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Hinge
Icon Block Hinge

Data Controls: [create] (?)

Hinge blocks are Mechanical Blocks much like elbow joints that can apply torque to a subgrid allowing for 180 degrees of motion. Technically they are a variant of a rotor.

Hinges are used when building retractable landing gear, foldable Solar arrays, foldable doors, cranes, custom turrets, Mecha legs, and much more.

Usage[]

When attached to conveyor ports, Hinges have conveyor capabilities on both ends.

Like other mechanical blocks, blocks connected by Hinges will appear in different colors in the control panel. The attached grid is referred to as subgrid and is treated differently as far as steering is concerned.

Controls[]

Technically, Hinges are Rotors with a 180 degree limitation and the attachment point on another side.

Hinges have practically the same Controls as Rotors -- details see there!

  • The most important settings for Hinges are Upper Limit and Lower Limit.
  • Enable Hinge lock if you need to prevent free flexing.
  • A high Braking Torque prevents slacking when switched off or unpowered, setting this to zero allows the Hinge to move loosely.
  • Use Velocity and Reverse to control the motion.

The up and down position of the hinge can be identified using the "-" line on the model as shown in the image below. Hinges can be grouped to share some controls.

Hinge degrees

Construction[]

Hinges exist for small grids and large grids. Small grids have a third Hinge variant in addition to the regular one, called the Hinge 3x3, that attaches to a 3x3 block area on a small grid.

Large-grid Hinges are quite reliable when fit inside the space of full sized armor blocks because their hitboxes are smaller than 1x1x1 large grid block, allowing for flush doors. Hinges are however not airtight.

Hinges are composed of two separate parts that you must both weld up, a Hinge and a Hinge Part, they operate as a single block.

  • When you place the full Hinge from the Tool Bar-menu, the Hinge Part is added automatically.
  • The two halves are also available separately in the Tool Bar-menu and can be built on separate grids. For example, to build a hitch between a rover and a trailer.
  • To disconnect the Hinge Part, for example to disconnect a hitch, click Detach on the Control Panel Screen.

After moving the two grids close together so that Hinge and Hinge Part overlap, press the Attach button in the Control Panel Screen to connect the Hinge halves.

Tip: If you're drifting and you can't keep the two Hinge halves in place and also click the button, build a Timer Block that triggers Attach on the Hinge block for you, and then make it trigger itself once per second, to repeatedly try to attach.

Stability[]

In general, it's safest to use mechanical blocks on static grids. Hinges can push grids into one another and generate vibrations that shake mobile grids apart when connected one to another to form subgrids.

On the Control Panel Screen, enable the Share Inertia Tensor setting on all subgrid hinges (except on the first hinge that’s attached to the main grid!) to equalise the virtual masses to achieve more stable behaviour.

On mobile grids, set up a Icon Block Gyroscope Gyroscope on override for stabilisation; or if possible, lock down the grid safely with Icon Block Landing Gear Landing Gear to prevent shaking.

Recipe[]

Icon Block Hinge Hinge
ComponentLarge Ship/Station
Required
Large Ship/Station
Optional
Small Ship
Required
Small Ship
Optional
Icon Item Computer Computer22
Icon Item Motor Motor42
Icon Item Large Steel Tube Large Steel Tube41
Icon Item Construction Comp. Construction Comp.104
Icon Item Steel Plate Steel Plate10642
Icon Block Hinge Part Hinge Part
ComponentLarge Ship/Station
Required
Large Ship/Station
Optional
Small Ship
Required
Small Ship
Optional
Icon Item Construction Comp. Construction Comp.82
Icon Item Large Steel Tube Large Steel Tube41
Icon Item Steel Plate Steel Plate8421


