[NSRCA-discussion] Elevator setup with anhedral stabs(observaton)

Sun Sep 23 15:08:18 AKDT 2007

Thanks for all of the ideas.  As I mentioned it turned out that you could do
a pretty good job at sighting the carbon rods from the side.  Have them just
meet at full down elevator and then they separate for any up elevator
travel.  Not as good as when they stay next to each other as in a flat stab
but not too bad.  

I did go out and purchase a cross haired laser device.  I bought the self
leveling Black and Decker with tripod from Sears.  This one self levels by
gravity.  The crossed lasers are hanging from a pivot point inside of the
unit. (Hopefully more accurate than the gravity pivot in a Robart incidence
meter)  It did seem to pretty reproducibly realign on the rudder edge once
the plane was shimmed to match the vertical laser beam.  By using the tripod
the horizontal beam could be raised or lowered (a little rough in its
movement and you had to let the laser relevel itself each time)  The
horizontal beam could then be seen to hit the carbon rods at the right point
in elevator travel.  A little cumbersome method but it does seem to work.  

More importantly assuming that the laser is accurate in its 90 degree lines
I can see how this will greatly help in getting the wing square to the
fuse/vertical fin.  Even tapered fins where a square is just an estimate can
be aligned as long as a center line is drawn on it.  Match up the laser and
the horizontal beam should allow accurate wing alignment.

I am not sure if the self leveling unit is the way to go and I may look at
other brands but I can definitely see keeping one in the workshop.  And oh
yea it will definitely make putting up long rows of shelves, cabinets and
dropped ceilings easier :)

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
[mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of george w.
kennie
Sent: Sunday, September 23, 2007 1:16 PM
To: NSRCA Mailing List
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Elevator setup with anhedral
stabs(observaton)

Stu,
Another option that might work would be to use a set of Dubro 1/2 A single 
servo aileron clevises, which are just a piece of approx. 5/32" diameter 
nylon rod about 7/8" long with a center hole drilled longitudinally in one 
end and two flats ground on the opposite end with a cross hole drilled 
through the flat section. It's meant to thread onto a 2X56 aileron torsion 
rod for clevis attachment, but you could use it to be affixed to the end of 
the two carbon rods which could be splayed so that they never cross when 
deflected. Thread a longer third carbon rod through the two flat holes which

should give you a horizontally FLAT reference when at center deflection. 
Then any deviation from horizontal throughout the deflection range would be 
easily observed or measured. You might have to cant the cross bore holes, 
and you should also be able to move the surface rods in and out on the 
surface to indicate any twists in the elevator construction.

Just a thought.
Georgie

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stuart Chale" <schale at optonline.net>
To: "'NSRCA Mailing List'" <nsrca-discussion at lists.nsrca.org>
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 1:03 PM
Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Elevator setup with anhedral 
stabs(observaton)

>I just finished playing a bit with the elevator setup.  Unfortunately you
> can't stop the servo test along its travel.  It reverts back to center. 
> The
> long carbon rods are still useful even with the anhedral setup.  What I 
> did
> was to attach them to the elevators in the full down position.  (Radio
> turned off to keep the servos in the hold position)  With the rods meeting
> in the center they will separate as you go to neutral and up elevator.
> Sighting from the side at the rods seems to work pretty well to compare 
> the
> two halves.  Not as accurate as when the rods are together for the entire
> elevator travel, probably accurate enough.  It may be a bit harder to mix
> out minor servo differences.  I think that the laser idea may work well if
> aimed at the back of the two carbon rods.  Again minor differences are
> accentuated by the length of the rods.  Of course how accurate is accurate
> enough?  A question asked about much of what we do to set up our 
> airplanes.
> Based on my flying I definitely need all of the help I can get :)
>
>
> I guess I will have to look for a laser to try :)
>
> Thanks,
> Stuart
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
> [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Steve Byrum
> Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 10:12 AM
> To: 'NSRCA Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Elevator setup with anhedral stabs
>
> Guys
>
> Walmart has a $10 level that does as Ed suggests.  I use it to set up
> Curares for SPA.  Level the elevator at neutral with the laser on both 
> ends
> of the elevator.  Hold full up and elevate the laser.  If it doesn't still
> hit both ends of the elevator, it's obvious which one is off.  Same with
> down.
>
> Semi high tech and cheap.  To elevate the laser, I use a scrap of 2-1/2 
> wide
> aileron stock as a wedge.  Slide it under to elevate.  Pull it out to
> depress.
>
> Steve Byrum
> (256)737-9828
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
> [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Ed Alt
> Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 8:51 AM
> To: 'NSRCA Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Elevator setup with anhedral stabs
>
> Hi Stu:
> Bushnell makes a nifty laser level that can be set for a point, a 
> horizontal
> line or a crosshair.  I've used the crosshair for this type of adjustment
> with a flat stab and it works great.  I suspect that it might also work 
> well
> if you use it in a "scanning mode".
>
> What I normally do is just line up the vertical line on the rudder post, 
> get
> the stab set and then do the elevators.  The level has a magnetic base and
> you can pivot it up & down on that base.  Now, for the anhedral stab it
> might work well if you sight it at the root, then adjust up or down to 
> site
> a mid point, then again at the tips of the elevators.  Seems plausible
> anyway.
>
> Radio Shack was dumping these at half price for a while, not sure if you 
> can
> still find them there.
>
> Ed
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org
> [mailto:nsrca-discussion-bounces at lists.nsrca.org] On Behalf Of Stuart 
> Chale
> Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 8:24 AM
> To: 'NSRCA Mailing List'
> Subject: Re: [NSRCA-discussion] Elevator setup with anhedral stabs
>
> I tried this question on RCU and didn't get any great answers so I thought

> I
> would try here.
>
> Does anyone have a good method for comparing the throw of both elevator
> halves on anhedral stabs?  With a regular stab I use a 15 inch piece of 
> 1/8
> carbon fiber rod on each elevator meeting behind the rudder and compare
> their track with movement of the elevator stick.  This is much more 
> accurate
> to me, than clip on throw meters or ruler measurements.  With anhedral 
> stabs
> the two rods will separate as you give up elevator and come together and
> cross with down elevator.  I guess you can measure the height of the end 
> of
> the rod from the table at different positions but does anyone have a 
> better
> method?
>
> Thanks,
> Stuart
>
>
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