Radio
Setup - Collective
last
updated 12-8-2005
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Radio
Setup - Collective |
 Step
1: Install the four rubber grommets onto the servo. Next
if you are going to use the metal servo mounting plates (PV0054)
that come with the R50v2 and R60v2 then do not install
the brass eyelets. Otherwise install the brass eyelets
through the bottom side. This part is often misunderstood.
The flared end of the eyelet needs to be against the
mounting surface. |
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| Note: For the Raptor 60 the collective servo
will mount in the 2nd slot from the bottom. Step 2: Mount the servo in the slot just under the elevator servo (2nd slot from the top) of the servo tray. The top of the servo will be on the left side of the helicopter (the muffler side). And the spline of the servo needs to be on the side closer to the main shaft. Use four of the servo screws that came with the helicopter, not the ones that came with the servo to install it. The servo wire will come from the back of the servo on the right side of the helicopter then go through the hole under the on/off switch and over to the left side of the helicopter. It goes from here to the receiver. |
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| Step 3: Connect the servo wire to the
receiver. If you are connecting a Futaba plug to another
brand receiver then you will need to remove the keyed
edge from the connector. I use some diagonal cutters then
use a file to grind the surface clean. Newer Futaba
connectors already have two corners slanted as needed on
the other brands so just remove the keyed edge then the
connector will fit easily in another brands receiver. The collective servo plug will connect to the sixth plug in the receiver. You can confirm this is the correct plug by moving the collective stick and seeing the servo move with it. You will of course need the power to the receiver when you check it. If you do not see the servo move then make sure you have the plug in the correct direction. The channel ordering is:
Notice how only the first three channels
change positions. And that it is the radio that
designates the channel ordering, not the receiver. So if
you used a JR receiver that has the first plug labeled
throttle but your radio was an Airtronics then the first
plug is where you plug the elevator servo in. |
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| Step 4: Center the hovering pitch trim. If
your radio has one then it is either a digital control or
rotating knob on the top-left of the radio. It is used to
adjust the pitch while at center stick hover. Typically I
will disable this control if possible because once you
have your pitch set it will keep you from accidently
changing it. ====== Airtronics RD6000/8000 - no adjustment needed. Later when you set the pitch curve that will take care of it. All radios should be like this radio is. JR 8103 - rotate the knob to the center position, zero. JR 662 - no control for this function. JR 6102 - This is a digital trim located to the right of top/center. JR 10X - The knob is located on the top/front/left. Center this control. Futaba 6X - The knob is located on the top/front/left to the left of the display. Center this control. Futaba 8U - The knob is located on the top/front/left. Center this control. Futaba 7C - The knob is located on the top/front/right. Center this control. Futaba 9C - The knob is located on the top/front/left. Center this control. |
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| Step 5: Zero the sub-trim. This is also
called Center in some radios. =================== Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'Pf' then down to 'CNT' and set it to 0% JR 8103 - go to [Sub-trim] and use the ch. button to get to 'PITCH' then set to zero. JR 6102 - go to [SUB TRIM] and press 'select' button to get to 'FL' and set to 0. Note: I have not seen this radio yet in person but according to the manual 'FL' is collective. I would think this is a mis-print. Anyway it will be the last channel on the screen (the bottom right one). JR 662 - go to 'SB-TRIM' then to 'PIT' and set to 0. JR 10X - enter code 15 [SUB TRIM] and press 'cl' under 'PIT' to zero it out. Futaba 6X - go to 'STRM' then to channel 6 and set to 0. Futaba 8U - go to 'SUBTRM' then to channel 6 'PIT' and set to 0. Futaba 7C/9C - go to [SUB-TRIM] then to 'CH6:PIT' then set to 0. |
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| Step 6: Set pitch curve. The pitch curve
