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07-04-2010, 01:11 PM | #1 (permalink) |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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flymentor installed, but a small concern
Hi, all. I finally got to a XP computor and got the flymentor set up. It was a bit tricky, switching directions of servos in FM and in TX to get it right, and had to reset the pitch curve. I have all wires plugged in (yes, I reversed the green and blue) so I could control the gyro sensitivity thru the TX. I had to set it down to 25 to get rid of tail wag. All in all, it is easier to fly, and don't get me wrong.......I had no preconcieved notions that the thing would hover a pack while I set back and had a beer, but leaning the heli in any given direction moves the servos less than I had expected, and I have to stay after the controls to keep in in a 15x15 area. The servo arms may move 25% or less than their full throw when manually tipping the heli.
Is that all I get, or what should I look at? Thanks ba |
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07-04-2010, 01:44 PM | #2 (permalink) | |
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Quote:
Did you remove subtrims and trims before setting up FM ?. Ivor |
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07-04-2010, 02:05 PM | #3 (permalink) |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed.....
Ivor, I got to looking at the channel assignments, and the green wire is in the gyro port (channel 5) and the blue one is in Aux (channel 7). I guess I always thought that ch 7, referred to as "gear" in the TX manual referred to retracts in aero mode or something so I never paid any attention to it. I checked the values on it -100 to +100 was the limit and one side was set to -10 the other to +10.
I just changed them both to +75 and the thing held within 5' in a pretty good breeze! I was tail into the breeze which was probably the wrong way to fly, but it took 1 unit of right rudder and 2 units right aileron trim to hold the thing! The TX says ch5 in one position and ch7 in the other. I'll just keep it in ch7.........don't know what would happen if I flipped the switch! I guess it helps when you know a bit about the adjustments of the channels you are using beyond just subtrim to level the swashplate. So far, I'm a happy camper, but will still take any tuning advise I can get! Thanks ba |
07-04-2010, 02:37 PM | #4 (permalink) | |
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Quote:
Whatever way you are doing it reduce the gain to 0 and the LED will turn red then set it as before, you will then at least know that you are doing the right thing. Test fly and increase untill heli becomes unstable then decrease untill it just stops. Generally balance mode would be set to 90-100, the gain is not as critical as position mode. When the FM is in position mode it will auto switch to balance at about 10 feet ( 3 metres) Hope this helps. Ivor |
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07-04-2010, 02:54 PM | #5 (permalink) |
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Here is how the book reads
Ivor:
When in HELI mode, the GEAR switch controls channel 7 & and the AUX channel. There are two items in AUX channel setting. A1 and A2, control the signal of AUX channel when GEAR switch in different position. Right now, the green lite is on in both switch positions, and I have them both set the same. Yould you suggest setting them differently? I have no 3 position switch. The TX is a Hobbyking 7x and the TX is a hobbyking 8x. It appears to me that in heli mode, either switch position would control ch7 to whatever value those positions were set to, and flipping the switch would have no control of channel 5. I could set one side of the switch to a negative # and the red light would come on, but please explain the advantage of than? I guess I don't fully understand the differences and especially the benifits of switching from position to balance mode. School me, please. ba |
07-04-2010, 02:59 PM | #6 (permalink) |
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sorry
Sorry, the tx is a HK 7x and the rx is a HK 8x
fumblefingers, ya know ba |
07-04-2010, 03:35 PM | #7 (permalink) | |
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There is no real advantage in being able to switch modes for normal flying FM will auto switch between position and balance for you, but if you try 3d then FM will need to be switched off. I fly in position mode all the time with no problems, but I just fly, no 3d and no stunts. The difference between the modes is that in position mode the heli will try to lock onto a position and stay there, this is very good for orientation training and you are able to fly low down and in a small area, it also has a great toy factor. In balance mode it will not try to hold position but will keep the heli level, so if you get into trouble you let go the stick and the heli will level out, provided it is high enough and so has time to correct. Hope this helps. Ivor |
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07-04-2010, 03:58 PM | #8 (permalink) |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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You hit the nail spot on.
