ORIGINAL: The boys Back
I assume we don’t see mass balanced ailerons (like most elevator and rudders) because there is a bigger chance of flutter?
Mass balancing is desirable, model or not. On the contrary mass balancing will help control and or eliminate flutter.
also its worth mentioning that if you set up your surface with say a 1/4" servo arm and a 1/4" horn (1-1) and you grabbed your aileron and gave it a good tweak something would definitely "move" or brake. do the same with a 2" servo arm and a 2" horn (1-1 again) and it will be as strong as a horse. (it will also allow full movement as the pushrod wont hit the wing)
Not quite... The 1/4" setup with a 1:1 ratio would be strongest (remember servos are rated with 1" arms, a smaller servo arm will increase the FORCE). The 2" setup at 1:1 would realize 50% less FORCE at the aileron, while 1/4" setup would offer a 400% increase in FORCE at the aileron.
The 1:1 relationship is based on equal length arms, therefore what ever is available in servo power (TORQUE/FORCE) is transfered to the surface. The arm lengths play a factor in mechanical advantage or the lack thereof. Ideally you're looking for a minimum of 1:1 with desires of 1":1.5" or more. In a nutshell, longer control arms reduce the available throw, as do shorter servo arms, while either of these factors can increase the FORCE realized by the surface. The inverse of these factors, shorter control arms/longer servo arms will increase throw while decreasing the FORCE realized at the surface.
After all that, your servos TORQUE is a constant and remains the same regardless of the arm utilized atop it. Servo arms will effect the FORCE available, but never the TORQUE. TORQUE realized of the surface is effected/calculated by the FORCE delivered to the control arm from the servo and the length of the control arm pivot point in use. Torque = FORCE x LENGTH/DISTANCE (T=FxD)...