Cant seem to get a quad docking port mod to dock all 4 ports.

[Diatomix]

As described.

Tried, tried with all my might i couldn't get it! Any tips to get it to dock with all 4 Couplers? Pics for reference below.

(EDIT: This craft will have another ship just like it on the other side, with a mini jet on the top and a sort of tug on the bottom set of 4 for my trip to laythe)

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Edited November 18, 2013 by Johnno
Fixed link, removed reaction image.

[SofusRud]

just keep undocking and redocking until you get it. there is no other way

Also, for a Laythe trip that thing is waaayy overkill. just sayin

[Deadpangod3]

Do you have the same type of docking port on both sides? I can't really tell

[Diatomix]

Yes, they are all the same.

When i do undock the only one that does dock, it just switches to the next one with the other 3 not docked. Does this over and over

just keep undocking and redocking until you get it. there is no other way

Also, for a Laythe trip that thing is waaayy overkill. just sayin

You just wait, i have another ship identical to the one i docked. That in tandem with the one you see will propel it with its nuke engines, On the bottom quad coupler (if i can get stuff to dock) will be a atmospheric plane for laythe, and the top will have either 4 probes (for a coms mod im thinking of installing) or a tug for the eventual station im putting in orbit around it.

Go big or go home right? Thats what KSP taught me.

Edited November 18, 2013 by Diatomix

[Deadpangod3]

I've docked things together with dual docking ports in stock so idk why it doesn't work for you

[Diatomix]

I've docked things together with dual docking ports in stock so idk why it doesn't work for you

Could it be because the docking arm is in a funky spot? Took a good 20 minutes to get it close enough to use my docking cam.

[FITorion]

The trick as I understand it is to get everything perfectly lined up so they all connect at the exact same time. If they are even slightly out of alignments then only the first one will actually connect.

[Johnno]

Please consider carefully where you place new threads, this one was in the wrong subforum. Rule 2.4 is in effect.

Thread moved.

[SpaceSphereOfDeath]

As I have never multi-docked before, then I can only suggest what every one else has.

Or just use seniors.

[Kasuha]

I'd suggest to use Docking Port Sr and just be careful with roll when docking. If nothing else it's easy to undock, roll a bit, and dock again. Use quicksave/quickload to redock if you don't want to pull back.

If you really want to use small ports, I'd suggest using just bicouplers and two ports. They're much easier to dock at once. And definitely orient each port along normal to the orbit before docking.

[celem]

There have been a few threads on this lately.

Docking with multiple connection ports is doable but requires dead-on alignment, a few people report weird problems with this where it should work but is hard to get to actually happen, it may be the magnets fighting each other, ensure SAS is off for the piece being added. Im assuming here that the ports can actually dock, hopefully you've tested somewhere and they are aligned right.

Remember the game will dock multiple ports like this but will only consider one of the ports to be the 'official' docking point. Theres some kind of structural strength bonus with docked ports that the others will not benefit from, so be careful with widely-spaced multiple-point docks as the 'hard' dock may be off-centre and result in something that breaks up under thrust.

Your ports seem nice and clustered but it does look like you would benefit from a senior docking port in your situation. the multiple smaller ports will be weaker structurally due to the game's docking limitations I mention above

Edited November 19, 2013 by celem

[Diatomix]

There have been a few threads on this lately.

Docking with multiple connection ports is doable but requires dead-on alignment, a few people report weird problems with this where it should work but is hard to get to actually happen, it may be the magnets fighting each other, ensure SAS is off for the piece being added. Im assuming here that the ports can actually dock, hopefully you've tested somewhere and they are aligned right.

Remember the game will dock multiple ports like this but will only consider one of the ports to be the 'official' docking point. Theres some kind of structural strength bonus with docked ports that the others will not benefit from, so be careful with widely-spaced multiple-point docks as the 'hard' dock may be off-centre and result in something that breaks up under thrust.

Your ports seem nice and clustered but it does look like you would benefit from a senior docking port in your situation. the multiple smaller ports will be weaker structurally due to the game's docking limitations I mention above

Alright, ill revert to SR's. I just hope they would hold up under thrust.

[Kasuha]

Alright, ill revert to SR's. I just hope they would hold up under thrust.

Docking ports will definitely hold. What may snap is the connection between the docking port and the part to which it is attached. In the past I had problems with them attached e.g. to the big monopropellant container as its link seems to be of the weak kind. The size of the ball representing the attach point in VAB apparently indicates also strength of the connection it will provide. So make sure you attach them to something with strong connection point. Or use struts.

[Sagverk]

I made an quad-docking port that guarentee 100% dock\lock on all 4 docking ports. just take away the 2x2 plates on the other thing you are docking to, and VOILA, Perfect fit

The 2x2 Plates are slightly tilted outward, so it works like a funnel. Can't fail

Edited December 15, 2013 by Sagverk

[Sagverk]

removed double post

Edited December 15, 2013 by Sagverk

[Vanamonde]

How much have you tested that, Sagverk? Does it work consistently?

