PSA: Minimum drill depth

[mdkendall]

Something I found out the hard way. Drills need to penetrate the ground somewhat further then the drill head otherwise they are declared to have "no ground contact" and won't work.

[Xavven]

Thanks for the heads up! Good info to have.

[Rithsom]

A line on the drill that shows the minimum depth requirement could be useful. If the line is below the landing legs, then you're good.

[Evanitis]

Well, now I know where to imagine that line. Thanks!

[Foxster]

Thanks. Useful.

Still hate "PSAs" though.

[Captain Sierra]

Thank you for actually doing the research on this. We've known about it for some time but up until now, nobody's ever determined the exact threshold.

[Beowolf]

Thanks. Useful.

Still hate "PSAs" though.

Mind elaborating? I like them as a tag to indicate "new gameplay info here", as opposed to questions, ideas, complaints and such, which I don't always read. Is your objection to that, or just that the acronym "PSA" was appropriated for it?

[Starwhip]

Mind elaborating? I like them as a tag to indicate "new gameplay info here", as opposed to questions, ideas, complaints and such, which I don't always read. Is your objection to that, or just that the acronym "PSA" was appropriated for it?

I think it's because there are just so many threads beginning with "PSA".

Good info. I just put them as low as possible and hope for the best.

[Xavven]

I think it's because there are just so many threads beginning with "PSA".

Good info. I just put them as low as possible and hope for the best.

Yeah, "PSA" has started to come off as trite and a bit pretentious. Not saying you are either of those things. In fact I'm grateful for the info. That said, personally I'd leave "PSA" off the title.

[Steellwaters]

Something I found out the hard way. Drills need to penetrate the ground somewhat further then the drill head otherwise they are declared to have "no ground contact" and won't work.

http://i.imgur.com/NyNTAni.jpg

Is that because the runway is raised?

[LethalShade]

Is that because the runway is raised?

Yeah, it might be that.

[Superfluous J]

There should be a line on the drill shaft to show where it'll be effective.

Ideally it should be drawn on with a sharpie with the words "Go lower than this!" scrawled next to it.

[WinkAllKerb'']

http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Kerbal_to_Pro:_Modelling_in_3ds_Max

mesh & collider

[ajburges]

Related: is there a maximum drill depth?

I'm designing a new asteroid fetching system. The drills are so close to the claw, they almost touch the gray shroud.

[Terwin]

Is that because the runway is raised?

Nope, I encountered the same thing on Mun with my first ISRU ship, had to send a probe with a klaw and a pair of drills so I could refill the fuel tanks as planned.

Related: is there a maximum drill depth?

I'm designing a new asteroid fetching system. The drills are so close to the claw, they almost touch the gray shroud.

Is this before or after they are deployed?

There is an arm that lowers and will lift you off the ground if your drill is too low.

[match]

Yeah the bushing at the top of the drill will collide with the surface.