted piece
• Middle Mouse Button (Hold) – Deconstruct targeted piece with 100% full refund
• G – Toggle Foundation Snapping Grid

Core Base Structures & Costs

Before laying kilometers of conveyor lines, erect your fundamental outpost structures:

Constructing an Automated Vehicle Unloading Bay

Manual unloading quickly becomes a major bottleneck once you acquire the Push Sweeper ($300) or Rover Rig ($650). Build an automated unloading bay with this optimal design:

1. Lay a 3x3 Foundation Platform: Place nine Concrete Foundation Tiles at your outpost perimeter where terrain is flat and easily accessible by vehicle.
2. Install the Drive-Over Hopper: Snap a Drive-Over Unloading Bay into the center tile. Ensure the vehicle entry ramps face toward the open crater fields.
3. Route the Sub-Floor Conveyor: Dig a shallow 1-meter trench or elevate your foundation. Run a conveyor line directly beneath the hopper intake out toward your primary Depot Intake Hopper.
4. Drive, Tap Q, and Return: With this setup, drive your vehicle over the grate, tap Q to purge the hopper in 1.5 seconds, and drive straight back into the field without stepping foot out of the cockpit.

Conveyor Height Snapping & Multi-Tier Routing

When your base grows to include mineral sorters and secondary refineries, conveyor belts must cross over one another without colliding:

• Level 1 (Ground Level - 0.5m): Reserved for primary unrefined dust capsule streams coming from field hoppers.
• Level 2 (Elevated - 1.5m): Used for common regolith waste streams routed to perimeter disposal chutes or brick fabricators.
• Level 3 (Highline - 2.5m): Reserved for high-value mineral lines feeding directly into the orbital rocket silo.
• Use Ctrl + Mouse Scroll to adjust pole heights while placing each belt segment. Conveyors automatically form clean inclined ramps when snapping between mismatched pole heights.

Protecting Your Base from Lunar Night Blackouts

During lunar night, ambient temperatures plunge and all solar generators stop operating. If your depot loses power:

1. Conveyors immediately stall, backing up lines across the entire sector.
2. Docking stations cannot recharge electric vehicle batteries.
3. Rocket shipment countdowns pause until morning.

To prevent blackouts, maintain a strict ratio of one Auxiliary Battery Bank (50 kWh) for every two Solar Collectors. For detailed power grid calculations, review our dedicated power and night survival guide.