Best mod/method for rover ramps?

[MaxwellsDemon]

Skyhooks are fine, but sometime I'd really like to do something more along the lines of a Lunokhod or Pathfinder/Sojourner, with deployable ramp(s)...  occasionally I see ramps or ramplike mechanisms in this or that mod, but I'm really not clear on what would be best/most practical for a small rover (i.e., Mk3 cargo ramp is too big).  I see people (esp @Majorjim! ) experimenting with hinges, but I'm not clear on how that could be used for a ramp... would some kind soul please give me a pointer in the right direction?    Thanks!  

[Majorjim!]

You can use my themo hinge. It's the smallest possible in KSP and makes for a nice clean build. 

 The door must detach to become a separate craft. Use a docking port to keep the design clean of debris. 

[Majorjim!]

I will write a more detailed explanation in a bit. The hardest part is getting the hinge right. 

Have you seen the example pictures I posted in my thermo hinge post? 

 

[MaxwellsDemon]

33 minutes ago, Majorjim! said:

I will write a more detailed explanation in a bit. The hardest part is getting the hinge right. 

Have you seen the example pictures I posted in my thermo hinge post? 

 

I did, though I can't say I've completely understood them as yet.  

[Majorjim!]

Here are the basics:

the hinge involves a moving part and a static part. The moving part is the door or the ramp. It will start as part of the main craft then detach to become a separate moving part. The hinge consists of a cage of thermometer parts that surround another part, an antenna. The thin extending one (not extended).

now, the cage can move or the antenna. The part that moves will be attached to the door/ramp. When the door decouples it will stay attached as the antenna is surrounded by the thermometers.

start by attaching the door in the place you want it. Attach it to a decoupler or a docking port but make sure you attach to the node on the docking port. Don't surface attach it or it will not decouple. 

 I recommend using the editor extensions redux mod as it has no offset limits and makes for a cleaner better build and mechanism. You can do it without but it won't be a pretty and will use more parts. 

 So you want the cage either on the main craft near the base of the door you placed or on the door itself. And the antenna on the opposite part from the thermo cage.

there is no easy shortcut to this you have to just try it and play with it till it works. 

Let me know if you run into any issues or if you like, send me the craft file and I can make it for you. Although I highly recommend trying it yourself! 

MJ

 

 

[MaxwellsDemon]

Thanks!      Ferb, I think I know what I'm going to do today...

By the way, how the heck did you ever come up with that idea for a hinge?

[Majorjim!]

18 minutes ago, MaxwellsDemon said:

Thanks!      Ferb, I think I know what I'm going to do today...

By the way, how the heck did you ever come up with that idea for a hinge?

Well ages ago I was looking for a hinge for the old versions of my constellation landers. A forum user @sgt_flyer showed me his basic hinge for a fall down ramp. It used an ant engine, the smallest one and some solar panels. After discovering this was not sufficient for a revolving door, after a lot of head scratching and testing I came up with the 8 sided thermometer cage hinge/bearing. That shape is super important for the smooth operation of the hinge. My first ones used ant engines as well but the unity 5 upgrade changed the shape of its geometry breaking any engine hinges so I came up with an even smaller version of the cage that used the thin antennas. A few people have copied the 8 sided design of the thermo hinge for larger bearings as the shape was my breakthrough and very important as I mentioned. 

 It's so reliable people have made choppers from them. Tiny choppers! I designed it as a door hinge primarily and it's perfect for that, you can hide the mechanism really easily making for very complex and realistic and compact designs! 

 I am very proud of it!