mounting Clamp-O-Tron radially?

[krislhull]

I recently upgraded to .23 the other day, after skipping from .21, and I noticed today that I cannot mount Clamp-O-Trons radially to the outside of fuel tanks, etc. any more. Has anyone else noticed this? I am about to do a clean install of KSP and see if that resolves the issue. Should I?

[Claw]

There is a radial hardpoint (looks like the underside of a docking port) that you can stick on radially. That will then allow you to attach a docking port.

Edit: Here, looks like this WIKI.

Edited February 19, 2014 by Claw

[Dave Kerbin]

You should be able to attach the regular clamp-o-tron and the jr versions to the side of a fuel tank (the Sr. and shielded versions are an exception).

Did you use the rotation keys to turn it in the correction direction first?

[psyper]

I think you should be able to (havent tested this) place a M-1x1 Structural Panel (or 2x2 version for senior docking ports) radially and then mount the docking port on it.

I know that you can use Modular girder adapter for normal docking ports (which I use for the large orange tank providing multiple docking points for ships)

[barrenwaste]

I don't know about the shielded or clampotron seniors, but you can still mount clampotrons and clampotron jr to the sides of fuel tanks.

[Red Iron Crown]

I, too, can vouch for Clamp-o-trons being radially mountable without additional parts. If your install doesn't allow it, something is wrong.

[capi3101]

You could use BZ-52s (that's the part that Claw posted above; it's one of the stock Strutural parts) to set a position for your ports and then attach them there. There's also the Inline Clamp-O-Tron, though I've never seen folks using it and I don't use it my own self.

[Claw]

Yeah, I guess I was assuming attaching Sr radially. I don't typically do that so I was assuming you can't. You can mount the Jrs and Regular radially.

I have used the inline clamp but there's nothing special about it. It's more for docking craft and keeping them looking sleek, and less for long term connections. But that's just my play style.

Edited February 19, 2014 by Claw
removed bad info

[Anton P. Nym]

There's also the Inline Clamp-O-Tron, though I've never seen folks using it and I don't use it my own self.

I use the inline for my SSTOs; just like the look of it there more than anything else.

As for the regular docking ports, yes they should be mountable radially. I've got several craft using them that way.

-- Steve

[Kasuha]

You shouldn't rotate them if you want to mount them radially. They will orient the right way perpendicular to surface automatically.

[DerekL1963]

They will orient the right way perpendicular to surface automatically.

Sometimes. Other times they won't.

[psyper]

One 2x2 plate with a mounted sr docking port

(whether it will fly is another matter!)

[Claw]

Okay, so I'm finally in a position to check this out and fix my own thoughts.

Clamp-O-Tron Jr. - Radially attachable and does not need rotating

Clamp-O-Tron - Radially attachable and does not need rotating

Clamp-O-Tron Sr. - Not directly radially attachable. Can attach to other radial objects with a connection point (such as the plates, struts, attachment point, etc.) Needs to be rotated to match orientation of the connection point when attaching.

Inline Clamp-O-Tron - Strangely enough, this is radially attachable and doesn't need to be rotated (well, except to point the port the way you want).

Clamp-O-Tron Shielded - Works like the Sr. Needs a connection point and needs to be rotated to match orientation.

Edit: To the OP, if you have any mods installed they may have changed the attachment rules in the part files for the ports. Or maybe you're trying to radially attach to something that won't allow.

[krislhull]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to this thread! I figured out my problem yesterday. Apparently a mod I installed a few days ago added new docking ports that use the same textures as the stock ones, and I did not notice it! I found the stock ones and they work just like they should! Now to remove that mod!

[Claw]

Just for my future info, what mod was that?

[enki]

Sorry for the delay in getting back to this thread! I figured out my problem yesterday. Apparently a mod I installed a few days ago added new docking ports that use the same textures as the stock ones, and I did not notice it! I found the stock ones and they work just like they should! Now to remove that mod!

Non-radially attachable docking ports have their uses, like inside cargo bays, where you don't want the radial attachment and only want it to attach on a node. That extra part is probably using a negligible amount of ram, so keep it around just in case.

[krislhull]

I believe it was the Tyberdyne one