Docking Magnets causing huge issues

[profane-panda]

Hello,

So, I understand how to dock. I can easily plan and complete quite accurate rendezvous in LKO, and can also easily translate my craft using RCS to align with a port and approach it.

I have built my first space station in orbit, and it is pretty large. I created the main body of the station by sending up large chunks with Docking Port Sr. and RCS. I was easily able to dock them together.

However, when it came time to dock my very light ascent vehicles to the space station, I noticed that no matter how slowly or accurately I approached the docking port, the magnets cause such large acceleration on approach that it simply sends both craft flying. This means that while I have continued to manually build my station by adding large-mass chunks, I must use MechJeb to dock the ascent vehicles because it is capable of calculating and combating the acceleration due to the magnets.

Has anyone else had these problems, and do you have a recommendation for combating them so I can dock my craft manually.

[bewing]

Generally this is an SAS/Reaction wheel problem. Most people experience it, but only when they have SAS turned on. The problem is that SAS and the docking magnets fight each other for controlling the orientation of the docking craft -- and this is exactly the way both systems should work. So it is simply important to understand that you need to turn off SAS when the magnets start to activate.

If you are convinced that SAS is not causing your issue, then we need more details.

 

[profane-panda]

That's really odd, because when I send new parts to the station with large SAS wheels I am able to dock fine, but I will try one without reaction wheels and go it again!

[Xd the great]

Yes, i have experienced the magnetic attraction. Simply use a smaller docking port should solve your problem. 

If it does not, use rcs to slow down during the magnetic acceleration.

[Gargamel]

I believe if you have advanced tweakables enabled, you can turn down the docking magnet force.   It'll take some R&D to be happy with a setting you like, but it's easily done. 

11 minutes ago, Xd the great said:

Simply use a smaller docking port should solve your problem. 

Some people build for aesthetics, and using a Jr port on a 2.5m to 2.5m connection is just wrong. 

[Xd the great]

2 minutes ago, Gargamel said:

 

Some people build for aesthetics, and using a Jr port on a 2.5m to 2.5m connection is just wrong. 

That makes sense.

[profane-panda]

3 minutes ago, Xd the great said:

That makes sense.

Yeah I want to use the regular sized docking ports, as it makes sense for the capsule and docking part I am using. I am sending up another Orion capsule right now and I'm going to disable SAS on final approach, so we'll see.

[4x4cheesecake]

8 minutes ago, Gargamel said:

I believe if you have advanced tweakables enabled, you can turn down the docking magnet force.   It'll take some R&D to be happy with a setting you like, but it's easily done. 

Unfortunately, that's not a stock feature but it is provided by this mod:

(It's a great mod btw )

[profane-panda]

Success! Turned off reaction wheels and SAS, then slammed on the RCS retrograde as the magnet pulled me in. Its a bit counter-intuitive, but it worked! Now I can uninstall MechJeb! Thanks everyone!

[Gargamel]

2 hours ago, 4x4cheesecake said:

Unfortunately, that's not a stock feature but it is provided by this mod: 

Heh, that's CKAN for ya.  I don't remember installing that one, must be a dependency.  Thought it was stock. 

[Tyko]

can the change made by Tweakable everything be written as a MM config so I didn't have to install that mod or does it require a DLL?

I'd love to have a MM config that said "for every docking port reduce the magnet strength by 75%"

[4x4cheesecake]

21 minutes ago, Tyko said:

can the change made by Tweakable everything be written as a MM config so I didn't have to install that mod or does it require a DLL?

I'd love to have a MM config that said "for every docking port reduce the magnet strength by 75%"

You need the .dll since it will add a new part module which allows changes to these values but if you install the mod, you can add a MM patch to automatically change the magnetic strength of all docking ports to a specific value so you don't have to edit it manually everytime.

[KRAYON1970]

On 9/24/2018 at 12:43 AM, bewing said:

Generally this is an SAS/Reaction wheel problem. Most people experience it, but only when they have SAS turned on. The problem is that SAS and the docking magnets fight each other for controlling the orientation of the docking craft -- and this is exactly the way both systems should work. So it is simply important to understand that you need to turn off SAS when the magnets start to activate.

If you are convinced that SAS is not causing your issue, then we need more details.

 

Ohhhhhh thanks !!!! That was exactly my problem ! 
Very strange because until now i have only docked in the "training" menu (mission "Docking")... I realize my first docking (and 2-3 others) with à 90° angle and the 2 vessels turn automatically and dock !  (i was very surprized). I i'm almost sure that i don't have disconnected the SAS... 

Whatever... Now it.s working after 10 times only disconnecting the SAS... Thanks a lot for this hint.
Regards