We need Rotating Docking Ports in stock.

[Xyphos]

I just managed to dock the second part to a new orbit-built vessel, the part was Asymmetrical and a bit hard to maneuver.
but with patience and effort, I managed to get the ports aligned and then docked.
after docking, upon closer inspection, I noticed that the rotation was one or two degrees off,
and I could have sworn I aligned them almost perfectly prior to docking;
did the parts move upon after docking? I'm not sure, but HOLY MOLEY this is driving me BATTY.
I'm not about to undock and torture myself further, I wish docking ports could rotate by 5 degrees, like how gimbals can have 5 degrees of travel.
just right-click menu the docked port and click "Align" - shouldn't be too hard to implement.
...actually, that sounds like an idea for a Mod. if any code monkeys can manage it.

Edited April 13, 2016 by Xyphos

[Snark]

Moved to Suggestions.

[Pecan]

There are mods for ports that rotate and for gendered ones that enforce alignment.

[Xyphos]

no, thanks, I want 100% stock parts

 

[nli2work]

really that important 2 degrees off?

Edited April 13, 2016 by nli2work

[Xyphos]

1 hour ago, nli2work said:

it's already in stock docking module.

[nli2work]

no no, I meant enforce roll angle when docking is in stock module. no motor joints (except wheels) anywhere in KSP, much less docking ports.

[Xyphos]

1 hour ago, nli2work said:

no no, I meant enforce roll angle when docking is in stock module. no motor joints (except wheels) anywhere in KSP, much less docking ports.

how?

[nli2work]

the magnetic force should get it into perfect alignment when you get close enough in Roll angle. You'd have to use MM or edit the stock configs... so technically not 100% stock

Edited April 13, 2016 by nli2work

[Xyphos]

@PART[*]:HAS[@MODULE[ModuleDockingNode]]
{
	@MODULE[ModuleDockingNode]
	{
		captureMinRollDot = 0.99999
		snapRotation = true
		snapOffset = 45
	}
}

this thing?

[nli2work]

yep

 

[KSK]

2 hours ago, nli2work said:

really that important 2 degrees off?

Depends what you're docking. For a complex station or large ship, those 2 degrees can make the thing look ugly or even mean that some parts won't fit together properly.

[Xyphos]

3 hours ago, nli2work said:

really that important 2 degrees off?

yes. the part(s) have engines on them, so I'd like to have them aligned to prevent unwanted torque imbalances.
also, I tried the CFG mod, and now I can't get the ports to attract or dock.

Edited April 13, 2016 by Xyphos

[Xyphos]

@PART[*]:HAS[@MODULE[ModuleDockingNode]]
{
	@MODULE[ModuleDockingNode]
	{
		captureMinRollDot = 0.999
		snapRotation = true		
		snapOffset = 5
	}
}

I tweaked the code a little bit, I like this config better, it's flexibly-rigid enough to emulate the angle snapping in the editor.

Edited April 13, 2016 by Xyphos

[klgraham1013]

Go check out EJ_SA's station and say this wouldn't be a useful feature.

[Noob21]

8 hours ago, Xyphos said:

I just managed to dock the second part to a new orbit-built vessel, the part was Asymmetrical and a bit hard to maneuver.
but with patience and effort, I managed to get the ports aligned and then docked.
after docking, upon closer inspection, I noticed that the rotation was one or two degrees off,
and I could have sworn I aligned them almost perfectly prior to docking;
did the parts move upon after docking? I'm not sure, but HOLY MOLEY this is driving me BATTY.
I'm not about to undock and torture myself further, I wish docking ports could rotate by 5 degrees, like how gimbals can have 5 degrees of travel.
just right-click menu the docked port and click "Align" - shouldn't be too hard to implement.
...actually, that sounds like an idea for a Mod. if any code monkeys can manage it.

So pretty much your OCD is getting triggered and you want the devs to cater to it. How about no.

[Xyphos]

1 hour ago, Noob21 said:

So pretty much your OCD is getting triggered and you want the devs to cater to it. How about no.

this goes beyond OCD issues, it's about proper alignment for orbit-built vessels, to eliminate unwanted torque imbalances.
don't worry, I fixed the issue myself, so I don't need the devs or a modder anymore. see recent post - it turns out that the devs already addressed the issue and added neat configuration options in 1.0.5

Edited April 14, 2016 by Xyphos

[Superfluous J]

1 hour ago, Xyphos said:

@PART[*]:HAS[@MODULE[ModuleDockingNode]]
{
	@MODULE[ModuleDockingNode]
	{
		captureMinRollDot = 0.999
		snapRotation = true		
		snapOffset = 5
	}
}

I tweaked the code a little bit, I like this config better, it's flexibly-rigid enough to emulate the angle snapping in the editor.

I didn't thoroughly test that code (with the 5 9's) when I wrote it for my modulemanager config. I don't think it ever went into orbit or used large ships, just some launchpad testing with small parts. It's been months and quite frankly I don't even remember why I went that far (it may have even been on the suggestion of another person).

If this works far better (which it seems it does) I'll change it in my config.