diabolo swashplate

[HeliFX]

Notice the hard corner finish on the diabolo swashplate.
any chance Gerd can add a small bevel instead of hard 90 degree finish.

this would easily snap in two in a crash.

fellow pilot crash is diabolo few weeks back and 3 of them snap clean right at that corner.
small bevel would add better strength.

[Gerd]

What you do not show that the "hard line" is from above a circle and not a straight line. Try with your fingers to bend this...

[HeliFX]

well judging by the swashplate damage on a fellow pilot's diabolo.

it sheared and snapped on those 3 points of the swashplate. Don't know.
we where think another bevel from the side view could add that additional strength.

anyway just an observations and suggestion.

take care

Originally Posted by Gerd

What you do not show that the "hard line" is from above a circle and not a straight line. Try with your fingers to bend this...

[johnnytango]

This is the actual swashplate that HeliFX's referring to: (only 2 snapped off)
Notice the clean shearing on the swashplate's ears. The sharp corner inside the swashplate is like folding a paper to make a line and then tearing it. Would it tear on those areas if it was rounded? It could have just bent and maybe I could still have used it. From this crash this is the only part that cost the most aside from the main blades. The tail boom survived the crash and still straight as an arrow.

Anyway I am still happy because no major damage on the heli. I was able to rebuild it without taking apart the frame. I was able to operate on it from the top.

Thanks HeliFX for bringing this up.

John

[Mercuriell]

Wow that was a pretty hard smack judging by the bent spindle and mast ! I doubt whether an extra fillet of alloy in the corner would have made much difference - I certainly wouldn't straighten a bent swash in a heli of this size and re-use it - too much at stake. It's an interesting observation though and worth bearing in mind for the future

I suspect the swash corners breaking is more a reflection of the alloy used than the machining - a high tensile strength alloy is going to be more brittle than a softer lower strength material so it's always a matter of balancing the two - time will tell if that balance is right in the Diabolo !

[HeliFX]

no problem John,

Not knocking the design or workmanship.
just trying to make a nice machine even nicer.

these examples and crash's hopefully can be used to help isolate any weakness that can be improved upon and further assist the guys at minicopter.

its clear the solid and beefy nature of all the components on the control loop of the diabolo certainly can stress even the strongest of parts.

something has to give. right
personally would prefer it to be a cheaper part of the heli

[Mercuriell]

I understand - I appreciate the spirit in which you're reporting this finding - my comments are just my own 2c worth !

I think crash reports are very useful for owners and manufacturers to help guide which spares to get in and also help improve the product - I'd encourage more people to send in photos especially with a new design though I hope we don't see too many decked Diabolos !!!

[HeliFX]

Johnny tango flying has improved greatly and his crash was really unfortunate but rare occurrence.

It wasn't a particularly violent crash despite what the photos show but the parts that suffered the most damage was a little surprising.

Have a closer look at the main shaft

Originally Posted by Mercuriell

I understand - I appreciate the spirit in which you're reporting this finding - my comments are just my own 2c worth !

I think crash reports are very useful for owners and manufacturers to help guide which spares to get in and also help improve the product - I'd encourage more people to send in photos especially with a new design though I hope we don't see too many decked Diabolos !!!

[johnnytango]

I'm impressed with the ruggedness of this heli. A "mushroom cloud" of dust appeared when my heli hit the ground .Other helis would have been written off. Parts replaced were: main shaft gear, main shaft, feathering shaft, dampening o-rings, o-ring holder, 1 plastic ball joint, anti rotation device (for elevator) D033, 2 mainshaft bearings, 1 skid pipe. Parts that were salvagable and doesnt need replacing were the 3 threaded rods that I was able to bend back to shape using a drill's chuck. Front skid bow was bent back too using the my other kit's bow as a template. Blades were gone and little cracks on the canopy. Everything else are okay. First flight yesterday after the crash and still flies flawlessly.

John

[johnnytango]

Crash happened 2 Saturdays ago. Ordered parts from Peak 2 days after the crash. Received parts today to replenish parts taken from 2nd kit. Not bad, less than 2 weeks turn around.Everything came except for the swash which is on its way from Germany to Peak then to me.