3GX Again

[maddog7]

No trouble, i was going to go into the software to tweak some settings anyway... Stand by..

Your a Diamond Sir,
Thank you.

[Grumpy]

Here are the screen shots:


You still obviously have to go through the mechanical set up process. Note that I don't pretend these settings are in any way optimal or even good, but my 500pro flies ok so they will at least get you in the air. I'm currently experimenting with rudder locking (in rudder parameters). This setting needed to be adjusted well below default to prevent tail wagging on v4.0 but I'm experimenting to see if it can be raised in v5.0.

In the swash travel settings in the DX18 i have aileron and elevator at +41 and pitch at +32

[maddog7]

Thank you so much grumpy, that's super helpful!
I'm just doing the mechanical now!

[maddog7]

Alrighty all,
Just a quick couple of (probably dumb) questions.

When I reflashed the 3GX from V1 to V5 I didn't have the pots at 12 O'clock would that matter?
Should I reflash it to V1 then ensure the pots are at 12, then reflash to V5? or is it likely to be ok as it is?
I've done the dir setup and the swash seems to pitch up and down without any interaction or Ail or Ele.
Would this be any indication that I do or don't need to redo anything?

Also, during the setup I set the cyclic pitch to about 8.5 degrees, but have seen mention that it needs to be set at exactly 8? Is this to set the loops? or is it just a figure people find comfortable?

Thanks in advance for your tolerance
Cheers
D

[maddog7]

Also Ian (if you see this!)
You talked about setting up the tail in rate mode, would you usually set the mechanical at 0 degress or at 6 degrees as a starting point?

Cheers
D

[coolice]

Alrighty all,
Just a quick couple of (probably dumb) questions.

When I reflashed the 3GX from V1 to V5 I didn't have the pots at 12 O'clock would that matter?
Should I reflash it to V1 then ensure the pots are at 12, then reflash to V5? or is it likely to be ok as it is?
I've done the dir setup and the swash seems to pitch up and down without any interaction or Ail or Ele.
Would this be any indication that I do or don't need to redo anything?

Also, during the setup I set the cyclic pitch to about 8.5 degrees, but have seen mention that it needs to be set at exactly 8? Is this to set the loops? or is it just a figure people find comfortable?

Thanks in advance for your tolerance
Cheers
D

Also Ian (if you see this!)
You talked about setting up the tail in rate mode, would you usually set the mechanical at 0 degress or at 6 degrees as a starting point?

Cheers
D

Hey Buddy.

I wouldn't worry about return the pots to their middle positions, some have mentioned this, but I never had a problem flashing where I'd set them to and they will only work within a given range anyway that is set by Aligns firmware.

With the cyclic pitch, you won't have any bad effects on setting 8.5 degrees, indeed some of the top pilots with Vbar for instance run more than the recommended 8 as it gives them more cyclic power. I think it's something to do with the FBL unit's ability to then use more cyclic pitch to stop harder during aggressive manoeuvres as well as knowing where 8 degrees is along the travel range/control steps.

With the tail, normally about 3 degrees against the torque of the model, so right hand rotation machine needs right rudder. With most machines it's quite simply a matter of setting the tail output control arm 90 degrees of parallel to the tail output shaft, this sets the right amount of tail pitch.
.

[maddog7]

Hey Buddy.

I wouldn't worry about return the pots to their middle positions, some have mentioned this, but I never had a problem flashing where I'd set them to and they will only work within a given range anyway that is set by Aligns firmware.

With the cyclic pitch, you won't have any bad effects on setting 8.5 degrees, indeed some of the top pilots with Vbar for instance run more than the recommended 8 as it gives them more cyclic power. I think it's something to do with the FBL unit's ability to then use more cyclic pitch to stop harder during aggressive manoeuvres as well as knowing where 8 degrees is along the travel range/control steps.

With the tail, normally about 3 degrees against the torque of the model, so right hand rotation machine needs right rudder. With most machines it's quite simply a matter of setting the tail output control arm 90 degrees of parallel to the tail output shaft, this sets the right amount of tail pitch.
.

Hey Ian!
Great advice again man!

It's a new 500 DFC and IIRC I think 90 might be 0 pitch but I'll check.
Just to clarify, I fly it in rate mode with approx 3 degrees of tail pitch, presumably adjust the rod length until it doesn't piro drift, with no (or little?) rudder trim in, then switch to HH mode and set the tail gain like normal?

Sorry to sound like such a plum

Cheers
D

[coolice]

Hey Ian!
Great advice again man!

It's a new 500 DFC and IIRC I think 90 might be 0 pitch but I'll check.
Just to clarify, I fly it in rate mode with approx 3 degrees of tail pitch, presumably adjust the rod length until it doesn't piro drift, with no (or little?) rudder trim in, then switch to HH mode and set the tail gain like normal?

Sorry to sound like such a plum

Cheers
D

Hey Buddy.

Thank you, you're welcome.

