Simple blance rig

solentlife · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 6:18 pm Post subject: Simple blance rig

OK - yes we all see the fancy balance rigs that not only balance the rotors but can also find CoG I believe.

Well I'm a cheapskate and always looking to save pennies for other things needed in the hobby.

So I have had for a long time the simple threaded rod with two cone 'nuts' on it. I've improvised various to provide holder and then when fitting a shelf in my hobby den ....

Offcut of shelf ... two L brackets from DIY shop ... couple of screws and voila :

Now one thing with this ... all the adverts selling this simple rod and cones show the cones with FLAT faces together ....... I think that's wrong ... I think the tapered cone ends should be together - then they self centre the blades on the rod ... same as when you have your car wheels balanced.

The rig works for fixed wing propellers as well as blades on Helis ...

Cost ? $5 for the rod and cones ... rest is gash from everyones shed !!
_________________
If you don't crash - you ain't flying !
Fast learning to be 450 Heli Repair specialist !
Have : 2ch Bumblebee,
Co-Ax Syma S006 Alloy Shark
2x Clone 450 SE V2
+ fixed wing stuff ...
Returning to RC after 20 odd yrs away .. Ex Display flyer.

tombo242 · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:33 pm Post subject:

Shown mine before, long M3 bolt, 2 nuts, 2 washers, cost of parts €0.25 (Euro cents). Shot glasses borrowed from the cupboard.

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Trouble · Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:38 pm Post subject:

tombo242 · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 2:02 am Post subject:

You know Trouble, I thought of wingnuts but they would have doubled the cost of the balancer Rolling Eyes

and I wasn't going to pay more than €0.50 ($0.72 USD) for it.

Tom.
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nick_onelove · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:02 am Post subject:

I wish I had known these could be made so cheaply back when I got my fancy Xtreme one . . .

pjdog · Posted: Mon Jul 11, 2011 3:53 am Post subject:

I like to save a penney were I can also. I got this balancer on ebay along with 5 sets of 325mm woodie main rotor blades. Main blades were $4.95 a set and the balancer was $ 2.95.

jack

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solentlife · Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 2:31 am Post subject:

A post has been edited out condemning me for turning cones inward .....

The post remarked that someone paying extreme money for blades would not appreciate having cone 'nuts' straining bolt holes.

I would counter that anyone paying such money would not be reading such forums and 2) would expect for such money as he quoted to have matched blades !!

Back to my simple rig .... the rod size is well under the hole size on rotors - so I ask how do you make sure blades are centred to balance ? Only way to be sure is to have cones inward to self centre blade holes ...

I have done this with all blades I have used to no ill effect...... without having to exert excess stress on blade hole.

?? Please educate me if wrong ............
_________________
If you don't crash - you ain't flying !
Fast learning to be 450 Heli Repair specialist !
Have : 2ch Bumblebee,
Co-Ax Syma S006 Alloy Shark
2x Clone 450 SE V2
+ fixed wing stuff ...
Returning to RC after 20 odd yrs away .. Ex Display flyer.

tombo242 · Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 9:17 pm Post subject:

Hi Solentlife,

My blades have M3 screws in the holders and I use an M3 screw as the balancer pivot. Not centering never arises, if it did the blades would not sit correctly in their holders. The M3 screws fit quite snugly.

For my indoor co-axials I use an M2 bolt into a Trex feathering shaft. Perfect fit again.

Tom.
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solentlife · Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2011 11:30 pm Post subject:

Hi Tom ... that's fine ... but my cones as a commercial sale balance rig are not M3. The cones are threaded to fit the rod which is M2 ..

I reckon the rig is designed not only for rotor blades but also fixed wing props, EDF fan units etc. and these use much smaller diameter shafts.

My 450 blades are same as yours and if I use the rod / cones - the centring has to be sorted, only way I can see it is by cones taper inward.

I used to do same as you with long M3 bolt ... but then had a brain-flash and bought the cone rig.
_________________
If you don't crash - you ain't flying !
Fast learning to be 450 Heli Repair specialist !
Have : 2ch Bumblebee,
Co-Ax Syma S006 Alloy Shark
2x Clone 450 SE V2
+ fixed wing stuff ...
Returning to RC after 20 odd yrs away .. Ex Display flyer.