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Version: Version 2.1.0

Mixer Setup and Calibration

caution

Before starting on this step the Servos should already be connected and calibrated.

Set mixer type​

  • Choose the Swashplate type to suit your helicopter swash arrangement.
  • Choose the Main rotor direction. Generally this is clockwise however some scale helicopters are anticlockwise.
  • Check Control directions. With the transmitter on and servos powered.
    • Command a roll to the right on the Tx. Check the swash rolls right. Reverse direction is required.
    • Command the elevator to pitch forward on the Tx. Check the swash pitches forward. Reverse direction is required.
    • Increase collective on the Tx. Check collective angle also increases. Reverse direction is required.

Mixer Tab

Calibrating The mixer​

note

The purpose of the mixer calibration is to set the helicopters physical blade angle to the angle commanded by the FC

Mixer override​

Set the mixer override at the bottom of the pages to ON. This will open the override window.

Mixer Tab

Level the swashplate and blade pitch to zero​

  • With the Mixer override enabled and all set to 0 degrees as above (servo arms should be at 90 deg).
  • Trim the swashplate to level using the ball links.
note

If the link arms are not adjustable then use the Roll trim and Pitch trim as required.

  • Adjust the upper link arms to zero the blade pitch. If the link arms are not adjustable use the Collective trim to zero.

Mixer Tab

Collective Calibration​

  • Confirm with a blade pitch tool that with collective mixer at 0 deg the blades are also at 0 deg.
  • Set the collective mixer override to 9 deg. Measure the blade angle.
  • If the Blade angle is different from the Override angle, increase or decrease Collective Calibration % until the bade angle matches.
  • Set collective back to 0 deg.

Cyclic Calibration​

  • Set the pitch override to 9 deg.
  • Measure the blade pitch
  • Increase or decrease the Cyclic Calibration %

Variable Pitch Yaw Calibration​

  • Set YAW override to 0 deg.
  • Adjust the push rod length so that the rear tail L arm is 90°.
  • If this does not give 0° blade pitch, adjust Center trim until you have 0° blade pitch.
  • Set mixer yaw override to 30deg CW/CCW, adjust Yaw Calibration % until you have around 30deg both ways.
  • Set mixer yaw override to 60deg CW/CCW, adjust CW / CCW blade angle limits to the maximum number that does not causing binding.
note
  • The calibration and CW / CCW limits vs. blade pitch is never perfect, because of the geometry asymmetry. It does not matter.
  • The reason for doing the calibration is to make the PID defaults better. Without the calibration, all defaults in PID Profile are probably wrong.
  • The Centre trim is mostly needed for making the CW/CCW blade angle limit numbers to match the blade angles. It also helps the feedforwards to work correctly.