Jump to content

Pistons not extending when anything is on them


huh26

Recommended Posts

 

20221027162006_1

This assembly here is controlled by a KAL-1000 controller. It doesn't clip when it is moving. The pistons, except for the ones with servos attached, do not move. Also, the hinge on the top left doesn't move. Is there any way to move the pistons without adding servos to them?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is it a KAL-1000 controller problem, or a problem with the pistons themselves?  (i.e. a "controller software" problem versus a physical problem)

For example, can you extend and retract the pistons using the PAW?  (the right-click menu)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No, it isn't a problem with the controller. You can see the target angle going up and down, yet nothing happens - also, nothing happens when the target angle is changed manually. If the parts on top of the piston get broken off,  the pistons can move. I don't know about the hinge on the top.

The pistons are also a bit shaky in some cases, almost like they're trying to extend. Or maybe the Kraken is messing with me.

Edited by huh26
Extra info added/spellings
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sounds like auto struts, check to make sure you do not have auto struts or rigid attachment enabled.

I have experienced similar bizarre behavior using robotics with docking attachments of any sort, including docking ports and grabber units (the Klaw..)

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Oh. Is there any way to make it less floppy? It's really hard to precisely move. Obviously auto struts/rigid won't work. It also happens to flop right through the bottom of the cargo bay. (There probably isn't any way to fix that, but it's high on the list).

Edited by huh26
Extra info added
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 10/27/2022 at 3:43 PM, huh26 said:

Oh. Is there any way to make it less floppy? It's really hard to precisely move.

First, a contraption like that would also be floppy and unwieldy in the real world.  There's a lot of weight supported by hinges which are not able to handle that much mass, at least not in full Kerbin gravity.

However, to make it less floppy or twitchy, I'd suggest increasing damping, decreasing servo or piston speed, and possibly even decreasing the power of the device.  Also, moving that much mass around at such great distances from the pivot point is going to exert a lot of torque forces on the vessel.  To keep the whole vessel from flopping around as you move the arm I'd suggest greatly increasing the mass of the ship.  Perhaps add a bunch of full ore tanks.

As to your original problem of having the hinges and/or pistons not move at all, just shake and twitch:  Did that only happen when the grabber unit (Klaw) was grabbed onto another vessel?  Or did it happen all the time?

I do recall having a lot of problems with robotics combined with docking ports, but can't recall exactly what all the issues were.

If that issue is (was) happening even with nothing attached to the Klaw, I would suggest rebuilding the entire arm from scratch.  Sometimes a robotics part can get attached to the wrong end of something, and it ends up not able to articulate like it's supposed to.  Hard to diagnose, often easier to just start the whole build from scratch.

Good luck!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one.
Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...