Subscribe to download
ProcTex's locking nacelle hinge (proof of concept)

A prototype of a reversible locking hinge mechanism for thruster nacelles in Space Engineers.
Obviously in a real application, the hinge would carry more substantial thrusters, but for visibility in this demonstration just a single ion.
To configure the hinge for single-button application:

- create a block group for all horizontal merge pairs (ie: "nacelles merge H")
- create a block group for all vertical merge pairs (ie: "nacelles merge V")
- create a block group for all hinges except NULL* (ie: "nacelle hinges")
- create a block group for all thrusters mounted on the nacelle (ie: "nacelles thrusters")

Create two timers.
Timer 1 actions, no delay:

- set "nacelle thrusters" off
- toggle "nacelles merge H" on/off
- toggle "nacelles merge H" on/off
- reverse "nacelle hinges"
- start Timer 2

Timer 2 actions, after a short delay:

- set "nacelle thrusters" on

Your craft will have no thrust while the nacelles are transitioning, so use accordingly.
Also be sure your nacelle can be moved by the hinge's maximum torque, otherwise you'll need to add more hinges.

*ignore the hinge is labeled NULL; it's just there as a spacer to get around SE's rule against subgrids merging with a parent grid