Can I use Infernal Robotics for free-sliding pistons? Any other ideas?

[The_Rocketeer]

Using Infernal Robotics, I'm trying to build something that looks a (little) bit like this simple piston engine - basically a piston, a push rod and a flywheel:

The rotating parts work fine - currently the motive power comes from a reaction wheel, that spins up fine, but being stickler for accuracy, I want the reciprocating piston to also slide back and forth.

I tried using the pistons from infernal robotics, but they just don't play. I got some stretch out of the part joints and that gave me a very, very slow turn, but the pistons themselves don't slide when unpowered like the rotors do.

I'm not the most experienced with IR. Anybody got any suggestions here? Is there a config file I can tweak to make the piston slide, or did I miss a trick in the IR menus?

[The_Rocketeer]

Dear mods, while I appreciate your zeal, this really isn't a question about IR so much as a general question about how to achieve my desired result in KSP. Lots of love, The_Rocketeer

[Azimech]

I've tried it myself with modifying IR parts last year. My conclusion: no, it cannot be done. The devs are not interested in giving such functionality to their parts, at present.

I was successful at modifying hinges though.

And building cylinders and pistons is something I've done a lot, and soon my first autonomous piston engine will hit KerbalX.

PM me if you need some help.

Edited October 4, 2015 by Azimech

[Red Iron Crown]

Dear mods, while I appreciate your zeal, this really isn't a question about IR so much as a general question about how to achieve my desired result in KSP. Lots of love, The_Rocketeer

Using Infernal Robotics, I'm trying to build something that looks a (little) bit like this simple piston engine - basically a piston, a push rod and a flywheel:

<snip>

I'm not the most experienced with IR. Anybody got any suggestions here? Is there a config file I can tweak to make the piston slide, or did I miss a trick in the IR menus?

How is the above not a question about IR? It reads like you are asking for how to modify a cfg of an IR part or adjust it in the IR menus.