Why doesn't anyone use the Inline Clamp?

[Tortoise]

Why don't people ever use the inline clamp-o-tron docking port? (Yes, it's a stock part)

I never see anyone talk about it or use it

It seems great. You just right-click it and open it.

[Fendleton]

On spaceplanes I avoid it because the opening mechanism can clip into other parts and cause Unplanned Spontaneous Disassembly. It's also absurdly weak and has issues mounting stuff directly onto it. So I just use regular old docking systems.

On everything else, it's just easier to use the other clamps.

[SkyRender]

Because it weighs 0.3T. The regular Clamp-o-Tron weighs 0.05T. That's a lot of extra mass for something that's meant for an ostensibly light craft like a spaceplane.

[astropapi1]

Not that useful, to be honest. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[Renegrade]

Because it weighs 0.3T. The regular Clamp-o-Tron weighs 0.05T. That's a lot of extra mass for something that's meant for an ostensibly light craft like a spaceplane.

^ this, and the weak/mounting issues that Fendleton mentioned.

Also in stock aero, mass = drag, making mass penalties even worse...

Edited August 2, 2014 by Renegrade

[John FX]

I`d rather get a fuel tank and put three docking ports on it, maybe mix standard and jnr. Then for less weight you have more function.

[Bandock]

I haven't used that part in ages. Back when 0.18 first came out though, I actually did use that part for solar panel repairs (in the event some of the solar panel generator modules get damaged). While I rarely use it anymore, it has taught me some more control in terms of space station repair ingame.

[Starwaster]

I use it. (10 chars)

[Aragosnat]

I have used it on space planes a few times as well and a way to use them as structual parts as well. Thinking of putting it one my potenial boat/sub. Outside of RP. There are not many uses for them.

[CalculusWarrior]

For me, the part is just too awkward to use in spaceplanes (I tried once, and the plane ended up exploding), as well as too small to use on stations. It fulfils a niche which my space program has no use for.

[SofusRud]

I use it, quite a bit actually.

I use it on my space tugs, both for cargo and engines. This is because all my stuff is assembled in orbit after launch by spaceplane. I'm running a 100% reusable space program you see.

Here it is on two of my tugs in both of the mentioned configurations:

for cargo, on the sides

for engines

putting the enginess on

And I recently built a, wouldn't call it station, more like a depot for fuel tanks, that also uses the inlines extensively. Here they were useful because its one less part than putting a docking port on a structural piece. The Snr ports would have had to be added that way anyway.

So yes, inline ports are used. However, if it's for spaceplanes I use the regular kind, what with mass and everything. Its mainly because I have a set of volume (space plane cargo bays) and part count parameters that I either have to or wish to stay within, and in that way I find them useful.

[nadreck]

I use it, for mother ship load balancing rovers and landers, and on a particular rover/lander design where I need a control from here point that is perpendicular to the tanks that make up most of the body of the rover.

[bsalis]

I find them hard to dock with on spaceplanes.

I use it, quite a bit actually.

I dig how you're using it there.

[Mister Kerman]

http://i.imgur.com/KL3qpUz.png

Is that thing a floating battery charger?!

EDIT: I read your post more carefully... Fuel depot. Got it!

Edited August 2, 2014 by Mister Kerman

[zarakon]

I find them awkward to use. A slight RCS imbalance causes me more issues with the inline clamp than a normal one on the nose

[Random Tank]

I made them weigh 0.2 ton, then allowed them to hold 100 units on Monoprop... That makes them quite useful! And reduces part count...

Edited August 2, 2014 by Random Tank

[Basilo1146]

I don't use them for the aforementioned reasons: they weigh more than a standard docking port and have no advantages over them. They are just an unwieldy part to work with, especially when i can just slap a standard docking port on the side of a fuel tank and get more functionality.

[WWEdeadman]

I used it exactly in one mission on a spaceplane I took to Laythe. It just isn't the the most useful thing, IMO.

[Commissioner Tadpole]

I use it, quite a bit actually.

I use it on my space tugs, both for cargo and engines. This is because all my stuff is assembled in orbit after launch by spaceplane. I'm running a 100% reusable space program you see.

Here it is on two of my tugs in both of the mentioned configurations:

for cargo, on the sides

http://i.imgur.com/zqyuPrP.png

http://i.imgur.com/16PDl7g.png

for engines

http://i.imgur.com/NFZI9Rc.png

putting the enginess on

http://i.imgur.com/0fOOXDJ.png

http://i.imgur.com/eZs2BuW.png

http://i.imgur.com/xPj0yWV.png

And I recently built a, wouldn't call it station, more like a depot for fuel tanks, that also uses the inlines extensively. Here they were useful because its one less part than putting a docking port on a structural piece. The Snr ports would have had to be added that way anyway.

http://i.imgur.com/HtWTfCM.png

http://i.imgur.com/KL3qpUz.png

So yes, inline ports are used. However, if it's for spaceplanes I use the regular kind, what with mass and everything. Its mainly because I have a set of volume (space plane cargo bays) and part count parameters that I either have to or wish to stay within, and in that way I find them useful.

Wow, very nice ways. And part-saving, too. I might consider following your example.

[Pixel of Life]

I think it's ugly. It just doesn't look right, no matter what you attach it to. I prefer Clamp-O-Tron Jr's.

[quantumpion]

Edited August 2, 2014 by quantumpion

[Mesons]

I made them weigh 0.2 ton, then allowed them to hold 100 units on Monoprop... That makes them quite useful! And reduces part count...

That's a great idea! Breathe life into a part that could see more use.

I have used the in-line ports, but mostly just for building space stations. I used them pretty extensively on a 2001-esque ring station I built. I'd share pictures but I forgot to save/upload them the last time I upgraded my OS

[Xacktar]

Ok, I can't stop laughing.

Why?

...because I never knew that was a docking port. I just thought it was used to make a perpendicular section to a fuel tank. XD I've been using it for months to make cross sections on space stations and the like. Oh, man. XD

[thereaverofdarkness]

I don't use them because it's too easy to slap a regular clamp-o-tron to the side of an actually useful fuselage for generally better results, not even counting the reduced mass and better space use. I'd love the inline clamp-o-tron a lot more if any of the following were true:

1.) it saved mass over having an empty fuselage part with a clamp-o-tron on it

2.) there was some purpose to having walkways on the ship

3.) the docking port would extend/telescope outwards to make docking easier

[AlexanderTeaH]

It'd probably get used more often if they put fuel in it like the in-line intakes.