ME-Beam-Former guide for FTB StoneBlock 4 1.2.0 to 1.5.0
ME-Beam-Former guide for FTB StoneBlock 4
Last verified for FTB StoneBlock 4 v1.5.0 on Oct 16, 2026 · text last changed Oct 16, 2026
A newer release (1.23.0) is out Guide for the current version
- Sections
- 7
- Recipes shown
- 5
- Items named
- 7
6 sections are written for this pack; 1 is shared from another pack's guide.
Every recipe and number here was checked against FTB StoneBlock 4 1.5.0's own files.
What is ME-Beam-Former?
2 parts
ME-Beam-Former is a lightweight Applied Energistics 2 addon. It links two cable-bus parts with a visible, colored beam, so you can bridge ME network nodes across a short gap without running extra cables.[1]
It's for you if you like a tidy, good-looking ME setup and want a clean link between two points instead of a line of cable. You place two Beam Former parts facing each other on cable buses, and they connect up to 32 blocks apart.[1]
What you get
- The beam shows the link in real time and inherits the cable color.[1]
- Shift-right-click either end to hide or show the beam for that pair.[1]
- The beam respects occlusion and part collisions, and it disconnects automatically if something blocks it.[1]
- It works with AE2's grid, so you power your ME network and the link is up.[1]
In this pack
The pack ships ME-Beam-Former 1.21.1-1.2.1-fix. It has been included since version 1.2.0 or earlier, so it is part of the pack as of 1.5.0.[2]
Unverified No sources tie this mod to a quest, a progression gate or the ATM Star path in this pack, so where it fits in your progression is unconfirmed. Any pack-specific recipe or config changes are also unconfirmed.
How do you get started with ME-Beam-Former?
5 parts
ME-Beam-Former is a small Applied Energistics 2 addon that links ME network points with a visible, colored beam, so you can bridge a short gap without running extra cables. Here's the order I'd craft things in.[1]
Step 1: the ME Beam Former
Start with ME Beam Former. It emits and receives energy beams within ME networks, and it's also an ingredient in the Mega and Omni versions later on, so you'll keep making more of them.[3][4]
Crafting Shaped
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| Empty slot | Empty slot |
Recipe id: me_beam_former:beam_former_part
To use it, craft two, place them facing each other on cable buses, and power your ME network. Shift+Right Click on either end toggles the beam's visibility.[1]
Step 2: the Laser Binding Tool
Next, make the Laser Binding Tool. This recipe is changed by the pack, so don't rely on what you remember from the mod's defaults. Use the recipe below.[3]
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot | |
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| Empty slot | any iron ingot | Empty slot |
Recipe id: me_beam_former:laser_binding_tool
The mod's binding messages show the workflow: you Shift+Right Click to select a source beam former first, and you get an error if you try to link something to itself. Beam links are limited to 16x16 horizontal and 32 vertical.[4]
Step 3: the Mega ME Beam Former
Once you have the basics, upgrade to the Mega ME Beam Former. Only its back face can connect cables, and you need two placed opposite each other to form a beam.[3][4]
Crafting Shaped
Recipe id: me_beam_former:beam_former_block
Then the Omni ME Beam Former
The Omni ME Beam Former builds on the Mega version. Keep in mind that an Omni can only connect to other Omni Beam Formers, so you'll want a pair.[3][4]
Crafting Shaped
Recipe id: me_beam_former:omni_beam_former_block
Finally, the Wireless Energy Induction Tower
The Wireless Energy Induction Tower is the last piece, and its recipe is also changed by the pack.[3]
Crafting Shaped
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| any gold ingot | any gold ingot | |
| any iron ingot | any iron storage block | any iron ingot |
Recipe id: me_beam_former:wireless_energy_tower
How does ME-Beam-Former work?