needs to be set to the default settings otherwise you
would never get the correct end points. For an
understanding of what a pitch curve is, go <here>. =================== Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'Pf' then down to 'CU.PH'. Press f.mode button until display shows normal flight mode values 'N:'. Set the value to 100%. Go down one to 'CU.P3' and set to 'INH' (press inc+/dec- at the same time). Go down one to 'CU.P2' and set to 50%. Go down one to 'CU.P1' and set to 'INH'. Go down one to 'CU.PL' and set to 0%. JR 8103 - go to [PIT.CURV]. Press 'SEL' button to get to 'NORM' flight mode. Use the '<Ch' or 'Ch>' buttons to select 'L' on the graph and set the value to 0%. Press 'Ch>' to get to '1' to 'Inh' by pressing the 'Clear' button. Press 'Ch>' to get to '2' and set to 50%. Press 'Ch>' to get to '3' to 'Inh' by pressing the 'Clear' button. Press 'Ch>' to get to 'H' and set to 100%. JR 6102 - go to [PITCH]. Press 'SELECT' button to get to the mode selection and set to 'NORM'. Press 'SELECT' button to get to 'LOW' and set to 0. Press 'SELECT' to get to '1' and press 'CLEAR' to set to 'INH'. Press 'SELECT' to get to 'MID' and set to 50%. Press 'SELECT' to get to '3' and press 'CLEAR' to set to 'INH'. Press 'SELECT' to get to 'HIGH' and set to 100%. JR 662 - go to 'PLN' and set the value to 0%. Press the 'channel' button to get to 'P2N' and set to 50%. Press the 'channel' button to get to 'PHN' and set to 100%. JR 10X - enter code 68 for [PITCH CURVE]. When it ask if you want it to hold the servos answer no. Make sure your flight mode switch is in the Normal position (POS-N). Move the throttle stick all the way down (in=0) and set out=0. Move the throttle stick all the way up (in=100) and set out=100. Move the throttle stick to center position (in=50) and set out=50. Futaba 6X - Setup of the top and bottom points are done by way of the end points. Note: the 'P-AT' function is the same as going to 'ATV' then to ch. 6. To set the middle point go to 'HV-P' and set to 0%. Futaba 8U - Go to 'PI-CRV NORM'. Press the right cursor arrow to get to point 1 and set to 0%. Go right to point 2 and set to 25%. Go right to poing 3 and set to 50%. Go right to poing 4 and set to 75%. Go right to poing 5 and set to 100%. Futaba 7C - Go to [PI-CRV]. Select 'N(N)' flight mode then go to P1 and set to 0%. Go to P2 and set to 25%. Go to P3 and set to 50%. Go to P4 and set to 75%. Go to P5 and set to 100%. Futaba 9C - Go to [PIT-CURV]. Select 'NORM' flight mode then go to point 1 and set to 0%. Go to point 2 and set to 25%. Go to point 3 and set to 50%. Go to point 4 and set to 75%. Go to point 5 and set to 100%. |
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| Step 7: Pitch trim controls - These are trim levers located on the top left side and the top right side on some radios. I recommend turning them off to keep from accidentally changing your pitch curve. Once a pitch curve is set there is no reason to change it. If you cannot turn these controls off then set them to the center position. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Step 8: Set end points to 100% (aka E.Points,
EPA, ATV, Travel Adjust). This functions sets how far the
servo moves when the collective stick is all the way up
as well as when it is all the way down. To keep the servo
speed linear you need to do a good mechanical setup so
the end points are within 5% of each other. So end points
of 75/102 would not be good as that would be a 27%
difference. Also the ideal configuation would have the
end points both at 100%. This is the optimal position
because of the way the servo rotates in a circle. With
the end points maxed out you are more into the arc of the
circle relative to the link it is moving. And with end
points less then 100% you are decreasing the effective
strength of the servo (the ball too far out on the arm). ================== Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'Pf' then down to 'EPA'. Move the collective stick up and set the value to 100%. Move the stick down and also set this value to 100%. JR 8103 - go to [TRVL ADJ.] and use the ch. button to get to 'PITCH'. Move the collective stick up and set the value to 100%. Move the stick down and also set this value to 100%. JR 6102 - go to [TRAVEL ADJ] and select 'PIT'. Move the collective stick up and set the value to 100%. Move the stick down and also set this value to 100%. JR 662 - go to 'TRV ADJ.' then to 'PIT'. Move the collective stick up and set the value to 100%. Move the stick down and also set this value to 100%. JR 10X - enter code 12 for [TRAVEL ADJUST]. Move the throttle stick up and press the 'cl' under 'THRO' to set the value to 100%. Move the stick down and set this value also to 100%. Futaba 6X - go to 'ATV' then to channel 6. Move the collective stick up and set the value to 100%. Move the stick down and also set this value to 100%. Futaba 8U - go to 'ATV-PI' and set both values to 100%. Futaba 7C/9C - go to [E.POINT] then to 'CH6:PIT'. Move the collective stick up and set the value to 100%. Move the stick down and also set this value to 100%. |
