3GX V 3.1 Upgrade Out?

[dogcow]

Had another test flight today, was a bit gusty and although no tail wag, I was getting a bit of weather vaining in the wind but when I upped the gyro gain, the tail judder in fff returned. So is the tail judder in fff a setting I have missed somewhere? Is this related to the locking gain? Do I need to raise the locking gain back up again or lower it even more?
I also concur that take offs and landings are much improved in the 3.1 update, but I'm sure they have reset all the gain settings so still trying to nail it and get my head around which setting to change next.
Would anyone know if the aileron gain was too high would it cause this judder in fff in the wind? It doesn't shake or judder in hover.
Determined to nail the settings on this bird, I'm so close.

[Gecko501]

3GX V 3.1 Upgrade Out?

Can you explain what you find better about your takeoffs and landings I'm still on 2.1 after downgrading from 3.0 cheers

[dogcow]

Can you explain what you find better about your takeoffs and landings I'm still on 2.1 after downgrading from 3.0 cheers

Quote from Align update page:
"Improved helicopter takeoff and landing stability, allowing easier control and more stability during takeoff and landings."

and that's exactly what i noticed, previously i was used to a slight tip on the cyclic every now and then and had to make quick adjustments especially on take offs, even on 3.0. Now i don't even need to touch the cyclic on t/offs, it's much more stable and predictable and most people seem happy with it

What was your reason for downgrading?

[Gecko501]

3GX V 3.1 Upgrade Out?

What was your reason for downgrading?

Well I had a tip to the left on 3.0 Granted it was my maiden and my gain was all wrong but scared me into trying to "pop it up" and it went bad. Downgrading to 2.1 solved the tipping issue

http://youtu.be/a2KxLvvZfjU

[dogcow]

Not surprised you're nervous going to 3.1 then, it is an improvement on 3.0 so may be worth a try when you are confident on your settings. Then again if it ain't broke.......

[adrianMS]

After fitting the new tail box & slider combo went to the 'heli guru's' house & went through the tail set up on the 3GX again.
Put 4 batts through it. Well impressed with the new 3.1 Align have cured all the bad parts in version 3.0
She's a little bit slower on the cyclic, I'm going to remove the 15% expo out of the tx & have another go before delving into the software.
Well done Align software monkeys!

[adrianMS]

After further flights I found the cyclic to be too stable, along with reducing the gain (Futaba) down to 21% on the tail (fitted with the thrust raced tail) Went into the software & upped cyclic & elevator from 50 to 75%.
Did try a test flight-but winds of 17-28mph made the flight rather interesting. Seems to be a bit quicker-but spent most of the time sliding sideways across the field! Need some calmer weather to access properly.
Going back into the software to reduce the expo today, its set at 40% default (&15% in the tx) Didnt want to make more than one change at a time though, but need to speed things up a bit more as I'm still having to use a lot of stick movement for the desired results.

[coolice]

Hey All.

First impressions of V3.1 are very good, so far I've only had one battery in Red3's 700E but I threw in some piro manouvers and the machine felt predictable throughout and also stable with no feeling of it wanting to get out of shape.
All this was done using my same V2.1 settings file for this model, which I re-wrote onto the 3GX once I'd updated to V3.1.

I will have more flights on this model and a 550, which is going to be fitted with a 3GX kindly loaned to me by AlistairC. My plan is once again to generate a list of settings files for various size machines, so fliers have a good known base from which to tune to personal taste.

Keep you posted.

Ian
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[bulldog5046]

That would be awesome Ian, I'd like to try something other than the defaults on both of mine.

Ryan

[adrianMS]

Coolice-My set up is on a 450DFC 3GX on 3.1 software, gain pots at 12 o'clock. I've upped the cyclic rates from 50 to 75%
& dropped tail locking gain down to 45% (as your advise in a previous post)
Had a few flights & when flying back towards myself at speed either upright or inverted & I flip the heli over, the tail gives out & I end up nose in. Is this normal-considering I'm giving the tail a lot of work to do?

