Full travel Setup

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What is a Full Travel (aka 3D) setup and should I use it?
The answer depends on what radio you have. If you have a non-computer radio then you can't use this technique. However if you have a modern day radio like the Futaba 8U or 9C series, Airtronics RD6000 or Sylus series, JR PCM10, 8103. 652, Hitec Eclipse 7, or any other radio that lets you set throttle/pitch curves then you can do the 3D setup.
So what is the 3D setup?
It's a technique where you setup the collective system so that at center of travel, the servo arm, link, and pitch arm are 90 degrees to each other. This geometry will give equal movement each direction.
I'm just learning to hover, I'm a long ways from doing any 3D tricks.
That's ok, this is just a setup technique, you set the final pitch curve you want afterwards so that it's not too sensitive to fly.
To get the correct rod lengths is easy. First setup the radio to have 100% at the top of the collective, 50% at the middle, and 0% at the bottom. Note: If you have a radio with a hovering pitch trim knob then center it. For now we had the radio setup to achieve the full pitch range, you can adjust this later to fit your flying needs, but for now we need maximum range to do the 3D setup. Also you need the link ball on the pitch arm to be on the inside hole (the one closer to the main shaft). You can see this labeled as "A" in the picture above. Now with the collective stick in the middle and the helicopter turned on you need the collective servo arm to be at 90 degrees to the link that goes up to the pitch arm, as indicated by label "C". If it's not then take the screw out that holds the servo arm on the collective servo and find a notch position that lets the arm be at 90 degrees. Note that servo arms are designed so that each arm aligns differently with the notches. So if you can't get the arm to be in the position you want, then try the arm that's on the opposite side. Once you get the arm on at 90 degrees, adjust the collective link "D" going from the collective servo to the collective pitch arm so that the pitch arm's mark at the back of the pitch arm is in the center of travel (equal distance up/down). The point will be just above the 0 degree mark of the frame as shown in label "B". So at this point you should have a collective servo arm at 90 degrees "C" when the collective stick is in the middle and the pointer on the back of the pitch arm is at center of travel. The next step is to align the blades so that when the built-in gauge is at zero the blades are also. Go to my <pitch gauge alignment> page.

After getting these initial points don't forget to go back and set the end points. If you need to know how, refer to my Radio Setup How-to. On this page you can also find out how to setup the aileron and elevator. The 3D setup technique doesn't really have anything to do with the cyclic controls, but if you are doing any 3D flying then you will want to make sure you have maximum travel and not have any dual rate (have them set to 100%).

That's all there is to it, now you can setup the pitch curves that you want to fly with. Use the pitch gauge to setup normal mode pitch curve to whatever you like. If you are learning to hover then setup 0,5,9. I have -6,3,+9 in normal mode and flight mode 1 pitch curve to -9,0,+9. Also you will need to setup cyclic to throttle mixing: http://www.raptortechnique.com/throttlemix.htm if you plan on doing any 3D flying. If you have not ran a -9,0,+9 curve then it will be very sensitive to you. I recommend starting out with -6,0,+9 and getting used to it then decrease the bottom to -9.