Archive: 14 posts

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Anybody have any suggestions on how to srengthen pistons? On some of my creations, the pistons don't work at all, they simply retract on them selves and don't extend.

2009-09-04 17:55:00 Author: croissantbuncake Posts: 572

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I just have to put this out there, this is no way intended to be an insult. But, are the pistons set on stiff? If they are then I don't have a clue but it could be possible that the two materials (the one the piston is set on, and the one it's moving) are the cause of your problem. Someone else with more experience would be of more help though, I'm just taking a guess.

2009-09-04 18:11:00 Author: Whalio Cappuccino Posts: 5250

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Yep, stiff, strenght 10, speed is 3.5, and it's angled just off vertical Edit: it actually isn't stiff but it opens and closes a hinge.

2009-09-04 18:22:00 Author: croissantbuncake Posts: 572

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sounds very strange. I assume they are pushing vaugely upwards? What are they connected to? Are you controlling them with switches or not? You did set the maximum length right didn't you? Just messing But you did, right?

2009-09-04 18:27:00 Author: rtm223 Posts: 6497

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Yep, vaguely up. Connected to wood at each end. No switches in use, though it probably will get an "on" grab attatched at some point. Aye, length is set. I can have it fully extended in pause, and then in play it collapses by itself in one case, and under the weight of a sack in the other.

2009-09-04 18:31:00 Author: croissantbuncake Posts: 572

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And the bottom piece of wood, is that joined by another connector? The only thing I can think of is the connectors in series losing strength issue. All I can suggest is a) build from scratch, b)add extra pistons c) get an example published so someone can have a look at it. I can't really offer any more help this evening because there is a beer festival in town and I have priorities

2009-09-04 18:34:00 Author: rtm223 Posts: 6497

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I think I'll go the extra piston route, I can always render them invisible.

2009-09-04 18:36:00 Author: croissantbuncake Posts: 572

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What are the pistons and wood being used for? Depending on your situation, there are a couple of interesting solutions for the problem.

2009-09-04 20:30:00 Author: BSprague Posts: 2325

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I've had this problem before when i was trying to make a walking armor suit slighly bigger than mr.sack-gentleman. The pistons wouldnt stay stiff or extend properly. I think it is due to the mass of the object it is trying to move. it changes the max strength so it doesnt brake the object.. maybe. also, making the piston faster makes it stronger and attaching the first end to the heavier matterial also makes it stronger. hope that helped

2009-09-05 19:28:00 Author: Altair1911 Posts: 15

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I had a massive problem like this on my latest Wind level... I had a piston attached to the Balloon (which is pretty heavy) NOT set to stiff. It was also pretty long (0-300+) and all i wanted to do was make it extend so the balloon floated to the floor... But when i tested it, it just dropped as if there was no piston at all! So this is how i found out how to improve it... make the time shorter or the length shorter or the weight its carrying less. Either of those should sort it out.

2009-09-06 10:10:00 Author: ladylyn1 Posts: 836

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I've always found pistons dodgy. In Clockworx when I first tested it after making it spin, after about 10 seconds every single piston (on the bounce platforms) would collapse and break and the whole thing fell to pieces. I managed to fix it by changing the shape of the bases. The simpler they were, the more reliably it worked.

2009-09-06 10:35:00 Author: Nuclearfish Posts: 927

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it can be frustrating. i had problems with this before. it means redesigning an object just because of one little problem that could easily be fixed by mm.

2009-09-06 13:34:00 Author: SteveBigGuns Posts: 423

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bear in mind the effective strength of a connector is a bizzare mixture of: strength setting (well duh) Length Timing Relative weight of the objects at either end of the connector So stronger -> more Shorter -> more Lower time -> more Light object on the moving end - > more Heavy object stationary end -> more Once you get pistons linked in series then you hit a real world of pain due to point #4, as the ratio becomes smaller.

2009-09-06 13:39:00 Author: rtm223 Posts: 6497

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Relative weight of the objects at either end of the connector This one is very important. Use "strong" materials as a base for pistons. Dark matter as a base makes pistons much sturdier, at least in my experience.

2009-09-06 20:48:00 Author: BSprague Posts: 2325

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