node_attach & node_stack

[Stone Blue]

So I havent been able to find a definitive answer on a (hopefully) simple question.
Do parts HAVE to have a node_attach_, if they have at least one node_stack_?

For instance, say I have a cylindrical fuel tank, and there is a stack node for top & bottom... Does it also have to have an attach node?... And if so, where would it go?

[liquidhype]

If you part is not supposed to surface attach to other parts (i.e only attach via nodes), then you don't need to have node_attach.

If you want your cylindrical fuel tank to surface attach to other parts (like most fuel tanks do), you do need to define how it attaches by using node_attach.

This is my node definitions for one of my Ariane solids:

// --- Node Definitions ---
node_stack_top = 0.0, 7.3, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 0.0, 3
node_stack_bottom = 0.0, -6.0, 0.0, 0.0, -1.0, 0.0, 3
node_attach = 0.0, 0.0, -1.55, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0

7.3 = I want the top node to be 7.3 meters UP on the Y-axis relative to the parts origin.

-6.0 = I want the bottom node to be -6 meters DOWN on the Y-axis relative to the parts origin.

-1.55 = My part has a diameter of 3.1 meters, so I want it to attach -1.55 meters out from its origin along the Z-axis.

It is important to remember how your part was oriented and where its origin/CoM is when exporting it. If not, you'll have a hard time getting all your nodes to be where they are supposed to be. I've seen a lot of people who just started modding who have nodes appearing all over the place because they defined the node placements according to the parts dimensions, but they didn't zero out its position (i.e setting the X, Y and Z axis to 0. 

 

[Stone Blue]

Just now, liquidhype said:

If you part is not supposed to surface attach to other parts (i.e only attach via nodes), then you don't need to have node_attach.

Hmmm... OK... This is the main part of what I needed... So, really, the node_attach could imaginarilly be thought of as node_surface_attach_...?

Just now, liquidhype said:

 

-1.55 = My part has a diameter of 3.1 meters, so I want it to attach -1.55 meters out from its origin along the Z-axis.

Ok... So now I know how THAT dimension is determined...

Just now, liquidhype said:

It is important to remember how your part was oriented and where its origin/CoM is when exporting it. If not, you'll have a hard time getting all your nodes to be where they are supposed to be. I've seen a lot of people who just started modding who have nodes appearing all over the place because they defined the node placements according to the parts dimensions, but they didn't zero out its position (i.e setting the X, Y and Z axis to 0.

Ahhh... OK... Thanx for this bit too...