Blade balancing scale?

[Jermo]

how accurate does it need to be ? I've seen all kinds of prices and accuracy...
Jermo

[spork]

I think you're better off balancing your blades on a balancer. Ideally, get the C.G.'s to match, and then add tape at the C.G.'s to make the blades balance.

[DebianDog]

You can get the CG with a round pen taped to a desk then

A glass, long bolt, and a few nuts work to balance blade to blade

Not elegant but it works. Yes I still bought a $24 Heli-Max Heli Blade Balancer.

[Jermo]

I have the blade balancer from align. Some of the better pilots weight match the blades then balance for CG. I'm not sure what the difference is but figured if they took the time to do it there must be a reason :dontknow
Jermo

[DebianDog]

No, you balance them FROM the CG (Center of Gravity)... or that's the way I was taught. i.e. Find the CG mark it with a wax pen then add your weighted tape in that spot.

If the blades are "matched", meaning they have the same CG and weight from the factory, then no balancing is necessary.

Unless you are adding tape or painting them (or some other modification)

[Pinecone]

I have a small scale I bought on eBay that weighs to 0.1 gram.

I do the CG on a balancer (Helimax) and the wieght and then stick them on the balancer to make sure. Nothing like belt and suspenders. :)

But if CG is proper and weight it the same, they should balance. Or if CG is the same and they balance, weight is the same.

The only problem comes that they can balance on the balancer and not have the same CG and vibrate.

[rsouthern]

I've got a 500g .01g scale for my Falcon3D and CX2. I also have the Align blade balancing tool (~$5) that looks like a threaded bolt with 2 screws to pinch the blades and it has unthreaded shaft exposed at both ends which gives you a smooth/low-friction and round surface I put on the rims between 2 drinking glasses. I also have the Heli-Max balancer which does balance and CG.

My input is the align tool is the best, since it's simple, cheap, takes less space in the tool box and is at least as accurate as the heli-max balancer (if not more so).

I also like the digital balance/scale, but it was $80 from an internet dealer. It is great if you do a CG check first, then balance the weights between the blades on the CG... but it's .01g, so it doesn't take much to disturb the weight (like a breath will register).

If you go with a digital scale, get one that does the .01g (probably only need up to 200g for blades but 500g is nice for smaller lipo packs). Also get a big platform since you want the CG of the blade centered over the middle of the scale.

But save your money and skip the heli-max balancer. The one I have is like a teeter-totter, it has a bubble level and an adjustment screw to balance the platform and has 2 triangular legs that have ball bearings to make it smooth. It uses a bunch of plastic pegs to hold the blades in the right place. But the problem is it's very difficult to not move the legs after you level it when you put on the blades. If they get slightly pinched, the whole thing goes out of level. Maybe others have figured out how to use this, but it just frustrates me. And for $25 it was a waste of money, the Align tool is as accurate and more stable.