Ah, yeah some newer Align machines have redesigned dog bone links on the tail that change the pitch of the tail blades with the tail slider in the middle of it's travel range.
But yes you are correct, set the 3 degrees for rate mode, turn on the model in heading hold mode and then flick into rate mode and proceed to hover. If there is any yaw drift, adjust the tail pushrod length and try again. Do not use your transmitter trim for this stage, adjust the rod length.
Then once you've trimmed it out, switch back to HH mode and enjoy. It might be worth checking for any binding in the tail rotor control once you've done the above and if you see any, adjust the tail throws within the 3GX again to remove it.

Lol, don't worry best to ask twice and get it right first time so you can get on and enjoy the model.
.

[maddog7]

Thanks again fella,
If the weather holds I might get a look at that tonight!

I'm excited about my new bird and dont really want to dork it first time out!

D

[tourerjim]

Hey Buddy.

Thank you, you're welcome.

Ah, yeah some newer Align machines have redesigned dog bone links on the tail that change the pitch of the tail blades with the tail slider in the middle of it's travel range.
But yes you are correct, set the 3 degrees for rate mode, turn on the model in heading hold mode and then flick into rate mode and proceed to hover. If there is any yaw drift, adjust the tail pushrod length and try again. Do not use your transmitter trim for this stage, adjust the rod length.
Then once you've trimmed it out, switch back to HH mode and enjoy. It might be worth checking for any binding in the tail rotor control once you've done the above and if you see any, adjust the tail throws within the 3GX again to remove it.

Lol, don't worry best to ask twice and get it right first time so you can get on and enjoy the model.
.

Don't know if this helps Ian but in my 600e manual it mentions to set tail pitch to 10mm between leading edge of tail blade to outer edge of blade grip 'bit odd i know, could his 500 mention the same as in a measured amount...?


Now my turn Ian corrected the faults you found for me (cheers) but still got the same problem with precompensation, bigger the heli more you can see it on the bench.

[maddog7]

Hopefully getting near the end of the stupid questions

Just to ask anyone using V5 and a 500 size bird roughly where they have the pots please?

Cheers
D

[tourerjim]

My advise is to start with them @ 12th then adjust the pots to get best stable lift off then use the pc parameters to adjust for best flight maneuvers, you then might find you'll need slight adjustment on gain pots.

[maddog7]

My advise is to start with them @ 12th then adjust the pots to get best stable lift off then use the pc parameters to adjust for best flight maneuvers, you then might find you'll need slight adjustment on gain pots.

Hi Jim,
Thank you for that. I was at the field from 6:30pm till 10pm so missed your reply. I set the pots at about 13:30-14:00 and the cyclic feel is pretty good and take off was spot on. Just a guess based on the size of the bird and people with 600-700 size birds needing to nearly max them out. Could maybe do with being just a little crisper but not too bad at all as is.

My only real issue was the tail, hard stops would quiver (boi-oi-oi-oi-yoing style, like an arrow into a heavy straw target) and upping or lowering the gain made virtually no difference to this behaviour. Is was as if it was overshooting its correction, then overshooting the correction for that etc but getting smaller each time until the tail was in the right place. That in itself wasn't really that much of an issue but I did have a bit of an unnerving 90 deg blow out during a tail down elevator tick tock. I was lucky to catch it.
Seemed to happen when torque load from the rotor disk was high.

Still, managed to get 2 packs through it and can feel the potential of the wee bird!

Cheers D

[coolice]

Now my turn Ian corrected the faults you found for me (cheers) but still got the same problem with precompensation, bigger the heli more you can see it on the bench.

Hey Jim.

Sorry mate, only just seen this.

Ah good, just so people know on Jims machine I spotted that the elevator servo arm control ball was in a different position to the two front aileron servos. Also the control ball on the elevator A arm on his 600EFL was in the outer position for a fly barred setup. It may help others with the same machine.

I'd like to have a go setting up this model mate, how about next time you're at the field and got the time we run through it? Doesn't take me long with the 3GX and I'd like to see if there is a remedy if that's ok with you?
.

[dogcow]

I had terrible drift first time round too. The fix for me wat to flash back to v4.0 (which re-set the 3GX to defaults), then re-flash v5.0 and set everything up from scratch. This completely fixed the drift though the gains still do seem to need to be higher than v4.0.

Did this really completely fix your drifting?

I eventually did as you did and revert back to V4.1 which resets the 3gx back to default, set up a new model in the Tx and started the setup procedure again from scratch. Checked and double checked everything but alas on flying today the drifting is still there and very unnerving in windy conditions, it's just not right!
It's weird because as some have reported it seems fine for a while but then suddenly starts to drift, re initialise start again, seems fine then again starts to drift for no apparent reason?
My gain pots are still at maximum just to try and keep it steady but I would like some more gain as still not enough to stop it drifting but my pots have run out of space.

Basically the reset procedure made absolutely no difference for me and I still have exactly the same issues with V5 on my 450. The Heli is mechanically sound and was running perfectly in V4.1 so unless anyone has any suggestions, I am all out of ideas and don't see any other option but to revert back to V4.1 which is a shame as when it does fly right V5 is great!!!

I wouldn't be surprised if Align releases V5.1 out soon that specifically says it resolves some drifting issues noticed by some (not all) users. Until then I give up