Blocks

Functional Blocks

Cockpits & Control
Icon Block Cockpit Cockpit, Icon Block Fighter Cockpit Fighter Cockpit, Icon Block Control Station Control Station, Icon Block Flight Seat Flight Seat, Icon Block Helm Helm, Icon Block Saddle Cockpit Saddle Cockpit, Icon Block Saddle Cockpit Compact Saddle Cockpit Compact, Icon Block Cab Cockpit Cab Cockpit, Icon Block Buggy Cockpit Buggy Cockpit, Icon Block Rover Cockpit Rover Cockpit, Icon Block Passenger Seat Passenger Seat, Icon Block Control Panel Control Panel, Icon Block Control Panel Pedestal Control Panel Pedestal, Icon Block Vertical Button Panel Vertical Button Panel, Icon Block Sci-Fi One-Button Terminal Sci-Fi One-Button Terminal, Icon Block Sci-Fi Four-Button Panel Sci-Fi Four-Button Panel, Icon Block Sci-Fi Control Panel Sci-Fi Control Panel, (Icon Block Inset Button Panel Inset) Icon Block Button Panel Button Panel, Icon Block Button Panel Pedestal Button Panel Pedestal, Icon Block Remote Control Remote Control, Icon Block Custom Turret Controller Custom Turret Controller

Automation
Icon Block Sensor Sensor, Icon Block Timer Block Timer Block, Icon Block Programmable Block Programmable Block, Icon Block Event Controller Event Controller, Icon Block Emotion Controller Emotion Controller, Icon Block AI Basic AI Basic, Icon Block AI Flight AI Flight, Icon Block AI Defensive AI Defensive, Icon Block AI Offensive AI Offensive, Icon Block AI Recorder AI Recorder

Communication
Icon Block Antenna Antenna, Icon Block Beacon Beacon, Icon Block Round Beacon Round Beacon, (Icon Block Top Mounted Camera Top Mounted) Icon Block Camera Camera, Icon Block Laser Antenna Laser Antenna, Icon Block LCD Panel LCD Panel, Icon Block Corner LCD Corner LCD, Icon Block Text Panel Text Panel, Icon Block Wide LCD Panel Wide LCD Panel, Icon Block Transparent LCD Transparent LCD, Icon Block Sci-Fi LCD Panel Sci-Fi LCD Panel, Icon Block Holo LCD Holo LCD, Icon Block Inset LCD Panel Inset LCD Panel, Icon Block Sloped LCD Panel Sloped LCD Panel, Icon Block Curved LCD Panel Curved LCD Panel, Icon Block Ore Detector Ore Detector, Icon Block Sound Block Sound Block

Defense & Offense
Icon Block Decoy Decoy, Icon Block Gatling Gun Gatling Gun, Icon Block Gatling Turret Gatling Turret, Icon Block Interior Turret Interior Turret, Icon Block Rocket Turret Rocket Turret, Icon Block Reloadable Rocket Launcher Reloadable Rocket Launcher, Icon Block Rocket Launcher Rocket Launcher, Icon Block Artillery Artillery, Icon Block Autocannon Autocannon, Icon Block Artillery Turret Artillery Turret, Icon Block Autocannon Turret Autocannon Turret, Icon Block Railgun Railgun, Icon Block Assault Cannon Assault Cannon, Icon Block Assault Cannon Turret Assault Cannon Turret, Icon Block Target Dummy Target Dummy, Icon Block Warhead Warhead, Icon Block Explosive Barrel Explosive Barrel

Power
Icon Block Battery Battery, Icon Block Small Battery Small Battery, Icon Block Large Reactor Large Reactor, Icon Block Small Reactor Small Reactor, Icon Block Solar Panel Solar Panel, Icon Block Colorable Solar Panel Colorable Solar Panel, Icon Block Hydrogen Engine Hydrogen Engine, Icon Block Wind Turbine Wind Turbine, Icon Block Twin-Blade Wind Turbine Twin-Blade Wind Turbine

Life Support
Icon Block Medical Room Medical Room, Icon Block Corner Medical Room Corner Medical Room, Icon Block Survival Kit Survival Kit, Icon Block Cryo Chamber Cryo Chamber, Icon Block Inset Cryo Room Inset Cryo Room, Icon Block Oxygen Farm Oxygen Farm, Icon Block Interior Light Interior Light, Icon Block Offset Light Offset Light, Icon Block Spotlight Spotlight, Icon Block Offset Spotlight Offset Spotlight, Icon Block Inset Light Inset Light, Icon Block Air Vent Air Vent (Icon Block Air Vent Full Full), Icon Block Air Vent Fan Air Vent Fan (Icon Block Air Vent Fan Full Full)