4 parts
ME Beam Former is an Applied Energistics 2 addon. It links two points of an ME network with a visible, colored beam, so you can bridge a gap without running extra cables.[1]
Beam formers and how they pair up
The basic piece is the ME Beam Former, a cable-bus part. It emits and receives energy beams within ME networks. You place two of them facing each other and the link forms between them.[1][4]
Crafting Shaped
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| Empty slot | Empty slot |
Recipe id: me_beam_former:beam_former_part
The project page says a pair can span up to 32 blocks. The beam takes the color of the cable it is attached to. It respects occlusion and part collisions, so it disconnects on its own if something blocks the path.[1]
The Mega ME Beam Former is the block version. Only its back face can connect cables, and you need two of them placed opposite each other to form a beam.[4]
Crafting Shaped
Recipe id: me_beam_former:beam_former_block
The Omni ME Beam Former has its own rule: an Omni Beam Former can only connect to other Omni Beam Formers.[4]
Crafting Shaped
Recipe id: me_beam_former:omni_beam_former_block
Linking with the Laser Binding Tool
Omni links and tower links are made with the Laser Binding Tool. The pack changes this tool's recipe from the mod's own, so use the recipe below rather than any default you may have seen elsewhere.[3][4]
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot | |
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| Empty slot | any iron ingot | Empty slot |
Recipe id: me_beam_former:laser_binding_tool
This recipe is changed by the pack.
The tool's messages show how binding works:[4]
- Shift+Right Click a source beam former to select it. The tool shows its coordinates, and if you try to link without a source selected it tells you to do this first.[4]
- Select the second machine to connect the pair. For Omni Beam Formers, the tool reports the linked coordinates when it connects and a disconnected message when the link is removed.[4]
- If the source has been removed or is no longer valid, the tool says so. It also refuses to link a beam former to itself.[4]
Wireless Energy Induction Towers
The Wireless Energy Induction Tower is a separate way to move energy wirelessly. The pack changes its recipe from the mod's own.[3][4]
Crafting Shaped
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| any gold ingot | any gold ingot | |
| any iron ingot | any iron storage block | any iron ingot |
Recipe id: me_beam_former:wireless_energy_tower
This recipe is changed by the pack.
Towers use the same binding tool, but the two actions are separate, and the tool warns you if you use the wrong click:[4]
- Tower to machine: select the tower, then Shift+Right Click to bind a machine. The tool confirms the link or unlink with the coordinates.[4]
- Tower to tower: use a normal Right Click, without Shift, to connect or disconnect towers into an Energy Tower network.[4]
- Tower connections have a limit of 16x16 horizontal and 256 vertical, which is much taller than the limit reported for beam formers.[4]
Beam visibility and config
The project page says Shift+Right Click on either end of a beam former pair toggles that beam's visibility. It describes the beam visuals as client-side, with minimal server logic.[1]
In this pack, alwaysRenderBeams is false. Energy tower beams are therefore only visible while you hold the Laser Binding Tool. Set it to true if you want them always visible.[5]
The other options in the common config are described only as logging and message settings. logDirtBlock and items are described as things to log on common setup, and magicNumber and magicNumberIntroduction only set a number and an introduction message. Their descriptions don't mention any effect on beams or networks.[5]
How do you progress through ME-Beam-Former?
4 parts
The sources here show no quests for this mod, so the pack's quest book doesn't walk you through it. Your progression is the crafting chain: the basic ME Beam Former, then the Mega version, then the Omni version. The mod also has a couple of support items.[3]
Unverified The sources here do not show any quest chapter that involves this mod, so check the pack's quest book in game for any guidance on it.
First tier: ME Beam Former
Everything starts with the ME Beam Former. This is the mod's own recipe, not a pack change, and it is built from Applied Energistics 2 components, so you need to be into AE2 before you can make it.[3]
Crafting Shaped
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| Empty slot | Empty slot |
Recipe id: me_beam_former:beam_former_part
This recipe is marked as a mod recipe, not changed by the pack.
Second tier: Mega ME Beam Former
The Mega ME Beam Former takes the basic part as one of its inputs, so you can't skip the first tier. It also uses more AE2 parts, including dense cable. This is the mod's own recipe too.[3]
Crafting Shaped
Recipe id: me_beam_former:beam_former_block
The basic ME Beam Former is an input here, and this is a mod recipe, not a pack change.
Final tier: Omni ME Beam Former
The Omni ME Beam Former is the top of the chain. It is made from the Mega version plus another basic part, so you need both earlier tiers before you can build it. The recipe is the mod's own.[3]
Crafting Shaped
Recipe id: me_beam_former:omni_beam_former_block
Needs the Mega version and the basic part, and is a mod recipe, not a pack change.
Support items changed by the pack
The recipes for the Laser Binding Tool and the Wireless Energy Induction Tower are both marked as changed by the pack. Don't rely on a recipe you remember from the mod elsewhere. Craft from the recipes shown here.[3]
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot | |
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| Empty slot | any iron ingot | Empty slot |
Recipe id: me_beam_former:laser_binding_tool
The pack changed this recipe.
