Xicoy Electronic C.G. Balancer
#151
#152
I'm sorry to hear some of you guys have had issues with calibration on some of the scales. Speaking for my self I bought a set from Jeff at ZEDJETS on pre order as soon as they were announced and they have become invaluable. The scales are accurate and hold there measurement for hours, way longer than they might be in use. One thing for sure though if there were any problems I am confidant Gaspar at Xcioy will sort it out and stand by his product and be sure to sort out any issues with the scales or any of his products, his that sort of guy.
#153
Okay so I tested my scales tonight, I have an exact three pound weight on all three scales. The readings are disappointing, the first scale read 2.87 on multiple placements, the 2nd was 2.64 and the 3rd read 3lbs. This wouldn't be a big deal if I could calibrate the individual scale like ol says he does. So I guess I will return mine and just keep doing it the old way.
#154
Renė,
Have you left your planes just standing on the sensors, without switching the unit off - and checked if the settings change. On mine, if I leave it on, with the plane on it - the settings change.
Try it, look after 5 minutes, if your results are still the same.....
Jan
Have you left your planes just standing on the sensors, without switching the unit off - and checked if the settings change. On mine, if I leave it on, with the plane on it - the settings change.
Try it, look after 5 minutes, if your results are still the same.....
Jan
Measuring conditions where about 23°, batterie 2 cell Life 6.6V. Model leveled, my 3 sensors showed all 0g when starting. Left the model for about 15 minutes on the sensors, no drift during this time.
All the models had been balanced by the Fenderbean method (see image), have been flown before and I had following results:
Viper 1, slightly nose heavy (what I knew), removed 70g in the nose
Viper 2, CG ok, same result as manually balanced
Yak 1, slightly tail heavy, left as it is, having more than 100 comfortable flights on it
Yak 2, nose heavy (what I knew), should correct it with lighter spinner and batterie movement to the back
Got my balancer from a batch of early June and it seems that I was one of the lucky guys with no problem. There are certainly some problems with the sensors, mine are working well an the balancer does his job. Building my next model I shall try to use it for positioning the different parts in the model and optimize placement for best CG.
Keep you informed, sorry for all those who have problems with this little toy.
#156
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
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Hoop als gaan goed.
Check the link below.
One or more of these and we can easily achieve a reliable result.
If there is enough interest I will build a PC app to do the calcs.
These units plug into USB ports.
So simple
Groete
Andre
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/usb-postal-scale
#157
My Feedback: (162)
Hi Jan,
Hoop als gaan goed.
Check the link below.
One or more of these and we can easily achieve a reliable result.
If there is enough interest I will build a PC app to do the calcs.
These units plug into USB ports.
So simple
Groete
Andre
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/usb-postal-scale
Hoop als gaan goed.
Check the link below.
One or more of these and we can easily achieve a reliable result.
If there is enough interest I will build a PC app to do the calcs.
These units plug into USB ports.
So simple
Groete
Andre
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/usb-postal-scale
#158
If you don't want to go to Xicoy balancer, whatever the reason, an app is a good idea, but do you really need USB enabled scales?
Like Andy, just taking three scales, you just have to enter 3 values to calculate (app or spreadsheet) and no cabling at all. Entering the formula once in a spreadsheet you may also use it as a database for your planes.
Just to underline, here the theory: http://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Center-of-Gravity
Made a quick simulation in Excel that seems to work right now.
Like Andy, just taking three scales, you just have to enter 3 values to calculate (app or spreadsheet) and no cabling at all. Entering the formula once in a spreadsheet you may also use it as a database for your planes.
Just to underline, here the theory: http://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Center-of-Gravity
Made a quick simulation in Excel that seems to work right now.
Last edited by lxfly; 07-06-2015 at 06:29 AM. Reason: add line
#159
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
Posts: 504
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If you don't want to go to Xicoy balancer, whatever the reason, an app is a good idea, but do you really need USB enabled scales?
Like Andy, just taking three scales, you just have to enter 3 values to calculate (app or spreadsheet) and no cabling at all. Entering the formula once in a spreadsheet you may also use it as a database for your planes.
Just to underline, here the theory: http://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Center-of-Gravity
Made a quick simulation in Excel that seems to work right now.
Like Andy, just taking three scales, you just have to enter 3 values to calculate (app or spreadsheet) and no cabling at all. Entering the formula once in a spreadsheet you may also use it as a database for your planes.
Just to underline, here the theory: http://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Center-of-Gravity
Made a quick simulation in Excel that seems to work right now.
#161
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Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Brisbane, QLD, AUSTRALIA
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Hi Jan,
Hoop als gaan goed.
Check the link below.
One or more of these and we can easily achieve a reliable result.
If there is enough interest I will build a PC app to do the calcs.
These units plug into USB ports.
So simple
Groete
Andre
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/usb-postal-scale
Hoop als gaan goed.
