Wedge docking ports

[PeToVeRiTaS]

Having a docking port that is rectangular and wedge-shaped along the z-axis would make lining up parts in space easier than using the current circular docking ports. Right now, if I want to attach wings or side-mounted design elements to a starship I have to either use round docking ports side by side (and hope that they lock into place correctly the first time) or I have to eyeball the orientation when using only one port, to make things look good. The wedge-shape would help make sure that the docking port would not only line up along the x-axis but also the shorter y-axis.

[Guest]

It sounds to me like you could benefit from the docking washers in Infernal Robotics. Welcome to the forums by the way.

[Markus Reese]

There is another way that works pretty well and commonly used by me. I will use a tri-coupler with docking ports on the ends to make sure everything squares up nicely. Here is a pic of a big ship I was assembling. Sorry if not clearly visible, but you can see I use the dual couplers for sidemounting, and closer to the drives, You should be able to see the tricouplers.

[sumghai]

I posted a thread back in August proposing angular "snap" options for relative docking orientation, which I believe is what the OP is actually asking.

There is another way that works pretty well and commonly used by me. I will use a tri-coupler with docking ports on the ends to make sure everything squares up nicely. Here is a pic of a big ship I was assembling. Sorry if not clearly visible, but you can see I use the dual couplers for sidemounting, and closer to the drives, You should be able to see the tricouplers.

Indeed, that's a common stock option. However, as per the thread I linked to previously, that technique has some shortcomings:

• Increased part count for each docking location
  
• Due to KSP's tree structure for vessels, only one docking connection is sufficient for current ModuleDockingNode system to conclude latching, possibly leaving other docking ports "floating"
  
• Visually unrealistic, especially in terms of crew transfer - the adapters are rather flat and with the offset between ports, it is rather difficult to imagine Kerbals squeezing through them
  

Edited October 7, 2013 by sumghai

[UbioZur]

That would Join the Docking Alignment indicator on the http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/44952-Already-Suggested-List.

At the moment if you don't want to eyeall it, You can use a mod like:

Docking port Alignment indicator