hi all. i got myself a Futaba 40 trainer and its a bit urgent input wise lol. how do i slow down the servos so its a bit more manageable. i did a loop by mistake while trying to get used to it. whoops. still landed it tho

If you can't do it via the transmitter functions, the only way is to reduce the voltage going to the servo, or buy slower servos. Another option is reducing the end points (your controller will surely have this function), this will of course limit your total maximum movement, but it will also result in stick movements having smaller effects. Adjusting the dual rate setting may also be an option (once again, if your tx has the function).

You don't want to change ther servos any, and you don't need to "slow" them down. Also, you don't want to change the end points either. Adjustments made in a computer radio should be made ONLY after all mechanical adjustments are made on a plane. Many times people will try to make adjustments with a computer radio without having the plane setup correctly first, and wind up making things worse or even dangerous to the point they can endanger the plane. Instead, you need to reduce the amount of throw (distance of travel) on each control surface. By lowering the throw you will change how sensitive they in the situation you described.

Ken

Hmm, this sounds more like too much surface throw. I would get someone to help you reduce the max throw on it so your control surfaces don't go as far. One of my big (And probably fatal if not for my instructor) mistakes when I started out the first time around was to set all the servos for max throw input on the plane.

I remember my instructor saying "Change this to this" etc.. Boy was I glad when I flew it for the first time, that little Arrow probably would have rolled right out of its wing if not for the instruction. (Well not really, but I would have spent more time with him flying instead of me since we were buddy boxed.)

LOL !! You beat me to it Ken!

Harvest Fields,
If you decide what you are wanting to do is slow the servos down, check out these:
Build it yourself:
http://www.laureanno.com/RCNEW/picaxe-slowdown.htm
http://www.rc-cam.com/ldtastic.htm

or here's one in your neck of the woods for £17.95:
http://smservices.net/acatalog/On_Board_Units.html
called "SM24 Servo Slow"
SM Services (UK) Ltd
18 Orchard Way,
Cranfield,
Bedfordshire,
MK43 0HU.
United Kingdom
Tel 01234 751095

I think what you are asking is how to make the control surfaces less sensitive. The simplest way is to look at the connecting geometry of the linkage. To reduce amount of throw. connect the clevis to the outermost hole (furthest from the hingeline) in the horn on the control surface, and connect to the servo at the innermost hole of the servo arm. This will make for very small deflections in most installations. Be sure you have enough movement to control the plane. The other major concept to deal with is to use a very light hand on the controls, very small movements. Overcontrol is a most common mistake new flyers need to overcome. We have all been there at one time or another.

Good luck.

Agreed, you want less control surface throw, not slower servos. Servos that lag behind your input comands actually make a plane more difficult to fly. In extreme cases, a slow servo can lead to a series of overshoot and undershoot overcorrections known as pilot induced oscilation.
Ever fly a flight sim using an old slow computer? That's what slow servos are like.

ITs probably lack of experience resulting in greater movement of the sticks than is required for keeping the plane straight and level. [8D]

(Move the sticks slower)


If you've got a computer radio you can put some exponential on the control throws. That allows them to start slowly and increase exponentially as the throw increases. But that still won't help over-control. You can increase the tension of the springs on Futaba sticks to give them a little more resistance.

DO NOT reduce the voltage. This will make them have less power and perhaps quit working at all depending on how much you lower them and isn't that easy in the first place.

Expo and less throws on your horns ... it's simple. : )

Regarding Slowing Down/Lowering Voltage: (scratches head)
Not sure how one would go about safely reducing voltage to servos as a way to slow them down ... or where you can buy a slower servo for aircraft ... you don't want a slow response in the servo. The only time you would use a servo-speed reduction module is for retracts and bay doors. Sounds like you just want less response out of the flight control surfaces.

- K

As stated before, this has nothing to do with servo speed. You need to change the amount of throw in your control surfaces. Your plane manual should suggest a low and high throw suggestions. Go with the low throw settings and you'll have a much more controllable, better flying plane. Also, it doesn't take much stick movement to fly a properly setup plane. Small Movements!!!

A common mistake made by newbies, myself included, is to underestimate just how much movement is really needed on the control surfaces to fly an airplane.
Most trainers with the elevator and ailerons set correctly will have very little movement.
My Kadet Senior for as big of an airplane as it was only had 3/8" deflection in either direction on the ailerons.
I am flying a Showtime 90 now and the elevator hardly moves at all but it can loop so tight it almost catches its own tail.

I noticed that Foxy42 is a moderator in the car forums ... is there any reason to lower voltages to servos to slow them down in the car RC world? It just sounds like death to me if you do it on an aircraft.

- K

It's a BAD idea all around. Dangerous in a plane. Planes fall out of the sky, cars just stop? I've seen a "servo Slower" gadget advertised before for use on things like flaps/gear/accessories, but not main functions.Some TX can even adjust the speed. Anyone who "i did a loop by mistake while trying to get used to it." has bigger issues anyway, like needing a better instructor. Think about it.