Flying wooden blades with CNC grips

[erbrou]

Hi,

I got the carbon fiber main blades with the XES PRO kit, but I also have few pairs of wooden blades for flying the hurri at the beginning.

My problem is that the screws that come with the CNC main grips are too wide to fit into the holes of the woodies. I have the washers pack for woodies but it seems that I also need to get new screws, which I do not find on Readyheli website.

What are you using to fly the wooden blades? Also, even with smaller screws, the holes in the main blades grip will remain too wide for the screws (?).

In other words, what do I have to do to fly the woodies with the CNC main grips?

Thanks!

**** EDIT: In fact, I now believe that the washer holes for the woodies are too small with CNC grips??? Do I have to buy washers at Home Depot or what?

[Pinecone]

Get a package of 4mm washers. I use 2 standard 4mm washers with one of the stock thin ones. Standard and thin on top, standard on the bottom and the blades get reasonably tight.

I am going to cut down some 4mm bolts that are too long, but have a shorter shoulder section. They came from RTL Fasteners. I don't remember off the top of my head how long they are overall.

[erbrou]

Ok, thanks. But, isn't bizarre that there is no Gaui washer to run wooden blades on the CNC grips? It is not a big deal, but...

[bstock]

I got some woodies to fly before the carbons... and I found out the hard way that I needed the washer kit to fly them. Ended up flying the carbons for now.

anyways... I was able to get the stock CNC grip bolts through the hole in the woodies. The woodies came with a small bag with brass inserts in it... but I didn't use them.

[erbrou]

I was able to get the stock CNC grip bolts through the hole in the woodies. The woodies came with a small bag with brass inserts in it... but I didn't use them.You are right, but there is some play between the blade and the grips (above and below), so washers are needed. But the washers they sell for the woodies will not work with CNC grips.

[bstock]

You mentioned above that the bolts were to wide to fit into the holes of the woodies... and that is what is was commenting on. I didn't realize you meant through the washers.

You also mention getting smaller diameter bolts (and now I realize for going through the hole in the washers)... and I thought you were on the right track in not wanting to do that. If the smaller diameter bolt moves around in the bigger hole in the grip... over time it could elongate the grip holes.

The up and down vertical play was the problem I was also having when trying the woodies for the first time.

I emailed John at readyheli on it... and he told me I needed the washer kit. I wonder if he realizes the holes in the washers are too small for the CNC grip bolts? As I understood it... this washer kit was made just for the purpose of running the woodies in the CNC grips. The plastic grips don't need these washers... do they?

Doesn't make much sense to buy the gaui washers then... I will get to the hardware store instead.

Thanks for the details and insight... you saved me some money and frustration.

[erbrou]

Yeah, I have not been very clear...

I first thought that the only problem was that CNC grip bolts were too wide, because if you put the brass inserts into the holes of wooden blades, the washers they sell appear the good size. However, I realized that using smaller screws is not feasible as the hole in the grips will be too wide, and that this will not be secure at high speed.

But, if you do not use the brass inserts, the CNC grip screws are ok for wooden blades. So, at the end, the problem is the size of the hole in the washers they sell. It simply does not work, the hole is too small. But you need to use washers to get rid of the play between the blades and the CNC grips, so the only way is to get them at the hardware store.

Excuse me if it is not always clear, my english is very limited!

[Pinecone]

As I said, standard 4mm washers on the outside of the grips will allow them to be pulled in far enough to tighten the blades.

If someone knows a source for large diameter 4mm washers, that would be the perfect thing.

[cd5]

go to your local hardware store. and take the blade bolt with you, the washer that fits around the bolt is the perfect thickness if you use one above and one below the blade on the inside of the grip. You still need to use the smalll washers on the outside of the grips so the nut doesnt run out of thread. it can be fiddily to get both washers on the inside of the grips because it is tight. dont use the brass sleeves on the inside of the grips . also be careful of your headspeed running the woodies. Best part is that 2 bucks get you about 200 washers
cheers
simon

[bstock]

Hi Guys

I am not keen on putting washers on the outside of my grips. When I installed the woodies... the problem I had was not getting the nut to bite enough threads (it is the same amount on the outside, no matter what blades are in the inside of the grips) - it was the vertical free play the blades had inside the grips.