Check the link below.
One or more of these and we can easily achieve a reliable result.
If there is enough interest I will build a PC app to do the calcs.
These units plug into USB ports.
So simple
Groete
Andre
http://www.ebay.com/bhp/usb-postal-scale
Love the Idea of this system, just not the cost.
I've been looking to buy 3 postal scale to do the same so firstly thanks for the link, and if you do make an app, I'm in!!
Thanks
Dave
http://www.willingtons.com/aircraft_...vity_calcu.htm
#162
My Feedback: (10)
If you don't want to go to Xicoy balancer, whatever the reason, an app is a good idea, but do you really need USB enabled scales?
Like Andy, just taking three scales, you just have to enter 3 values to calculate (app or spreadsheet) and no cabling at all. Entering the formula once in a spreadsheet you may also use it as a database for your planes.
Just to underline, here the theory: http://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Center-of-Gravity
Made a quick simulation in Excel that seems to work right now.
Like Andy, just taking three scales, you just have to enter 3 values to calculate (app or spreadsheet) and no cabling at all. Entering the formula once in a spreadsheet you may also use it as a database for your planes.
Just to underline, here the theory: http://www.wikihow.com/Calculate-Center-of-Gravity
Made a quick simulation in Excel that seems to work right now.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o00_s00
I actually like using a single scale as I don’t care so much about relative accuracy between 3 scales, just the repeatability of this one scale.
I think this Gaspar rig is a neat device and would be worth more if it somehow avoided having to take the same linear measurements I had to take anyway. Any of these procedures require careful measurement of the gear placement, and then the relatively quick calculation (there are several spreadsheets online). The whole process for me took 30 minutes. 19 bucks and 30 minutes.
Hey I am all for toys and new tools and much as the next guy, but since I do maybe 1 plane every year, I will take the US$275 saved and spend it on kerosene or something else jet related! Maybe the new ASSI pressure sensor
#163
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
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Hi Matt,
quite right, a single scale is best. Only thing maybe an issue is that the accuracy range for the nose-wheel may not be as good. Typically what did you measure for nose-wheel vs main-wheels?
Andre
quite right, a single scale is best. Only thing maybe an issue is that the accuracy range for the nose-wheel may not be as good. Typically what did you measure for nose-wheel vs main-wheels?
Andre
#169
I need to track your order. It got shipped just before we left for JOK. You should have received it at the same time as the cones.
#172
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Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: peterborough, ON, CANADA
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Hi Guys who own a Xicoy Balancer, can some confirm steps 2 and 3 on setup?
For step 2 most planes CG are measured from the Leading edge, so my understanding is find that mark first then measure from there to centre of main. Correct?
For step 3, I'm really not sure what they are asking for?
setup for my Skymaster A10
thanks for any help
For step 2 most planes CG are measured from the Leading edge, so my understanding is find that mark first then measure from there to centre of main. Correct?
For step 3, I'm really not sure what they are asking for?
setup for my Skymaster A10
thanks for any help
#173
My Feedback: (1)
I received both parts and did a quick check last night, a twin engine Tigercat that I felt was too heavy overall as well as too nose heavy. I wanted a little nose heavy just so it wasn't tail heavy. It is over 1.5 ponds nose heavy. I will be taking that away, fixing the balance as well as overall weight. Great tool. I need to check balance with gear up and adjust for that condition but should be easier now that the model and measurements have been entered. I think this will help the plane greatly overall
#174
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Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: New Martinsville, WV
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Hi Guys who own a Xicoy Balancer, can some confirm steps 2 and 3 on setup?
For step 2 most planes CG are measured from the Leading edge, so my understanding is find that mark first then measure from there to centre of main. Correct?
For step 3, I'm really not sure what they are asking for?
setup for my Skymaster A10
thanks for any help
For step 2 most planes CG are measured from the Leading edge, so my understanding is find that mark first then measure from there to centre of main. Correct?
For step 3, I'm really not sure what they are asking for?
setup for my Skymaster A10
thanks for any help
Step 3 is asking you to tell the machine where you are going to add or remove weight to get the aircraft to balance. This number is measured from the mains but is not very important; an error on this measure will cause an error on the calculated correction weight, but not an error on the calculation of the real CG location. In other words, move equipment or add/remove weight till you get the CG spot on.
Just a quick note; the gear on an A10, when raised will shift the CG forward so I would suggest also checking the CG with the gear up using the cones from Ultimate Jets or something similar.
Last edited by Sekhet; 07-18-2015 at 07:01 AM.
#175
My Feedback: (1)
Just curious. How do people feel about making the CG exactly spot on, no falling to the side of nose heavy just in case something is wrong? For a 3D plane, I am not so much worried, they have a wide range of latitude but a scale warbird on the other hand, it is pretty sensitive to anything tail heavy. With the use of a kit like this, I am afraid to be precisely wrong and not sure I should worry about it.