[Sagverk]

It works for me everytime I've used it, about 100-150 times or so I'll fetch a better picture of it, and post one later. This also works for dual-dock, havent tried triple-dock yet.

[Sirine]

The problem that I found on 4-docking-port-in-1, You need to undock 4 times, before it totally disconnected.

[SSSPutnik]

I've used standard docking ports, the big ones to do 4 way dock.

Had exactly the same problem.

To fix, I aligned the target craft so it had an exact heading of 0 degrees. Switched to docking craft and came in at exact opposite angle.

All 4 docked spot on that attempt. Make sure the ports are not occluded by struts etc.

MechJeb docking rotation force angle is also very handy.

[Sagverk]

Yea, the annoying thing is that you have undock all 4 clamps manually, until you are totally disconnected...Is it possible to assign an "action group" on docking ports?(haven't checked)

But the good thing is that you save alot of time, instead of align, miss, re-align, curse, go make a cup of coffee, re-align again, miss, etc(could be my skills that sucks nuts)

but of course, with the method SSSPutnik described with help of MechJeb, it's probably fairly easy with some practice to dock all 4 ports.

[Tokay Gris]

When i do undock the only one that does dock, it just switches to the next one with the other 3 not docked. Does this over and over

It doesn't do this over and over. It does this (try it yourself) three times.

You undock the one port that is attached. So now you have one port without magnetism and 'on hold'. Three ports still have magnetism, so one pulls a port close and docks.

You undock that port and now you have two ports without magnetism, but two that still have. One of those docks.

Again undock: One port with magnetism, three without. The leftover one docks.

So. NOW you undock that last port with magnetism and now you have all four ports unready for docking.

Now you need to pull away a bit. The ports regain their magnetism and are ready to be docked again.

Now you can try again. IF you do it perfectly aligned and IF you used the tricouper, quadrocoupler or those other parts that insure perfect spacing between the docking ports (even a millimeter and it will not work), it can work. It might need a few tries, but it is possible.

Three days ago, I docked six ports that way....

[Kasuha]

The thing is, one of the port is the "main" one by which the ship is really connected, the rest acts as struts. If you undock these, the ship stays as a single ship it was before, just the strut between the two ports breaks and they lose mutual magnetism. But as soon as you undock the "main" port, the ship immediately splits to two and I am not 100% sure if other ports keep in their demagnetised state.

What I know for sure is that if you're applying some force to the ship, e.g. rotation, the ship splits to two as soon as you undock the "main" port, even if it is the first port you undock. Because as soon as you undock the "main" port, all other ports undock as well (struts break) but as long as they are magnetised, they immediately clamp together again unless there is enough force to keep them apart.

[Tokay Gris]

The thing is, one of the port is the "main" one by which the ship is really connected, the rest acts as struts. If you undock these, the ship stays as a single ship it was before, just the strut between the two ports breaks and they lose mutual magnetism. But as soon as you undock the "main" port, the ship immediately splits to two and I am not 100% sure if other ports keep in their demagnetised state.

This might be, but if docked right, all docking ports are marked as "docked" (even if in reality they aren't) and can be undocked. From an outside view, all ports look the same, with the same submenus on right-click.

I could be that if you undock the "main" port, all are undocked, but they redock so fast (with a new "main") you don't notice this. For practical reasons you can say that they never undocked.

What I know for sure is that if you're applying some force to the ship, e.g. rotation, the ship splits to two as soon as you undock the "main" port, even if it is the first port you undock. Because as soon as you undock the "main" port, all other ports undock as well (struts break) but as long as they are magnetised, they immediately clamp together again unless there is enough force to keep them apart.

This I have to test. Interesting. I think I would need to assign a hotkey to undock that specific port.

I am however not exactly sure how that solves the OPs problem. It applies to multiple docking ports that appear to have docked. But that is the thing he has problems with.

[Kasuha]

This I have to test. Interesting. I think I would need to assign a hotkey to undock that specific port.

Under normal conditions you never know in advance which of the multiple ports will be the "main" one.

You can figure out which one it is in that particular docking because it will be the only one which will be docked pixel-perfect exactly in place. The "strutted-docked" ports usually have some slight shift.

[Tokay Gris]

Under normal conditions you never know in advance which of the multiple ports will be the "main" one.

On my vessel (you remember?) I can find out which is the "main" by checking which port fuel flows through.

You can figure out which one it is in that particular docking because it will be the only one which will be docked pixel-perfect exactly in place. The "strutted-docked" ports usually have some slight shift.

Will check this out first chance I get. (Right now my Eve-vessel is driving towards an altitude of 4000m needed for ascent)