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| Step 9: Servo reverse setting. In this step
we check if the servo is going the right direction and if
not then we go to the reverse menu and change the value
for the collective pitch channel. To check the direction
pull the collective stick down while watching the servo
spline. It needs to rotate clockwise. If not then use the
instruction below to make it right. =============== Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'Pf' then down to 'REV' and use the 'inc' or 'dec' button to change the setting. JR 8103 - go to [REV.SW] and use the ch. button to get to ch. 6 'PIT' then change the value. JR 6102 - go to [REVERSING SW] and select 'PIT' and change the value. JR 662 - go to 'REV' then to 'PIT' and change the value. JR 10X - enter code 11 for [REVERSE SW] and press 6 to change the value. Futaba 6X - go to 'REV' then to channel 6 and change the value. Futaba 8U - go to 'REVERS' and select 'PIT' then change the value. Futaba 7C/9C - go to [REVERSE] then to 'CH6:PIT' then change the value. |
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| Step 10: Mount the link ball on the pitch arm. For the Futaba 6X radio mount the ball at the front hole. For all other radios the ball needs to be installed on the inside hole so as to get full travel. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note: For the Futaba 6X set the servo like it says in
the following steps but when it says to set the pitch arm
this will vary with the end result pitch range that you
want to run. For learning to hover set the center
position to 4.5 degrees. This is a little under the 6
degree mark of the built-in pitch gauge. And when setting
the bottom use the 0 degree mark and the top at 9 degrees
(in between the +12 and the +6 mark. *NOTE: In this section you will see that I install the servo so the spline is toward the back of the helicopter and the arm points toward the front of the helicopter. Some like to do the opposite because it puts the link straight up/down when centered however while that 'looks better' it is not. If done that way it causes bad geometry as the servo and pitch arm move throughout the range. It produces an effect that is opposite of expo, meaning the movement gets slower the further from center that the stick is moved. This is because with this bad geometry the servo arm and the pitch arm go in opposite directions relative to front/back of the helicopter. In other words as the pitch arm goes up the ball link also moves a little toward the back while the ball link on the servo arm moves toward the front of the helicopter. This means that some of the up/down movement is lost in moving the balls away from each other. *On the R30/50 install the arm so it points forward. If you install it toward the back you will not get linear servo movement. To understand go to <this> page.  Step 11:
*Install the servo arm. The first step is to choose a
servo arm. There are a wide variety of servo arms, from
round to ones that have 2, 4, or 5 arms. You will need to
choose one that has holes that are 14mm from the center.
Now move the collective stick to the center position. On
some radios you can find the center position by going to
the pitch menu. For example on the Futaba 8U if you watch
the arrow above the numbers 1 through 5 you will see when
you get one arrow above the number 3 then the stick is
centered. The Futaba 9C is similar. The JR 8103 and 6102
have an "in" value that corresponds with the
stick position. When the "in" value is 50% then
the stick is centered. For radios that do not have some
form of indication in the menus you can simply sight down
the side of the stick. As you look from the left side of
the radio over to the right move the collective stick so
that it is parallel with the elevator stick.  Now
position the pitch arm to the center of travel position.
This is marked 'Center' in the picture to the left. It is
the point at which there is equal travel up and down.
