Jo Blocks

Jo blocks (Johansson gauges, gauge blocks) are, in KSP, a concept rather than a mod or set of physical parts. Real Jo blocks are small rectangular precision-machined parts that are stacked together or wrung to make up arbitrary lengths. Ingame, every instance of each part is precisely as long as every other instance; but it is not always immediately clear what that length is.

Definitions

Length

Distance between stack nodes, irrespective of model rendering. Inapplicable to surface attachment.

One meter

Defined here as the length of one instance of Taliar's (Standard) Cubic Truss (1m) as of 2014 Jly 01.

Wringing

Stacking a number of parts without possibility of surface attachment using Editor Extensions to disable.

Motivation

The system employed by KSP in VAB to assemble complete craft from parts requires that a tree be formed: Each part must attach to one and only one parent part. From the viewpoint of mechanical engineering this introduces a serious weakness in many models, since the conventional method of building large, mechanically stable structures is to join each part to several neighbors, forming loops. Indeed it is difficult to find any real, extensive structure in which there are not multiple connections. However, in KSP, loops in the part network are forbidden.

The stock game provides one obvious workaround to this limitation: the EAS-4 Strut Connector or strut. Struts are peculiar in that the far end point and the span between ends are "not really there"; the far end is recalculated when a craft is edited. When subassemblies are cloned, stored, or recalled; when the craft is re-rooted with SelectRoot; when symmetry is employed or changed; and when parts of different sizes are substituted; there is a risk that existing struts will fail to attach, or attach as intended. Struts may be somewhat difficult to attach or seem to be required in large numbers. Also, the visual appearance of struts may be offensive in some places. Despite these drawbacks, struts often are the best choice and few large craft are entirely without them.

An alternative method of forming an effective part network loop is to employ paired Clamp-O-Tron Docking Ports or ports. If these are assembled carefully then one port of each pair attaches normally to the part tree; they do not attach to one another until the craft is constructed: launched on pad. At this time the pair immediately dock, as they are very close and correctly aligned; and close the mechanical loop.

A further consideration is flexibility. Strut connections are inflexible, hence brittle; they will absorb considerable load but then fail. Docked ports are more flexible and will yield under stress; if insufficient to pull the ports completely into an undocked state then, when the stress is relieved, they will relax into their former neutral state.

Key to the paired-port strategy is correct assembly. If parts overlap, even slightly, then "ghost forces" arise that cause uncontrolled attitude changes, even changes in velocity vector. If the overlap is greater then the parts involved, even the entire craft, may be totally destroyed at once. (See Kraken.) If the gap between paired ports is too large then, as they pull together in an attempt to dock, they will apply stresses to the rest of the craft; if they are out of alignment then the stresses may be more serious. The ideal pairing leaves a scant millimeter of free space between ports. If you cannot see between the ports then they may well be overlapping.

Clearly, for those wishing to pursue paired ports, it's required to know precisely the length of all parts involved in a loop. It should go without saying that surface attachment must be excluded entirely from any loop.