Something better then limpets for mining...

[MarsG]

The limpet drones in mining are a pain in the backside.
Firstly, if you are mining a rapidly spinning asteroid they get destroyed.
Secondly, they move quite slowly, so alot of the fragments disappear before they can collect them.
Thirdly, 1 drone takes up 1T of space limiting the number you are able to carry, and materials you can collect if you fill right up with them.
Then, unless you waste a high class slot on them, they don't last very long.
Without them, mining is too painfully slow to even bother thinking about.
Then there is the constant rebuying them, as if the constant pirate attacks and repair costs are not enough.

Could we please have something to improve on this. Like a tractor beam. A mineral scanner, or something, to replace the prospecter would be nice too.

 

[Teh Smoo]

They're worst for beginner miners. I've multi-crewed with a guy who had over 100 limpets in cargo, and plenty of cargo space left. In that scenario, it barely matters- plenty of space for collectors and anything else!

But on small ships? Their downsides are magnified, and there aren't enough slots. I gave up on mining in an Adder, it simply was too annoying.

You could put a scanner in the hardpoints.

And limpets could be AMMO. They're not big enough to justify an entire TON each.

And materials crates in cargo, which can be used to rearm things (including limpets) like synthesis, except with no damage boost.

 

[Lucius-Darcia]

For mining i can recommand only A-class collectors and at least 2x class 3 for one class 2 mining laser or 2x class 5 for two class 2 mining lasers.
It also is important to move your cargohatch into the direction of the fragments as soon as the asteroid is depleted. Getting close like 100m is also very helpful since the limpets seem to speed up significant at that distance.
I can't really recommand anything smaller than a dropship for serious mining. Filling around half of your cargospace with limpets should be enough for prospecting and collecting. Here some builds i like to use:

Type-6
https://eddp.co/u/emfov7BG

Federal Dropship:
https://eddp.co/u/6bUkc3wc

iClipper:
https://eddp.co/u/lDAg16El

Python:
https://eddp.co/u/W7aN2vyf

iCutter:
https://eddp.co/u/xrdu62Vt

Corvette for special speed-mining:
https://eddp.co/u/iTiKdBZR

 

[Galerak]

If you're mining a rapidly spinning asteroid you can help your poor limpets by maneuvering your ship perpendincular to the axis of rotation. Try and mine in the spot where the rock is rotating the least. This offers lees chance for a random lump or bump to smash your limpet to smithereens.
The closer you can get to the asteroid the less distance the limpets have to travel so collection will be quicker.
To avoid pirate attacks, never drop on a belt with any cargo already in your hold and never start mining straight away. Drop anywhere on a ring, it doesn't need to be a resource extraction site, then wait a few minutes (maybe 10...ish). After the first few ships have dropped in, scanned you and realised you have no tasty cargo you wont get bothered again, you can mine till your holds are full... or you run out of ridiculously overweight limpets.

p.s. NEVER forget to restock your limpets, it's quite frustrating when you do

 

[Lestat]

For mining i can recommand only A-class collectors and at least 2x class 3 for one class 2 mining laser or 2x class 5 for two class 2 mining lasers.
It also is important to move your cargohatch into the direction of the fragments as soon as the asteroid is depleted. Getting close like 100m is also very helpful since the limpets seem to speed up significant at that distance.
I can't really recommand anything smaller than a dropship for serious mining. Filling around half of your cargospace with limpets should be enough for prospecting and collecting. Here some builds i like to use:

Type-6
https://eddp.co/u/emfov7BG

Federal Dropship:
https://eddp.co/u/6bUkc3wc

iClipper:
https://eddp.co/u/lDAg16El

Python:
https://eddp.co/u/W7aN2vyf

iCutter:
https://eddp.co/u/xrdu62Vt

Corvette for special speed-mining:
https://eddp.co/u/iTiKdBZR

All good idea. On my Anaconda I tend to mine all the ores then move forward until the ores are close to the hatch. I use Max cargo of Limpets because I very picky on what I am mining including what in my refinery. So a lot of Prospector limpets are being wasted. The best refinery. So you can eject the cheap stuff.

Only the Best is worth saving. If something only worth 400 credit. ejected.

 

[YinYin]

if you are mining a rapidly spinning asteroid they get destroyed
[...]
they move quite slowly
[...]
alot of the fragments disappear
[...]
limiting the number you are able to carry
[...]
limiting the [...] materials you can collect
[...]
they don't last very long
[...]
mining is too painfully slow [without them]
[...]
constant rebuying [...] costs

Hey there, if you'd like some advice on how to handle any of these without a sliver of annoyance (regardless of ship/funds) until you get your tractor beam, I'm happy to help out.

They're not big enough to justify an entire TON each.

Unfortunately they are exactly as big as a canister.

 

[MarsG]

Heh, I appreciate your suggestion guys. I have done sone of the things suggested Im only trying to mine 500 of anything for the engineer at the moment but it just seems to be taking forever. Dont plan on making mining a regular activity. Might consider it if a tractor beam become available, or i need the resources for something. Just thought if we have engines that can take us across the galaxy and back again in around a week then surely we could have something more appropriate then sending a robot out to pick up a rock. As for the mineral scanner, we have a scanner that can tell us the entire make up of a planet. Why not make it work on an asteroid, which is considerably smaller?

 

[Teh Smoo]

Heh, I appreciate your suggestion guys. I have done sone of the things suggested Im only trying to mine 500 of anything for the engineer at the moment but it just seems to be taking forever. Dont plan on making mining a regular activity. Might consider it if a tractor beam become available, or i need the resources for something. Just thought if we have engines that can take us across the galaxy and back again in around a week then surely we could have something more appropriate then sending a robot out to pick up a rock. As for the mineral scanner, we have a scanner that can tell us the entire make up of a planet. Why not make it work on an asteroid, which is considerably smaller?

Certain ships work better than others. I think my old Adder could almost have mined, but venting crap would have been annoying. The Python is the first ship that I'd really consider mining with, but maybe the Type-Xs could work as well.

I think a Cobra4 could do a half decent job, though the batches would be small. You just need a large cargo capacity, a refinery, and enough limpets to fill the refinery...

 

[Hooplah]

Using collectors takes some refinement and balance with the ship used. I use a 192 cargo Imperial Clipper with some mild engineering any Horizons player can easily accomplish. It has a 4A refinery, two 3A collector limpets and a 1A prospector limpet. Load up half the cargo with limpets and go mining. As the limpet stock decreases the minerals refined stock increases. Two 2D mining lasers make for efficient mining. Two 3C fragment cannons (I LOVE frags close in and personal) in a fast and maneuverable Clipper can make a pirate think twice about taking away your precious cargo.

The Clipper is an excellent mining ship for those who like me want to experience efficient mining or just need to do it for an Engineer requirement. I add the tactical carbon paintjob to make it look more deadly! It is cost effective and provides great results. Still if mining was my career goal in ED I'd probably go with an Imperial Cutter. You decide.

Regards