Balsa Blade Strenght Tips
 

I've just finished making what looks like a decent set of blades from blasa (1/4x2 at 54" rotor dia)with a 1/8x3/8 hardwood leading edge. Each blade now that it is covered with monokote seems strong on it's own over it's own length. Installed on the gyro I can't help but think that they just seem too flimsy to carry the weight of a 4.5 lb model. Should I have somehow reinforced the bottom with glass cloth or something else. Have there been many flight failures from breaking blades? Should the rotor supported at the tips hold the weight.....or is this all different when it's flying?. [:o]

Also....what is most commonly used for tip weights? Are they nessary on all blades...or just some?


Thanks.......
Splinter.

RE: Balsa Blade Strenght Tips
 

I used carbon fiber tape on the bottom of the blades on the 45" red autogyro but none on the Blue Minnie(34" robor". My blades are from Aerobalsa which has hardwood leading edge already on it. I used to build my own blades, but Aerobalsa blades are the best one on the market. I do not use tip weitht, but do use shot gun shells lead shots on tips to balace the blades.

http://www.aerobalsa.com/pages/order.htm

My autogyros are the two on the left:

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/More...2213267/tm.htm

Wahid

RE: Balsa Blade Strenght Tips
 

Wow...what a time saver. I'll be sure to give them a look. Thanks for the link. [8D]

Splinter.

RE: Balsa Blade Strenght Tips
 

Mines are also balsa and have a hardwood LE, and they are covered with Oracover. They're 0.5m long, and they are rock solid, they even fly with prop cuts on them with no signs of structural failure.:D

RE: Balsa Blade Strenght Tips
 

are helicopter blades are identical to gyrocopter blades?

RE: Balsa Blade Strenght Tips
 

No, they're not most times. Heli blades are most of them symmetrical, and designed for higher speeds, like 1500-2000rpm.
Autogyro blades are purely lift profile blades, and they run at less than half that speed, so I guess I won't compensate to adapt some heli blades, if that's what you were thinking!:D

RE: Balsa Blade Strenght Tips
 

Hi ya'll,
Quick tip? Ya'll are aware that cyanoacralate (cyano) adds much strength
to balsa? Just soak it in the blasa, when dry sand smooth. OK?
Good luck.


Hal

RE: Balsa Blade Strenght Tips
 

You may want to look at www.like90.com at the fp 238 blades. Flat bottomed. $23, covered.