Heli Skills and Setup 101 - LOOK here first!

[handsum3dnut]

Hey finless,

Sorry bout that, I was asking what some of the settings are heli radios. There is a delay setting, revo setting, and many other settings I don't understand and I just wondering if the are used with electric helis or just gasers?

sorry bout the confusion and thanks for the help

[kgfly]

Added reference link:
Great online database of motors, escs, becs, batteries, chargers etc http://www.progressiverc.com/Research.html

[gmd]

after clicking on Finless videos, the next page will display topics. At that point make sure you are in the hybrid display mode. This option is located on red bar on the far riht end.

Hope this helps, I had the same problem.

GMD

[maxout]

Hey Bob, just wanted to let you know once again how much your videos have helped me. I'm just getting into heli's, got a 450se V2 for Xmas and with the help of your vids I got it together and set up. One of my buddy's will be going over my setup and as soon as we get rid of this snow around here, we can get out and start practicing. Mean while, I got the G4 RealFlight sims and I've been practicing every day. You're a real asset, you're the Man.

Max

[Finless]

Thanks Max.... I am GLAD I could help you out! PLEASE share with the Helifreaker's your first flight experiences man... That is what I would love

Bob

[hcopter51]

Originally Posted by maxout

Hey Bob, just wanted to let you know once again how much your videos have helped me. I'm just getting into heli's, got a 450se V2 for Xmas and with the help of your vids I got it together and set up. One of my buddy's will be going over my setup and as soon as we get rid of this snow around here, we can get out and start practicing. Mean while, I got the G4 RealFlight sims and I've been practicing every day. You're a real asset, you're the Man.

Max

Ditto about the snow.....4 more inches tonight...UGH... Kudos to Bob 4 the fantastic videos....Just got a blade 400 and they r helping me tremendously....I will watch them all and be rtf come Jne, should be warm by then I HOPE....Thanks very much Bob.......John

[selim]

I seem to be missing something here with the help videos. When I am not logged on I am able to bring up the list of Bob's how to videos, but am not able to open them up...says I must be logged on. When logged on and attempting to open said videos I end up "here"...what am I doing wrong?..I have checked cookies and the site is not blocked..oddly enough my flying skills are not much better...thanks
HF Support



My HF Map location
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia


Heli Skills and Setup 101
This is a place to gather together the best-of-breed How-To videos for basic items that are pretty much common to all (or at least many) helis. While some refer to specific heli models, the concepts and techniques are fairly universal and can be applied widely. Most are Finless videos familiar to many but some are by other talented contributors.

Basics

Ball Links 101 (20 Megs)

Blade Balancing 101 (30 Megs)

Blade Tracking 101 (35 Megs)

Canopy Trimming 101 (28 Megs)

CCPM Setup Part 1 (58 Megs)

CCPM Setup Part 2 (58 Megs)

Pitch and Throttle Curves 101 (58 Megs)

Servo Repair 101 (30 Megs)

Soldering Bullet (Motor) Connectors 101 (50 Megs)

Soldering Deans Connectors 101 (30 Megs)

Thread Lock 101 (15 Megs)

Gyros

Align/Telebee and similar Piezo HH Gyro setup (46 Megs)

Futaba 401 gyro setup (48 Megs)

Futaba 401 gyro setup with DX7 (42 Megs)

Futaba 611 gyro setup (35 Megs)

Logictech 6100T setup videos

SpartanRC DS760 setup videos

ESCs

Align ESC setup (30 Megs)

Castle Pheonix 85HV setup videos

BECs

Understanding BECs and regulators (47 Megs)

Radios

DX7 Setup video

DX7 Throttle cut switch

Programming the Futaba 9Z for a heli (78 Megs)

DX6 setup guide for a Trex450SE (not a video)


Chargers

Thunder Power 1010 and 210 videos

References - Some valuable info
Electric Helicopters Beginners Guide (EHBG): http://www.swashplate.co.uk/html/ehbg.html
LiPo Basics: http://www.bladebusters.com/batteryguide.html
RADD's School of Rotary Flight: http://www.dream-models.com/eco/flying-index.html
Model helicopter theory: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46381
All about A123 cells/packs/charging: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showp...01&postcount=2
Great online database of motors, escs, becs, batteries, chargers etc http://www.progressiverc.com/Research.html

References - How To guides
How to: Assorted: http://www.archeli.com.au/cobra/foru...c&daysprune=-1
How to: Charge LiFe (A123) packs with CCCV power supplies: https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=40579
How to: Convert a Computer ATX Power Supply to a Lab Power Supply: http://www.wikihow.com/Convert-a-Com...b-Power-Supply
How to: Wire up battery packs: http://scriptasylum.com/rc_speed/_lipo.html
How to: Setup a piezo gyro: http://www.natew.com/rcheli/frame_ma...H#why.behavior and http://www.x400tuning.com/aligngyro.htm
How to: Build an A123 pack: http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=647456
How to: Make your own stepdown regulator for a tail servo: https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=43934

References - Headspeed Calculators
MrMel's (excellent generic tool for LiPo and A123/LiFe): http://www.dacsa.net/heli/Calculator/default.aspx
DarkHorse (very complex modeling): http://www.dhrc.rchomepage.com/calcAdvanced.htm
ReadyHeli (standard single stage and two-stage for Hurricane550): http://www.readyheli.com/Online_Head...lator_s/81.htm
Head Speed/Battery Calculator for Windows: https://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=55471
__________________
Kenneth
* TRex450CF/430L/12t/BLG25/HS65mg/L2100T+HS81/KP 3s 2200 25C
Previous rides: HX242, W5-4, TRex450(HDE), TRex450(SE), QJ-EP8v2, BCX2 ,Logo10
SIM: FMS, Phoenix (previously also Reflex/XTR, ClearView)
Last edited by kgfly; 02-13-2008 at 11:0

[psilo]

Finless Bob,

Firstly, let me say a great big thank you for such excellent videos and information. As a newbie to helicopters this forum has been an excellent learning tool with your videos providing much needed knowledge.

