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[JoshBrickstien]

Hi, I have a question.
This is my first time to use axles, and as such, I have problems. I need to move the power down one Z-level. Now I'm confused. When I put the vertical axle in, it doesn't power the screwpump below, yet the rest of the axles are still powered. Why?

[Urist Imiknorris]

You need a gear assembly to make the transition from horizontal to vertical, just like you need one to go from north/south to east/west.

[JoshBrickstien]

Wait... I have a gear assembly on the bottom z-level. Do I need to have the axle below and the gear above?

[CapnUrist]

Any time your power train takes a turn in any direction, there has to be a gear assembly at the corner. Whether you're going from north/south to east/west, or either of those to up/down. I believe a gear assembly is also necessary between your axle and pump, but I'm not sure about that. I always include one anyway just because I like having the cut-off right there.

[twilightdusk]

I think it should look like this from a side view

= = horizontal axle
* = gear assembly
| = vertical axle

  *==
  |
  |
==*

[sdrawkcabcM tsirU]

You shouldn't need a gear between a vertical axle and a pump, as long as the axle is directly above one of the spaces of the pump. Pumps tend to act like gears for translating power in most circumstances I have encountered.

[Quietust]

Did you remember to channel out the floor beneath the vertical axle?

[slothen]

Did you remember to channel out the floor beneath the vertical axle?

indeed this.  In fact, a vertical axle built on a floor tile has no practical use at all.  You have to start at the bottom with a gear assembly, then build up, level by level.

[sdrawkcabcM tsirU]

You can also start from the top, if you have something to anchor it to up there, and work from both ends.