Beta tester's impressions

[blade strike]

Here is the picture as requested As you can see my foam tape is about 1mm thinner than stock tape and not as soft.

[blade strike]

Originally Posted by joseyu

It seems to me that some of you are using 2 Spektrum remote receivers for the SK-720 and I am wondering if that is absolutely necessary or just an extra safety net? Will it work with just one remote receiver? Or is this question heli size dependent? Any input will be appreciated because I have a unit on pre-order and I am trying to get all the necessary parts before the beast arrives. THanks!

I would use a 2nd if you have cf frame IMHO. 2.4g doesnt like cf to start, for the $30 that it cost for an extra sat, it's well worth it!

[Heli-RND]

Blade, you need a shorter Rx cable ...

[blade strike]

Originally Posted by Heli-RND

Blade, you need a shorter Rx cable ...

I know I keep forgetting to order some from you It really isnt that bad (macro makes it look that way) I just did a loop so I dont transfer vibs to the unit... I take great care in my wiring but some things you have to do to be functional

[caralmar]

Thanks for the pic! Blade, where do you source that tape from? All I have is that Zeal stuff and also the one more foam tape that came with the SK unit. Thanks!

[blade strike]

Originally Posted by caralmar

Thanks for the pic! Blade, where do you source that tape from? All I have is that Zeal stuff and also the one more foam tape that came with the SK unit. Thanks!

go to the hardware store and try to find some strong dbl sided tape and 3m (brand) foam mounting tape.

If you cant find the foam then you must order. I really wouldnt think dbl sided tape / plate / and stock pad wouldnt be so bad.

[caralmar]

Originally Posted by blade strike

go to the hardware store and try to find some strong dbl sided tape and 3m (brand) foam mounting tape.

If you cant find the foam then you must order. I really wouldnt think dbl sided tape / plate / and stock pad wouldnt be so bad.

I found my vibration culprit today. My Radix blades came from two sets where one blade was damaged in a crash but the other was intact, and I made one new set out of the two salvaged blades. In any case, I balanced them before I put them on the heli and added a couple of Align stickers to one blade to make it weigh the same as the other. I totally skipped the step of making sure the CoG was the same for both blades. I think I'm going to put these blades back on the spares shelf for now and just try brand new Align 425Ds and see what that does for the vibration.

[rickn816]

Originally Posted by joseyu

It seems to me that some of you are using 2 Spektrum remote receivers for the SK-720 and I am wondering if that is absolutely necessary or just an extra safety net? Will it work with just one remote receiver? Or is this question heli size dependent? Any input will be appreciated because I have a unit on pre-order and I am trying to get all the necessary parts before the beast arrives. THanks!

Necessary. Especially if the heli is a 450 or bigger. And not just because we are using the 720 as the Rx. Spend some time on the Spektrum web site and see what they have to say about antennas.

Rick

[rickn816]

Originally Posted by caralmar

I found my vibration culprit today. My Radix blades came from two sets where one blade was damaged in a crash but the other was intact, and I made one new set out of the two salvaged blades. In any case, I balanced them before I put them on the heli and added a couple of Align stickers to one blade to make it weigh the same as the other. I totally skipped the step of making sure the CoG was the same for both blades. I think I'm going to put these blades back on the spares shelf for now and just try brand new Align 425Ds and see what that does for the vibration.

I found that the MicroHeli main gear ran twice as quiet (1/2 of the vibration) as the standard Align main gear.

Rick

[Heli-RND]

Originally Posted by blade strike

I know I keep forgetting to order some from you It really isnt that bad (macro makes it look that way) I just did a loop so I dont transfer vibs to the unit... I take great care in my wiring but some things you have to do to be functional

HAHAHA

[caralmar]

Originally Posted by rickn816

I found that the MicroHeli main gear ran twice as quiet (1/2 of the vibration) as the standard Align main gear.

Rick

The MicroHeli main gear? Linky pls? Me not know what u talkin' bout!

[rickn816]

Originally Posted by caralmar

The MicroHeli main gear? Linky pls? Me not know what u talkin' bout!

For example,

http://www.helidirect.com/microheli-...00-p-15969.hdx

Rick

[adelmasw]

concerning the number of satellites to use. I would recommended always TWO. I just had a situation where one of my satellites lost power while flying. So when I landed it was blinking. Then it totally went out during a flight. Narrowed it down to the plug on the satellite was bad.

So if I only had one satellite - and that one was the one - my heli would have been a lawn dart. So $35.00 to spend was not too much for that second satellite. the second satellite clearly saved the heli.

just my opinion.

[rickn816]

This explains it very clearly. Two sats are recommended. The two sets of antenna must be perpendicular to each other. The exact orientation does not matter.

http://www.spektrumrc.com/FAQ/tm.asp...receivers&#133

Rick

[logolew]

Hello Testers

Is anyone using the 720 with a multi blade head?
I have a Hirobo Dauphin (my own electric conversion) with there 4 blade rigid head that is waiting for one of these 720's.
Keep up the good work Art, us Canucks are pulling for you!

Thanks, Jason

[rickn816]

Originally Posted by logolew

Hello Testers

Is anyone using the 720 with a multi blade head?
I have a Hirobo Dauphin (my own electric conversion) with there 4 blade rigid head that is waiting for one of these 720's.
Keep up the good work Art, us Canucks are pulling for you!

Thanks, Jason

Yes. Not me, tho.

Rick

[Skookum]

Hi Guys,

Re vibration, the high control rates carlmar is using may also cause vibration during fast cyclic maneuvers. Part of the reason is that it takes a lot of force to flip the heli that fast (on and off with each blade revolution), and another reason is that the heli may not actually be able to flip at 360 deg/s. If it's limited by blade tip stall, that would cause a lot of vibration when it happened.

The way to tell is to check what the bell auto-tuning sets the bell gains to. If they're up around 90%, the control rates are set higher than the heli's airframe can deliver.

[dalong2362]

Hi, Art.
Have you check my flight log and set-up?
I found some mechanical faults on my Atom 500..

Thanks

[caralmar]

Originally Posted by Skookum

Hi Guys,

Re vibration, the high control rates carlmar is using may also cause vibration during fast cyclic maneuvers. Part of the reason is that it takes a lot of force to flip the heli that fast (on and off with each blade revolution), and another reason is that the heli may not actually be able to flip at 360 deg/s. If it's limited by blade tip stall, that would cause a lot of vibration when it happened.

The way to tell is to check what the bell auto-tuning sets the bell gains to. If they're up around 90%, the control rates are set higher than the heli's airframe can deliver.

Hi Art,

I've been running with the self-tuning checkbox on the whole time I've had my unit.

Here's the screen shot from my normal cyclic bank:



Is 78% also too high?

Thanks,

Carlos.

[Skookum]

Hi Carlos,

If it's only at 78% on aileron, then your heli probably actually can reach 360 deg/s. Wow, what blades and rpm are you running on that thing? Most helis top out at around 250 deg/s. Still, high cyclic rates generally cause some vibration intermittently.