I have an esky belt cp and have recently bought the DX7. I went through the ccpm videos and setup my servos as close to 90 as possible then used the subtrim on the Tx to get them spot on. By doing this, if I now check the position of the servos in the servo monitor, they are no longer at center when the sticks are at center, how can I get the TX to take the subtrim into account when showing the servo positions, or is this not possible? Do I need to adjust the endpoints?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Gerd

[Finless]

Even if you use subtrim the servo monitor menu shows it NOT center. It's OK don't worry about it.

Bob

[psilo]

Thanks Bob!

[jetfixrguy]

Finless Bob,
I would like to really thank you for the videos you have made. They are incredible! This is the first time I have ever seen anyone go through the steps you did in order for beginners like myself to make sure our birds are set up as good as we can get them and have some confidence behind our build. This is what makes this hobby so interesting when you meet people who can share their wealth of knowledge and wisdom to others. Thanks again you are a great asset to this hobby.
Brian Norton

[srhammett]

Hey Finless and gang! I stayed up late working through all of "CCPM setup parts 1 and 2" on my new Mini Titan. Everything translated well to this heli. I selected and centered horns on my HS-65 cyclic servos. Going over the mechanical setup went very smooth, with only minor tweaks needed here and there.

I did notice from the first time I ran the servos that, on collective, they weren't moving symmetrically. On the high side (increasing pitch) the arms seemed to be travelling much farther than when decreasing pitch. (I guess we're talking "throws" here, I'm still shaky on the jargon). I didn't think much about it at first, I just assumed the radio knew what it was doing. It wasn't happening on elevator and aileron movements, they looked totally symmetrical. But it was so obvious, I think I noticed it even before I had the ball links hooked up, and all three servos were acting the same.

When I reached the point of installing the blades and checking pitch range, the results were obvious. On the negative side I got only about 10 degrees, but on the positive it went off the dial, probably 15 degrees. Bob, you said that if the limits were assymetrical like that, then there's a mechanical problem and basically you start over. But like I say, it looks to me like it's coming all the way up from the servos. I just can't see any mechanical cause for it.

I'm using the Futaba 7CHP. I had to put in subtrim on elev. (+20) and pitch (ch. 6) (+10). I had to reverse a couple of the servos, but I didn't need to touch the swash. I adjusted endpoints on aileron (95%-95%) and elevator (92%-87%). Everything else is still at 100%.

I think that's it! Like I said, swash - everything still at +50%. Throttle and pitch curves all still at the linear default settings. I'm baffled! Any ideas?

Thanks a million!

[Pinecone]

Hover Pitch?

[Finless]

Yep... I am with Piny here.... I bet you a dollar you did NOT disable hover pitch or on newer futaba radios the hover trim and ends.... DISABLE ANY of those knobs...

Why Futaba leaves those on as default is beyond me... Screws up MANY people every day...

Bob

[srhammett]

Originally Posted by Finless

Yep... I am with Piny here.... I bet you a dollar you did NOT disable hover pitch or on newer futaba radios the hover trim and ends.... DISABLE ANY of those knobs...

Why Futaba leaves those on as default is beyond me... Screws up MANY people every day...

Bob

Bingo! Thanks guys!

[edit]: Except that, when the servos recentered as a result of disabling HOV TRIM, both of my servo arm candidates somehow manage to totally straddle the center point. Also, the arms that came with my HS-65's don't "flip", they are only splined on one side, limited my options. So, I can't manage a subtrim of less than about 50 on any of them! Is that going to cause me trouble? Do I have any options?

[edit2:]One more question servo question, if I may: I've seen where some people add washers or other spacers when they mount the servos, particularly the rear (elevator) servo. What's the concensus on this? I can see where it would line up the lower rods better. But my swash is level and all of the head linkages looked so good out of the box, very little adjustment necessary. I'm wondering if moving the servos out far enough to bring the rods into perpendicular - especially the elevator servo - will throw the whole thing out of kilter. Thoughts?

[Pinecone]

Try the different arms from servo to servo.

You can get some double sided arms and see which end fits better and then cut off the other arm.

[kgfly]

Added links to three free simulators, FMS, HeliSim and Heli-X

[SAMPLER1]

CCPM set up part 2... I can't seem to get it to run once I have downloaded it! Is there someting I am missing???

[kgfly]

It is no different to any of the others. If you can watch CCPM1 you should be able to watch CCPM2

[OB_Scorpio]

all the vids I download end prematurly?
but when I grab them from you-tube they are the full length?