Mobility
Icon Block Gyroscope Gyroscope, Icon Block Atmospheric Thruster Atmospheric Thruster, Icon Block Ion Thruster Ion Thruster, Icon Block Hydrogen Thruster Hydrogen Thruster, Icon Block Parachute Hatch Parachute Hatch, Icon Block Short Wheel Suspension 1x1 (Short) Icon Block Wheel Suspension 1x1 Wheel Suspension 1x1, Icon Block Short Wheel Suspension 2x2 (Short) Icon Block Wheel Suspension 2x2 Wheel Suspension 2x2, Icon Block Short Wheel Suspension 3x3 (Short) Icon Block Wheel Suspension 3x3 Wheel Suspension 3x3, Icon Block Short Wheel Suspension 5x5 (Short) Icon Block Wheel Suspension 5x5 Wheel Suspension 5x5, Icon Block Offroad Wheels Offroad Wheels

Mining & Manufacturing
Icon Block Basic Refinery Basic Refinery, Icon Block Refinery Refinery, Icon Block Basic Assembler Basic Assembler, Icon Block Assembler Assembler, Icon Block Drill Drill, Icon Block Grinder Block Grinder Block, Icon Block Welder Block Welder Block, Icon Block Projector Projector, Icon Block O2 H2 Generator O2/H2 Generator, Icon Block Oxygen Farm Oxygen Farm, Icon Block Yield Module Yield Module, Icon Block Power Efficiency Module Power Efficiency Module, Icon Block Speed Module Speed Module

Storage
Icon Block Large Cargo Container Large Cargo Container, Icon Block Medium Cargo Container Medium Cargo Container, Icon Block Small Cargo Container Small Cargo Container, Icon Block Oxygen Tank Oxygen Tank, Icon Block Hydrogen Tank Hydrogen Tank, Icon Block Store Store, Icon Block Contracts Block Contracts Block

Inventory Management
Icon Block Connector Connector, Icon Block Small Connector Small Connector/Ejector, Icon Block Collector Collector, Icon Block Conveyor Junction Conveyor Junction, Icon Block Conveyor Tube Conveyor Tube Icon Block Reinforced Conveyor Tube (Reinforced), Icon Block Curved Conveyor Tube Curved Conveyor Tube Icon Block Reinforced Curved Conveyor Tube (Reinforced), Icon Block Conveyor Tube T Junction Conveyor Tube T Junction Icon Block Reinforced Conveyor Tube T Junction (Reinforced), Icon Block Conveyor Sorter Conveyor Sorter; Icon Block Small Conveyor Small Conveyor, Icon Block Small Conveyor Tube Small Conveyor Tube Icon Block Small Reinforced Conveyor Tube (Reinforced), Icon Block Small Curved Conveyor Tube Small Curved Conveyor Tube Icon Block Small Reinforced Curved Conveyor Tube (Reinforced), Icon Block Small Conveyor Tube T Junction Small Conveyor Tube T Junction Icon Block Small Reinforced Conveyor Tube T Junction (Reinforced), Icon Block Conveyor Sorter Small Conveyor Sorter; Icon Block Conveyor Frame Conveyor Frame, Icon Block Conveyor Converter Conveyor Converter

Mechanical Blocks & Gravity Control
Icon Block Advanced Rotor Advanced Rotor, Icon Block Rotor Rotor, Icon Block Piston Piston, Icon Block Hinge Hinge, Icon Block Landing Gear Landing Gear, Icon Block Magnetic Plate Magnetic Plate, Icon Block Merge Block Merge Block, Icon Block Artificial Mass Artificial Mass, Icon Block Gravity Generator Gravity Generator, Icon Block Spherical Gravity Generator Spherical Gravity Generator, Icon Block Safe Zone Safe Zone


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