Ivor, I've seen the videos of what I call "controlled chaos" and have no desire to do that kind of thing at all. I just want to keep the heli down low where I can see it and manuever it around the property.............maybe chase a squirrel, or have timed events with friends flying around a pole, over to a tree, back to the pole and back to land. Just fun flying. To be honest, after discovering the adjustments to channel 7, I've had more stick time today than any day in the past. Flymentor is highly recommended for those learning to fly, like me. Call it a helicopter insurance policy.
Back to business..........if I'm right you said balancing mode needs a bit more gain? If so, I can easily dial in a bit more gain and flip the switch when flying higher than 10 or 12 feet, then flip it back to land...........is that correct? FM may switch itself, but that won't include added gain. Man, I've had trouble hovering tail in and then for just a short time. Today, I hovered side in and had no problems at all..............see a mistake, let go of the stick for a moment to collect my thoughts and then make the correct stick movement. Hell of a training aid in my opinion. I'm building an HK 500 and will DEFINATELY have a Flymentor on it!! Happy 4TH to you all! ba |
07-04-2010, 04:05 PM | #9 (permalink) |
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By the way, Ivor..................
What is your country's take on the 4th of July?
ba |
07-04-2010, 04:14 PM | #10 (permalink) | |
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07-04-2010, 04:21 PM | #11 (permalink) |
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Join Date: May 2009
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what heli do you have fly mentor installed? i am thinking about getting it
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07-04-2010, 04:29 PM | #12 (permalink) |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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Good point, Ivor
I guess I look at it as flying without a gyro at all probably could be done, but with great difficulty, gyros help immensly. A 3axis gyro helps even more. A friend who is still in the learning stages calls the flymentor "cheating".
The American Indians probably looked at the modern rifle as cheating when compared to the bow and arrow they were used to for centurys, but they saw the light............... ba |
07-04-2010, 04:45 PM | #14 (permalink) | |
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07-04-2010, 04:58 PM | #16 (permalink) |
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Thanks
Thanks Ivor.
Geomecc, the heli is the $28.00 HK 450. No high tech electronics.......this was a budget build till I decided to add the flymentor........that raized the cost by a WHOPPING $77.00 plus shipping. Transmitter and all the electronics + the heli and Flymentor, I've got maybe $225 in it. Maybe a bit more.......certainly lower than $300 ready to fly. It's not a T-Rex, but if you wreck it bad enough to call it a total, most of the electronics will still be OK and another $28.00 gets you another kit...........I have 2 on hand just for spare parts. Can't go wrong. ba |
07-04-2010, 05:09 PM | #17 (permalink) |
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Join Date: Jan 2010
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i went that way also (cheap hk450 and one for the inevitable spares) put a flymentor on it and as yet have not crashed it ! , makes it so easy to fly
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07-04-2010, 05:28 PM | #18 (permalink) |
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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My thoughts exactly.......
Buy a cheap clone that won't make you cry it if does go down...........do the Radds thing till you can get if off the ground and know what stick does what, then put the FM on it!
I started with a HBFP and tried to FLY the D--M thing out of the box..........instant crash. No mentors around here, so I learned the hard way. I really would suggest that beginners use the heli WITHOUT the Flymentor for a while to get used to what the heli wants to do..........correct swashplate setup errors and get used to the controls. After installing the FM, you are gonna have to go thru all those setup things again.(good practice), but now you can make a mistake without the high risk of a crash. You can certainly still crash it, but the probability is less. Others may call me crazy, but I think a 450 is the perfect size to learn on. ba |
07-04-2010, 06:19 PM | #19 (permalink) |
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My old mechanical mixed ARK 400 flies nicely and was a good starter, the HK 450 is definitely better though. The extra size does make it a fair bit more stable without needing huge cells. The 400's friskier but I have the same motors and gearing in each.
I got a flymentor more as a suck it and see for the 450. Just for fun I dialled it right up and played in an 18 x 25 foot box on a gusty day. It just locked and hovered with just a bit of weather vaning in heavier gusts. Flipped it off and I was getting knocked around a bit, no way could I get the hover so stable Beaten by $85 of electonics
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