how to alter pitch settings, im not sure

[paddy]

hey everyone, my heli is currently running 0 to +10 on the collective, ive been advised to change it to -4 to +9, due to flying around more than hovering. Ive read about trying to keep everything linear, and one person said make it with +5 at centre stick, but i think that would give loads of pitch variation on the lower half of the stick but not much in the upper half, is that correct?
Ive calculated to give an equal amount of movement throughout the stick i need to set the pitch at centre stick about 2.5, is this correct? and then adjust the epa's/atv's to get the desired amount of travel?
The pitch curves are all set dead linear but i wasnt planning on changing them.
Is there anything else i need to consider, or any special order i should do the above in?
Cheers
Paddy

[Raptorite]

Hi Paddy,

There are really 2 standard methods of setting the pitch, one for beginners to learn hovering with which is 0 at bottom stick, 5.5 to 6 at centre stick and +10 at the top. The other main method is a 3d setting which is normally -10 at the bottom, 0 in the middle and +10 at the top.

What I tend to do with all my models is set them mechanically for +-11 with 0 in the centre and then adjust the pitch curves so I have -4 at the bottom in both normal and Idle1, with 0 in the centre and +10 at the top. In Idle2 and Throttle hold I have -10 at the bottom, 0 in the middle and +10 at the top.

This way the heli doesnt try to drive itself into the ground when it is spooling up and I can fly nice cedate circuits etc. in Idle1. The throttle curve for Idle1 is hover throttle all the way up from bottom stick to the hover position at about 3/4 stick and then it increases to full throttle, or what ever the heli needs for a full climb out, normally around 85%.

The other thing to consider is that which ever way you setup your pitch curves, try to get the spacings as equal as possible, in other words if your bottom stick pitch is -4 then the quarter stick position needs to be -2, you then need 0 in the centre and if as in my case you have +10 at the top then the 3/4 position needs to be +5 and so on.

I hope this helps.

Cheers,

Pete.

[paddy]

youve been a great help, cheers, one thing do i adjust the epas first then set the pitch to 0 at half throttle or the other way round?

[Raptorite]

Hi Paddy,

If your heli has been setup for +5 or so at centre stick then it will need re-doing from scratch. What you need is for centre stick with a curve of 50% to be 0 degrees with all the washout and flybar control arms etc. symetrical and central, otherwise you will find you cant get the full pitch range.

The thing to do is start at the servo first, make sure that the servo arm is central and the rod is of sufficient length to make the collective arm central, the fixed things like the washout should then automatically line up, which just leaves the rod to the mixer arms and blade grips to set so that there is 0 degrees at the blades.

Set the EPA's so that you have the full pitch range, i.e. -10, 0, +10 then use the curves to fine tune the pitch to what you want in the different flight modes, Norm, Idle1, Idle2, TH etc.

Cheers,

Pete.