[coolice]

Coolice-My set up is on a 450DFC 3GX on 3.1 software, gain pots at 12 o'clock. I've upped the cyclic rates from 50 to 75%
& dropped tail locking gain down to 45% (as your advise in a previous post)
Had a few flights & when flying back towards myself at speed either upright or inverted & I flip the heli over, the tail gives out & I end up nose in. Is this normal-considering I'm giving the tail a lot of work to do?

Hey.

I take it you're using the Align DS520 on the tail being it's a 450 PRO DFC machine?
The first thing to check for is that your tail mechanism is free to move and that the thrust bearings in the tail blade grips are smooth a free to move, as this can effect tail hold if they are sticky as the tail gyro cannot more the tail blades under load.
Machanical limits are another area, have you programmed in full deflection witout over driving the tail slider and binding the servo at the extreme's?
Tail servo control arm length, on my own models I always run a smaller arm than recommended in the manuals. Reason being I can then run a higher gain value in my Tx to provide better hold of the tail. You need a litle trial and error though as you want an arm which is just right to still allow end to end throw of the tail slider, but not so long that you have to reduce the travel limits within the gyro, I much prefer to increase them than reduce.

Main rotor rpm is also a key point, as tail rotor speed and ultimately power is also linked to the head speed, running a lower one will effect the tails effectiveness at holding the tail during harsh manouvers. For example if it's running slower it cannot generate enough thrust to keep the tail from swinging under load.

Collective pitch to is important, too much and you slow the rotor head speed & tail speed and increase the torque reaction on the models fueslage. So check you're not over pitching.

Another area to look at, especially with the 3GX is the "Anti Torque Compensation Direction Setting" found towards the end of the tail gyro setup parameters. This tells the 3GX which way up it's mounted on the model, if this is wrong then the 3GX will compensate for torque changes on the models fuselage in the wrong direction and can cause the tail to swing unexpectedly. Worth checking.
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[Rich_H]

Ive not had the benefit of flying the 3GX prior to version 3.1 as ive only just acquired one to try but ive put one on my 700e after pulling off a vBar (to go on a 700 Goblin) and whilst its only had 3 flights with the 3GX I have to say Im mightily impressed!! absolutely rock steady and really is a joy to fly. pots are still at the default 12 oclock. Even my mate Chris Newby who normally hates anything Align when it comes to Gyros and normally hasnt a good word to say was blown away by the 3gx on v3.1 and he flew it with his usual stick-banging gusto lol. If anyone is interested i'll get him to fly it again next weekend and post the video.

Rich

[adrianMS]

450 on 14T pinion for @3200rpm in idle2, servos Hitec5065's on cyclic & DS520 on the tail. Mechanical set up is spot on, no binding & travel limits fine.
I'll run through the gyro menu again & see if I've done everything right there.
I'm wanting to fit a Hyperion motor/ESC combo I've had sat in a box for a while now-but need to sort out the handling before I throw more power at it
Thanks for the input Ian & I'll let you know the results.

[adrianMS]

Went into the software & removed the expo (15% on cyclic & tail though via tx) & then went through tail menu.
Bearing in mind I have the gyro mounted on the AR bracket, do the stock settings on the 'anti torque compensation' need reversing or leaving as set or moving up to combat me losing the tail?
Btw only lose the tail while rolling over to upright or inverted at speed flying backwards-so no big pitch changes on the blades, just a 180 roll.

[coolice]

Went into the software & removed the expo (15% on cyclic & tail though via tx) & then went through tail menu.
Bearing in mind I have the gyro mounted on the AR bracket, do the stock settings on the 'anti torque compensation' need reversing or leaving as set or moving up to combat me losing the tail?
Btw only lose the tail while rolling over to upright or inverted at speed flying backwards-so no big pitch changes on the blades, just a 180 roll.

Morning Mate.

On the "Anti Torque Compensation Direction Setting" you should be seeing the status led being green, to signal the 3GX is mounted label side up. If it's red, this signals the 3GX is mounted inverted (label facing towards the skids) and so will feed in the wrong tail commands to compensate for collective pitch changes.

If the above is wrong it could explain why the tail goes loose when you're rolling, as the 3GX is reacting to collective pitch changes (from positive to negative pitch) wrongly.
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