Blade Pitch Explanation and guide please!

[mikepmurf]

I got some GREAT responses from my last video and crash about pitch/throttle curves.

Here is my problem. I was given this suggestion to set in my DX6i (which I think is great) from Sparx, Carlo_the_wonder_frog, LockMD and many others. Heres an example and then the question is:

What should my Pitch gage read at Full neg stick, Mid Stick, and Full positive stick in these situations? I changed my pitch by lengthening the rods on NORMAL mode at mid stick to ZERO pitch, but I have no clue what the pitch should then look like on my pitch gage on the other two settings to make sure my controls are right. Am I over thinking this thing?

Here are the examples from Sparx. Can anyone "guestimate" what the pitch should read on my pitch gage in full and negative stick? I'm in the middle of that major rebuild and would like to do it right.

I know you guys are getting sick of my questions....sorry!

Normal Mode:

Throttle: 0 - 70 - 70 - 80 - 90
Pitch: 40 - 45 - 50 - 75 - 100

Stunt/Idle Up Beginner/Intermediate:

Throttle: 0 - 80 - 80 - 90 - 100
Pitch: 40 - 45 - 50 - 75 - 100

Stunt1/Idle Up Advanced:

Throttle: 100 - 90 - 80 - 90 - 100
Pitch: 0 - 25 - 50 - 75 - 100

[SeaComms]

Very simply, at 50% pitch on the throttle curve (mid stick in all your example pitch curves above), should equal 0 degrees pitch and the arms on the washout block should be level. This is all achieved by mechanical setup of the links.

Then in the idle up mode (your 'advanced' stunt version above of 0, 25, 50, 75, 100) you should go from -10 to +10 degrees with full throttle stick throw, and you should have approximately equal clearances in the head setup at each end.

To adjust the max throw you use the swash plate mix in the Transmitter.

This one is actually covered really well by the CCPM1 and CCPM2 videos done by Bob.

By the way, if you have it set up as -10, 0 +10, then every 5 % in the TX should be 1 degree. ie, in your first pitch curve above would be

40 = -2*
45= -1*
50=0*
75=+5*
100=+10*

Cheers, Dave.

[LockMD]

On setup make sure your radio has a linear pitch curve 0-25-50-75-100 then full neg should be -10 or close 50% stick should be 0 ptich and full pos should be +10 or close. Sparx's 'radio' pitch curves is to tame it down a tad so you dont get full negative and come to earth too fast. Helped me with softer landings at first but from his suggestion I have went back to linear (he said I should be able to land soft either way (skills)) so I am practicing with linear now....which if I ever go 3D is where I will need to have it anyhow.

[mikepmurf]

SeaComms & LockMD: THANKS! THANKS! THANKS!

Now I know the different pitches and where to change them in the radio.

Is changing the Swash Mix in the Transmitter pretty straight forward?

I liked both the finless and Sokals set up procedures, which I will be following to the "T". Bob's get's a little strange because it's upside-down compared to my view most of the time, but I just have to get over it.

Thanks again, and I'll still take any suggestions. I've got over 60 packs through the bird before this happened, so I really can't complain....it was bound to happen!

[HeliMix]

Uh... Crash? When did you crash? Ok, when we started, you said you were following me (or something liek that), now I am following you. What did you do so I can be sure not to do it? Or am I just real tired and I knew you crashed? :confused:

[SeaComms]

Is changing the Swash Mix in the Transmitter pretty straight forward?

Yep, if you look at the stock swash settings, they are something like -75, -75 and +85 (or similar). If you reduce any of these you will reduce the total throw of that particular item.

for example, with the new HS65's the way I had them set up, my total pitch range was +/- 12 degrees - too much, so by lowering the 85 figure on the swash setup (pitch) to about 75, I reduced my overall pitch throw to +/- 10 degrees.

Likewise, both my aileron and elevator pitches were around 8 degrees each, way too much, so by lowering the two 75% settings to around 65, I have reduced my elevator and aileron pitch settings to about 6 degrees.

Cheers, Dave.

[mikepmurf]

HeliMix: Yeah, I got cocky and started messing with the pitch of the blades without knowing what the #$%*& I was doing, so it crashed BIG! And not even in mid flight, which I could at least brag about....this was just spooling up! Check the link below to the thread and the pics....I'm doing a "rebuild" video now, but it's gonna take 3 nights to do it.

Murf's Crash (http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=72989)

SeaComms: Thanks again....that's what I needed to know. I have just as big of a learning curve on the Transmitter as I have on the heli! I'm used to flying 3 and 4 channel planes with a cheap radio, so this is all "Big-Wig" stuff to me.

I'm learning....however slow!

[SeaComms]

Welcome to the world of magic.....

6 weeks ago I was a two channel glider flier :)

Trust me, you learn quick hehe

[weru]

Likewise, both my aileron and elevator pitches were around 8 degrees each, way too much, so by lowering the two 75% settings to around 65, I have reduced my elevator and aileron pitch settings to about 6 degrees.

Cheers, Dave.

How do you measure aileron/elevator to 6 degrees or 8 degrees?

[doering1]

Yep, if you look at the stock swash settings, they are something like -75, -75 and +85 (or similar). If you reduce any of these you will reduce the total throw of that particular item.

for example, with the new HS65's the way I had them set up, my total pitch range was +/- 12 degrees - too much, so by lowering the 85 figure on the swash setup (pitch) to about 75, I reduced my overall pitch throw to +/- 10 degrees.

Likewise, both my aileron and elevator pitches were around 8 degrees each, way too much, so by lowering the two 75% settings to around 65, I have reduced my elevator and aileron pitch settings to about 6 degrees.

Cheers, Dave.

Yes, changing the swash settings is one of the easiest and best pieces of advice for a new heli pilot. Rather than playing with the pitch and throttle curve points, I simply lowered the swash settings for my Blade. As SeaComms indicates, for the same amount of stick movement will you get less pitch making the heli a little more docile. Certainly helped getting me through my learning curve an into a steady controlled hover quickly.