| RC helicopter blade balancing is considered by some | | | | 4. Now mark that spot with a pencil and don't move |
| to be an art all by itself and some people never really | | | | the blade as you mark it. |
| master it. Sure, there RC helicopter rotor balancing | | | | 5. Do this with the second blade as well. |
| tools that you buy, but why spend that money if you | | | | 6. Now, match up the blades by laying them on top of |
| don't need to? Or what if you need to balance your | | | | each other. |
| rotor blades and don't have that tool nearby? Is it | | | | 7. Move the top blade enough to see where the |
| possible to balance your rotor blades without a | | | | balancing point is for it and compare the two points. |
| balancing tool? | | | | 8. If they're more than 1mm apart, you need to change |
| Yes, it is! | | | | the balancing point on the blade that has it's center of |
| This article will lay out a free and very effective way | | | | gravity closest to the blade tip, by transferring the |
| for you to be able to dynamically and statically balance | | | | balancing point closer to the bolt hole. You can do this |
| your rotor blades. All you'll need to do is spend a little | | | | by adding small strips of tape near the bolt hole until |
| time and energy to do it right. | | | | the center of gravity points match on both blades |
| Some people have wondered why they're even | | | | 9. Repeat this until you have applied enough tape to |
| balancing the rotor blades to begin with and the | | | | make the necessary correction to match the center |
| answer is very simple: to get rid of unwanted | | | | of gravity (balancing point) of both blades and you're |
| vibrations in the RC helicopter. It's kind of like driving a | | | | done! |
| car with one wheel out of balance - it just throws the | | | | How To Balance Your Blades Statically |
| whole ride off. With RC helicopters, instead of throwing | | | | This type of balance matches the weight of each |
| the flight off, it can seriously affect its flight | | | | blade to the other and here's how we do it: |
| performance and the vibrations that ensue can even | | | | 1. Take a nut and bolt and attach the blades together |
| tear your RC helicopter apart! | | | | and set them symmetrically apart like they would be in |
| The core idea with rotor balancing is to get rid of as | | | | flight. |
| much of the unwanted vibration as possible. You may | | | | 2. Hang the rotor blades from your thread. You can do |
| not be able to get rid of them all, so don't be upset if | | | | this with a wing nut or simply put the thread between |
| there is a little vibration leftover. | | | | the top blade and the nut before you tighten them |
| The method that we're going to use is effective and | | | | together. Just make sure that the thread is lined up |
| doesn't take long at all, but it's important that you do it | | | | with the center of the blades or you've just wasted |
| with caution and accuracy. When it's all done, you'll | | | | your time. You can also center the ends of the bold |
| have blades that are statically and dynamically | | | | between two objects of equal height (like a 2 by 4) to |
| balanced. | | | | balance them. |
| This is what you'll need - your main rotor blades, a | | | | 3. Pick up the blades by the thread and let them hang |
| round shaft (market, main shaft ect.) of some kind, a | | | | naturally. Look at them at eye-level to see if they're |
| sharp pencil, electrical or balancing tape, some thread, | | | | level or if one rotor blade is lower than the other. If |
| and a nut and bolt. | | | | they're level, then job well done! If they're not level, then |
| How To Balance Your Blades Dynamically | | | | we need to fix it by adding small strips of tape to the |
| 1. First, we want to determine that out center of | | | | blade that is higher (it means it's lighter). |
| gravity is the same for each blade. Here's how we do | | | | The key is to add the strips near the balancing point, or |
| it: | | | | center of gravity, so that you don't undo all the work |
| 2. Place your round shaft on a flat surface. | | | | you've already done. Just add the tape until they're |
| 3. Place one rotor blade at the top edge of the round | | | | both level and when they're level, you'll know that |
| shaft, balancing it with your fingers Slide the blade back | | | | they're balanced! You're now an official RC helicopter |
| and forth until you find its balancing spot (also know as | | | | blade balancing guru! Well done! |
| the center of gravity). | | | | |