Crafting Shaped
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| any gold ingot | any gold ingot | |
| any iron ingot | any iron storage block | any iron ingot |
Recipe id: me_beam_former:wireless_energy_tower
The pack changed this recipe too.
How does ME-Beam-Former work with other mods?
4 parts
ME-Beam-Former is an addon for Applied Energistics 2, so AE2 is the mod it connects with. The mod works with AE2's grid, and all three of its crafting recipes in this pack use AE2 items.[1][3]
The ME Beam Former part
The ME Beam Former is crafted from AE2 cable and wireless components, so it is tied to AE2 from the very first step. Here is the in-pack recipe.[3]
Crafting Shaped
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| Empty slot | Empty slot |
Recipe id: me_beam_former:beam_former_part
Every ingredient in this recipe comes from AE2.
The Mega ME Beam Former
The Mega ME Beam Former takes the basic part as one of its ingredients and combines it with more AE2 items.[3]
Crafting Shaped
Recipe id: me_beam_former:beam_former_block
This recipe uses the ME Beam Former part plus AE2 items.
The Laser Binding Tool
The Laser Binding Tool recipe was changed by the pack, so it may differ from what you see in the mod's default version. It still includes Fluix Pearl from AE2.[3]
Crafting Shaped
| any iron ingot | any iron ingot | |
| Empty slot | Empty slot | |
| Empty slot | any iron ingot | Empty slot |
Recipe id: me_beam_former:laser_binding_tool
This is the pack's changed recipe for the tool.
How it plugs into your network
The Beam Former is a cable-bus part for AE2. You place two of them facing each other, up to 32 blocks apart, and they link two ME network nodes with a visible beam that inherits the cable color. Shift-right-click on either end to hide or show the beam for that pair.[1]
Which ME-Beam-Former config options matter?
2 parts
Same as in the FTB StoneBlock 4 1.21.0 guide
Good news: this mod has a tiny config. Everything lives in config/me_beam_former-common.toml, and only one option affects what you see in the world. The rest are developer-style logging and demo settings you can safely ignore.[6]
The one you'll actually notice
alwaysRenderBeams is set to false in this pack. With it off, energy tower beams are only visible while you hold the laser binding tool. If you want your beams on show all the time, set it to true.[6]
Logging and demo options
- logDirtBlock is true in this pack. It only controls whether the dirt block is logged on common setup, so it has no effect on gameplay.[6]
- items is set to a list containing only Iron Ingot. It is a list of items to log on common setup, again with no gameplay effect.[6]
- magicNumber is 42 in this pack, the same as the mod default of 42. It must be greater than 0. The pack has not changed it.[6]
- magicNumberIntroduction is set to "The magic number is... ". It is the intro text for the magic number message.[6]
Unverified The sources only list a mod default for magicNumber, so we can't confirm whether the pack changed any of the other options from their defaults.
What changed in ME-Beam-Former between versions?
1 part
FTB StoneBlock 4 1.5.0 ships ME-Beam-Former 1.21.1-1.2.1-fix. The mod was already in the pack by FTB StoneBlock 4 1.2.0 or earlier, so you have been able to use it for a good while.[2]
Notable change in the version you have
The 1.21.1-1.2.1-fix release fixed model loading so that it only happens on the client side. Before this, client-only class loading could crash a server, so this fix matters most if you run the pack on a dedicated server.[7]
Other releases of the mod are not covered by the changelogs I have, so I can't tell you what changed between them.[2][7]
Sources
- ME-Beam-Former project page (modrinth) · official mod data
- FTB StoneBlock 4 1.5.0 mod list · pack file
- FTB StoneBlock 4 1.5.0 recipe dump: recipes making ME-Beam-Former items · pack recipe dump
- me_beam_former tooltips and descriptions (English lang file) · official mod data
- FTB StoneBlock 4 1.5.0 config: config/me_beam_former-common.toml · pack file
- FTB StoneBlock 4 1.21.0 config: config/me_beam_former-common.toml · pack file
- ME-Beam-Former 1.21.1-1.2.1-fix changelog · changelog
Where this guide comes from
Written from what FTB StoneBlock 4 itself ships: its files and recipes, the in-game guidebooks and the mods' own pages. Every statement links to the source it came from, and the numbers are checked against the pack before publishing.
Guide last verified Oct 16, 2026.
Guides for other versions: 1.6.0 to 1.23.0