You can already do that. Here is a template with a part moving back and forth. (sorry for the rapidshare link ;( )
The simple rotating parts provide a LOT of new optinons.

Hmm. Would it be possible to add a visible/invisible option for parts? (And an option to show invisible parts in the ship editor.).
Such an option can be used to:
- Create back and forth moving parts, without visible helping objects.
- Allow spacing to different locations, without having ugly objects that shouldn't be there.
- Add modules for stat-purposes, without having them visible.

Now, most of those things can be done by making a custom invisible bar with some hardpoints, but that has the unfortunate sideeffect of making editing difficult, since you cannot see said bars in the ship editor. Which makes setting up piston animations with them rather tricky.

KHSM.




Not so much. They still appear in the icon-list at the top, so they're still selectable.

You can do that, but you get an up and down motion as well as a back and forward motion with that.

I'm downloaded the piston.zip, but it's saying it's corrupted both with the default extraction utility and 7-zip.

That 'piston.zip' wasn't corrupted when I downloaded it.

hmm.. I may try it unaccelerated and see if it works.

Edit: Sure enough. Using Download Accelerator seems to corrupt it. WOrk fine when DLd normally

Not if you do it right. You need at least three parts for that. Check the template.

Three pieces? Damnit, you're right, that WOULD work. D'oh.

How do I make rotating parts?!?!?!

 

Also just finally got the game...

In the ship designer, select the part of the ship you want to rotate, then click on Animate. You will then be able to select on which axis the part rotates, and how fast.


Congratulations, you just lost a huge part of your life!