I'm just building an exploration ship. I've never used the AFMU. What exactly does it repair? Does it do it automatically or do i have to tell it to fix stuff. In the outfitting its description says "ammo" and "70 repairs", what ammo does it use, and does 70 repairs meen it can fix things 70 times?
Thanks in advance cmdr's
As it stands now, it can repair every module except power plant (including canopy), but not hull damage or itself (!).
To repair, you must disable the module and put it into repair mode (click on it until you see a square with a diagonal line through it). As the AFM repairs things, it uses up "ammo". There is a formula based on module class which gives the ammo used per percentage of damage. An AFM with 70 units must be very small (class 1?) and the rule would be to fit the largest AFM you can (they have zero weight). Repairing a badly damaged class 5 FSD will cost more than 70 units of ammo.
If you can, fit a smaller, second AFM with the sole purpose of fixing the main AFM if needed.
AFM cost a lot of energy, so they would usually simply be disabled until you need them.
Note: it is a very bad idea to start repairing thrusters (and possibly some other modules) while you are in SC, it will drop you to normal space suddenly and with damage.