I guess I need some washers to fill that space... and it looked like at the time (and sounds like from Terry's info)... that I will need more than 2 washers to do that.

I am going to CA how ever many washers I need... together as one peice... and then run that piece on either the top or the bottom of the blade - with the other side of the blade running against the inside of the grip as normal.

I just hope I can find the right thickness of washers to make this work... with out having to jam (force) it in, or squeeze the grips to much to compress the space.

Compressing the aluminum in the grips... can't be good for them... as they are cast aluminum... and cast aluminum is more brittle and does not like to compress (bend).

[odieser]

When I got my cnc grips I took out the brass insert from the woodies and used the twin washers that the grips came with as spacers top and bottom and then the bolt that the cnc grips came with works fine
just my 2 cents

[Pinecone]

I used two of the 4mm washers from my parts box. The washers came form RTL Fasteners. But they are standard 4mm washers.

The problem is the shoulder section on the bolt is too long to compress the grips for he proper blade tension. Once I try the cut off bolt, I will let you know what size to order.

Compressing the grips is not great, but not that bad.

Best would be some metal, FG or even wood spacers inside the grips.

[erbrou]

Another thing, do the wooden blades without the brass insert are less secure? Why do they put a brass insert there? Is it just to allow the use of main grip bolts of both the standard and CNC heads?

Also, I do not like to put washers inside the grips. This way, the contact between the blades and the grips is reduced to the size of the washer instead of the size of grip itself. It probably adds a damping effect...

[odieser]

flying hobby is now selling the washers that you need to run woodies in cnc grips seperatly now here's the link
http://flying-hobby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_30_38&products_id=2060
I hope this helps
Mark

[erbrou]

flying hobby is now selling the washers that you need to run woodies in cnc grips seperatly now here's the link
http://flying-hobby.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=3_30_38&products_id=2060
I hope this helps
Mark I have already bought a couple of pairs of these from Readyheli. The washers do not work, holes are too small as discussed above... but thanks anyway!

[odieser]

sorry but mine have the same hole as the holes in the grips so they work for me
Mark

[erbrou]

sorry but mine have the same hole as the holes in the grips so they work for me
MarkThe product number on the link you gave is the same as the one at readyheli. I ordered those washers at readyheli and the hole is not good, too small for the bolt. Maybe there has been an error for that batch during production, I do not know. But what I do know, mine do not work. I will buy them again at the next order at readyheli to see, it just a few dollars.

[odieser]

Now I am not so confident in the product as my washers came with the grips perhaps these are different washers than them as you found out perhaps someone like ready heli could chime in and tell us why produce a washer that isn't usefull for this application
Mark

[Pinecone]

I found these:

91116A130
Metric 18-8 SS Large-OD Flat Washer M4 Screw Size, 4.3mm ID, 12mm OD, 0.9 - 1.1 mm Thk
In stock at $1.90 per Pack

At McMaster Carr. I am ordering a pack to try out.

If they work out, I will obviously have extras. :)

[ke6d]

You are right, but there is some play between the blade and the grips (above and below), so washers are needed. But the washers they sell for the woodies will not work with CNC grips.

Actually, the washers are aluminum. The hole is 3mm. I have to ream out the hole on the washers to fit the 4mm screws because I did not want to over tighten the the CNC blade grips. The aluminum is very soft so you can hold it with a glove on the left hand (I use glove just in case the reamer slip out and cut my hand) and slowly ream the hole to a larger size. Should not take more than 2 min.

I tested my Hurricane last week with wood blades and now just switched over to carbon. Boy, the carbon blades are very quiet!

GL,

Dan, KE6D