How to autotrim on Helicommand 3d?

[butters149]

Just wondering, how do you setup autotrim on the helicommand 3d? i have a dx7 with ar6200, i can buy a ar7000 if it is necessary, but just wondering how do u setup auto trim? mine seems to be drifting alot.

[TomC]

Butters,

I've just ordered a rigid version of Helicommand. I'm initially going to set it up as a 3D (with flybar) and minimal stablisation. Once I'm happy with this, I'll try a flybarless (Rigid) setup.

While I don't have this unit yet, I have read the instructions quite a few times now to get a better understanding of what the unit can and cannot do.

In order to control (from the Tx) the stablisation type (horiz/pos) and gain, plus Gyro mode (HH/NHH) and gain, you will need a 7 channel Rx. It looks like you can then assign the auto-trim to the gyro mode/gain channel but you will then need to set the gyro gain via the PC link.

This all looks a bit complicated to me and while the instructions look pretty good, for a German translation, they are a little vague in some areas.

Personally, I don't think I'll initially bother using either the 'position' mode or the auto-trims. Looks like if you trim via your Tx, you will need to 'set' these trim values buy pressing the set button. Think I'll just try to set-up things mechanically first and go from there.

Looks like you can E-mail them at; info@helicommand.com for more info.

Cheers,
Tom C

[jamesotron99]

I have a RIGID installed on my Logo 500. I haven't had a chance to actually fly the snot out of it yet, but a test hover indicates that everything is working fine. I didn't even bother connecting the pilot channel to the RIGID as I have no intention of using anything other than flybarless stabilisation. And simply attached my double-sided tape right over the optical sensor and mounted the Helicommand on the top avionics area.

Take a look at:

http://team.espritmodel.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12

[jamesotron99]

I took the 500 for a brief flight today. I have to say I've never seen anything move as fast as that, and that includes my Logo 600 with vbar. One issue I did discover is that I needed to hold in a lot of back elevator to get a stable hover, which I believe has something to do with the forward rake on the skids of the 500 while the machine is sitting on the ground during power-up.

I must say that I'm a little confused about the way you trim the helicommand, since I'm using the RIGID EXTREM mode.

[TomC]

James,

Best way I've found in Rigid mode is to use your tx trim tabs then, after landing, adjust the swash links so you can go back to center tx trims.

Cheers,
Tom C

[jamesotron99]

I've just given it a go with the spirit level and set button, we'll see how it looks tomorrow.

Thanks for that Tom, if it's not fixed then I'll try it your way.

James.

[jamesotron99]

I have the machine trimmed up perfectly. I'll paste what I wrote in my blog:

I took the Logo 500 to NSMAC again today, and again today had the place to myself. I wanted to test some changes I made to the Helicommand settings to get the machine trimmed out right. I didn't want to use the autotrim mode in the helicommand, but realised that I can simply set them myself.

Here's what I did. Turn on your transmitter and set your pitch stick in the middle (or wherever you have 0 degree's set on your curves). Power on your machine's avionics (it's a good idea to disconnect the motor), this is a good time to double-check that both of your blades are exactly at 0 degrees with a pitch gauge, because if they are then you will have no problems with tracking. You can use a swash levelling tool or something else to check that the swash is sitting perpendicular to the main shaft, if it is not you can adjust the aileron and elevator trims using the Internal autotrim settings in the RC & trim tab of the Helicommand setup software.

http://bp3.blogger.com/_z0gWwypolQw/SCVH7E0oEtI/AAAAAAAAADc/Z4281nifY4w/s1600-h/trimit_trimitrealgood.png

Unlike the VStabi software, changes made in the Helicommand software do not instantly update the unit, so you need to adjust each a few clicks and then click write on the right hand side, which sends your changes to the unit. You will probably have to rinse & repeat a few times until you get it right.

So, I flew two four and a half minute flights, and despite facing almost directly into the sun I had a great time. This machine has so much fun and agility that I can't stop grinning for ages after I fly it. The only thing I would ask for is a little more duration, but my packs are marginally too small for it anyway, so some time in the next six months I'll have to re-invest in slightly larger 6S lipos.