Note: The Raptor 60 built-in pitch gauge is upside down
of the one shown on the left but at this step you are
only concerned with finding the center of travel position.
So just like with the R30/50 set the pointer at the end
of the pitch arm so it has equal travel up and down. Note:
In the following step the servo arm is pointed to the
front but on the Raptor 60 the arm points to the back.
Next as you can see in the picture on the right, the
servo arm needs to be mounted so that the holes in the
arm form a line that is 90 degrees to the collective link.
It is important to look at the alignment of the holes
since some arms such as the one in the picture to the
right have a slanted side. If you find that due to the
teeth on the servo spline the arm is a little off then
rotate the arm 180 degrees and see if that will align the
way we need it. Once you find the correct position for
the arm mark the hole that will be 14mm from the center.
Take the arm off and install the link ball. Note that one
side of the ball has a lip on it. The head of the screw
needs to be on the opposite side of this lip. The lip
side will go against the servo arm. Now mount the arm
back on the servo, again with the link ball 90 degrees to
the direction of the link. Install the center screw to
secure the servo arm to the servo spline.NOTE: When mounting a servo arm to a servo, it needs to be the same brand. Each company uses a different size spline so if you use the wrong brand arm then it will either not go on or will be a very loose fit. |
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| Step 12: Set the length of the collective
link. So from the previous stage the collective stick is
centered, the pitch arm is at center of travel, and the
arm was installed so that it is 90 degrees to the link.
Now adjust the length of the collective link so that it
matches the distance between the ball on the pitch arm
and the ball on the servo arm. Note: When adjusting the length of any link you should keep the same amount of threads showing on both sides. It is not good if you have a lot of threads on the rod showing but few to none on the other side. Also you should always pull on the link after adjusting it. This will test how secure the link is. If it is only on by a few threads or something is wrong about the hole size in the link then it will come off when you pull on it. |
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| Step 13: Set the end points. With the link
attached to the ball on the pitch arm but not the servo
arm, push the link all the way up. Now hold the
collective stick all the way down(UP for R60/90) then
adjust the end point value in the radio so the link and
ball of the servo arm exactly match up. Next pull the
collective link all the way down and the collective stick
on the radio all the way up(DOWN for R60/90). Now adjust
the end point value of that side. Both the top and bottom
end point values should be within 5% of each other. If
not then move the stick to the high value side. If the
high side is with the collective stick all the way down(UP
for R60/90) then lengthen the collective link one turn
counter-clockwise then set the end points again. If the
high side is with the collective stick all the way up(DOWN
for R60/90) then shorten the collective link one turn by
turning the link clockwise and then set the end points
again. Do this until both values are within 5% of each
other. NOTE: The distance the ball is from the center will set the volume of travel. For the collective the end points should be in the 100% to 125% area. If you end up with 60% on both sides then the ball is too far from center. The advantage is the effective speed will be faster but the servo will not be as strong and the centering as well as the overall precision will be degraded. If you have end points of 150% then the servo will be stronger but slower. Also due to the arc angles at the ends the feel in flight will be like adding expo to the last 15% of the controls (not what you want). ================== Airtronics RD6000/8000 - go to 'Pf' then down to 'EPA'. JR 8103 - go to [TRVL ADJ.] and use the ch. button to get to 'PIT'. JR 6102 - go to [TRAVEL ADJ] and select 'PIT'. JR 662 - go to 'TRV ADJ.' then to 'PIT'. JR 10X - enter code 12 for [TRAVEL ADJUST]. Futaba 6X - go to 'ATV' then to channel 6. Futaba 8U - go to 'ATV-PI' Futaba 7C/9C - go to [E.POINT] then to 'CH6:PIT'. |
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| Step 14: Snap the link in place and you are done. This has set the full travel so now all you have to do is set the pitch range for each flight mode using the pitch curve. The normal flight mode curve is covered on the <pitch setup> page. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Next setup the <Rudder/Gyro> servo. |
| Troubleshooting resistance in the control system |
| <under construction 1-10-2004> for now you can use <this> page |