Using Multi-Connected structures

[Brookstone]

Good Evening,

I am trying to make a structure for a rover and keep running into an issue where if i have multiple points going to one piece (like a Not-Rockomax) and it connects to one piece but not the others. I have also had the same issue if i try and have a TRI-1190C MK1 Stack on both ends of a series of fuel tanks. On one side it has all three tanks connected but on the other usually one or (maybe 1/3 of the time) two are connected. I am not sure if i am doing something wrong when building them. With the Not-Rockomax i have tried going in a "circle" to connect and building the square except on one corner and then tried to put the last piece in. I have a picture below to show an example of what I mean. Any suggestions or ideas would be helpful.

Thank you.

Edited December 19, 2014 by Brookstone

[Streetwind]

This is a limitation of the Unity engine that KSP is built upon.

The craft you build are stored in a tree format. That means there is one "root" part, and all other parts "branch off" from there. And you can only go further up the tree, along each individual branch. Trying to loop back to an earlier part of the same branch is forbidden, as is trying to connect two unrelated branches.

There is however a special, custom-coded part that does not use the branch structure and thus can attach itself to any two spots you want it to... you guessed it, it's the strut. The nice thing is, struts can have a length of zero and they till work. So you can substitute a strut where there is no node conenction (or surface attachment) possible. Just set the parts a little apart from each other, usually done by interposing a temporary part somewhere. Then strut one to the other, remove the temporary spacing part and connect the assembly together as you want it. The strut will hold your I-beam against the hub node even with no actual part connection.

(This has limits, but when in doubt... MOAR STRUTS!)

[Brookstone]

Ok that make sense. Thank you!

[StormKat]

Try the flat plates. Then attach the beams directly to the underside of the edge of the plates.

There's always more than one way to skin a kat.

[Red Iron Crown]

^^ Still won't permit connected ring structures. The only ways to make ring structures are with struts, fuel lines, or docking ports.

[Alewx]

^^ Still won't permit connected ring structures. The only ways to make ring structures are with struts, fuel lines, or docking ports.

True true, and sadly the worst limitation of the game.

[r4pt0r]

Give me 10 minutes to make a pic in paint.exe to describe a fix

[Alewx]

Give me 10 minutes to make a pic in paint.exe to describe a fix

Hmm ok I give you even 12 minutes for a fix, but I doubt it can solve the tree structure problem of the gameengine.

[r4pt0r]

Ok, it isnt perfect, but it will allow OP to continue his work, if he can manage it. Hope it helps!

Oh and this trick works for connecting bicouplers to bicouplers, tri to tri, and so fourth. just space them apart with a girder, strut the nodes together, and take out the girder again. Many uses!

I took 18 minutes, sorry

edit: if at least 1 person views it here every 6 months, it will never get deleted.

Edited December 19, 2014 by r4pt0r

[r4pt0r]

I had freetime to fully explain how to make the design in the OP

[Brookstone]

r4ptor,

I tried your suggestion but I couldn't get a strut to attach to Not-Rockomax. I am changing my design. I am trying to use struts as little as possible so I can keep the crash tolerance closer to the 80 m/s that the I-Beams have, since this is for a rover\base.

As Red Iron Crown said it is the worst limitation but you just got to get creative and build around it.

[r4pt0r]

Huh. wonder why that wont attach sorry mate.

I always have trouble with the micronode myself.