[Almost Stock (stock + quantum struts) ] 2001: A space oddessy dual centrifuge

[Echo419]

I was asked by a friend to make a centrifuge as a challenge for my KSP game. So i wasted a good evening fiddling about to make a module that could disconnect from the main station, be able to spin. But still be constrained to the station by using the new rover wheels. The suspension on them really helps to dampen the oscillation.

After i managed to not get it to either clip into the support frame and jam , wobble so much it exploded or just refused to budge and actually move like a centrifuge. I made it so that you can redock the spinning sections so that you dont get the time warp shennanigans where it'll move out of sync.

Next, I was tasked to make the Space Oddessy ring. Although in the movie it is a solid station i wanted to use the centrifuge engine.

Heres a video of the Oddessy station spinning in both directions. You'll notice the launch clamps still attached as I cfg edited into orbit just to test if it worked. I'll be building a launcher down the line.

It has ant engines on one side and in line rcs on the other so both rings can move in either direction.

This video is my initial centrifuge tester to make sure it would spin while bolted to a larger station.

I think the next step would be to build an interplanetary ship with one of these rings in the centre. But the Oddessy ran up to about 850 parts alone. So it taxed my computer somewhat.

This is my first spacecraft i've really showcased so some feedback would be appreciated.

[Scoundrel]

Well done! I love it when people build cool stuff like this. Out of curiosity, if you replaced those probe pods with docking ports at the center of the rings, would a vessel still be able to dock, or would bad physics things happen?

[Echo419]

I would assume that a ship would dock fine, just if it was docked from that side when the ring started to spin the docked ship would spin too, the wheels keep it within a degree or so of the supports so I reckon it would be fine. Not to comfortable for the kerbals i expect ^^.

But as a cosmetic having a shielded docking port where the probe body would be would look nicer than it is currently.

But it isn't much trouble to copy the centrifuge mechanism to the other side too so that the ring could be central to a station or ship

Edited May 5, 2013 by Echo419