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Bill Williams
 Post subject: Horizontal tail trim.
PostPosted: Sun Jul 11, 2010 2:05 pm 
Bob and I are currently rebuilding a T-18 and some have asked about our trim system. It is my belief that a vernier or the MAC trim are NO NO for this application. I've yet to see a trim system use anything other than a "screw Jack" for this application. Look at Bob's photo album and you will see our system. It consists of a Grainger gear motor (2L009), Traxxas driveshaft (5451X) available at a hobby shop, Traxxas yokes joint (5458X) a couple of micos switches, a double pole momentary on, center off, momentary on switch, and couple of 5amp 50piv diodes (radio shack)


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Last edited by Bill Williams on Sun Jul 11, 2010 2:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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N89BJ
 Post subject: Horizontal tail trim.
PostPosted: Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:44 am 
Very nice! Thanks for the pictures.


Last edited by admin on Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:44 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Stephen Peirce
 Post subject: Horizontal tail trim.
PostPosted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 8:25 am 
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Joined: Thu Oct 22, 2009 7:42 am
Posts: 24
Location: USA
Bill, I'm building up my trim system similar to yours and have several questions: Do you have a P/N for the Micro Switch and where did you get it from and do you have a wiring diagram. Thanks

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Stephen R. Peirce
S/N#078 Ph 256-461-0233
Rocket City
Huntsville, Alabama


Last edited by admin on Thu Sep 23, 2010 8:25 am, edited 1 time in total.

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admin
 Post subject: Horizontal tail trim.
PostPosted: Thu Sep 23, 2010 9:42 am 
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Joined: Tue Oct 20, 2009 2:21 pm
Posts: 176
Location: USA
I'll get the info this evening

*** admin posted for Bill Williams ***

Here's the wiring diagram;

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Last edited by admin on Thu Sep 23, 2010 9:42 am, edited 1 time in total.

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stug
PostPosted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:06 am 
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Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2010 2:20 am
Posts: 158
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Location: Australia
I have been doing some work on an electric trim setup. I am trying to keep the weight down so came up with this set up. The motor is a 28mm Brushed Planetary Motor that does 12 RPM and weighs 260grams (9.2 ounces) it is held on by 4* M3 hi tensile (~172,000PSI)machine cap screws, they seem tiny. I haven't decided yet if the extra support bracket is actually needed, but some sort of additional support would add confidence.
I anticipate using that same Traxxas drive shaft setup to the jack screw.
Stuart


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fytrplt
PostPosted: Fri Mar 30, 2012 5:49 am 
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Joined: Tue Oct 20, 2009 8:07 pm
Posts: 1140
Images: 2
Location: Lakeland, Florida, USA
That really looks good! I put an access panel on top of the fuselage under the fin to help retrieve the motor in case I ever needed to remove it.

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Bob Highley
N711SH
SN 835
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Fla-T18
PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2012 5:16 pm 
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Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:43 am
Posts: 40
Bill, what gauge wires are you running back to the trim?


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Bill Williams
PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2012 6:02 pm 
I used 18 gauge, you can use 20 ga. as the 1L2009 motor draws 1.4 amps.


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Fla-T18
PostPosted: Wed May 16, 2012 6:49 pm 
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Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2012 6:43 am
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ok, thank you


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stug
PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2012 5:04 am 
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Joined: Tue Aug 24, 2010 2:20 am
Posts: 158
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Location: Australia
Has anyone using the Granger motor, managed to incorporate a position feedback sensor? I am trying to figure out how one could be included but so far haven't yet come up with a neat solution.


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leewwalton
PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2012 9:49 am 
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Posts: 1705
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Stuart,
It would be easy enough to implement, the two limits can be caught by the limit micro switches and a few intermediate points could be trapped similarly. However, I think you will find that it's really not necessary. The plane is controllable in either extreme and you'll figure it out pretty quick if you forget to set the trim for T/O which is the only time you really care about it. Basically as soon as the tail starts getting some airflow over it the stick will run fore or aft.

The stop to stop travel time on mine is around 11 seconds, I just run it full forward and then run it back with a 5 count. I just retrofitted Wendell's airplane with electric trim and he initially asked about a position indicator, I told him to just go fly, he did and has never said a word about it again.

I guess this really didn't answer your question maybe I'm just trying to say don't sweat it, you really don't need it.

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Lee Walton
Houston, TX
N51863,N118LW
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Rich Brazell
PostPosted: Thu May 17, 2012 2:10 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 21, 2009 12:33 pm
Posts: 3095
Images: 64
Location: Jamul, CA (San Diego area)
I put a small indicator lite next to my rudder trim switch to show when the tab is centered (lite ON). Nothing more than a small button micro switch epoxyed to the bottom of the rudder rib and a small tab on the servo arm to actuated the "button switch." I also have a RAC LED indicator for the elevator trim. As LEE has said it's nice to know where that trim is set for T/O !

RB
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stug
PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 8:11 am 
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Location: Australia
Although not a must have item some sort of indicator even if it was just a single light activated by an a micro switch when trim is set to the take off position would be nice confirmation. It would be simple enough to build it that way but when the 5 count count works so well it might just be an unnecessary complication.


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dickwolff
PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 3:14 pm 
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Joined: Tue Nov 24, 2009 7:40 pm
Posts: 498
Images: 6
Location: Canada
Fraser had the same method on MLM (full forward trim, then come back for a count of 5) and he was happy with it. That's the simplest way to go.

When I rebuilt the as per the Bill-Bob pics, I was going to make one small addition... a red alignment mark on the side of the fuse for the proper trim location. The idea was to make it a pre-flight item.

Now that MLM has become MLMP, and I am fixing things that aren't broke, I went all fancy schmancy on the trim system. (Why simplicate when you can complicate?) I figure the only time you might want to know where the mechanism is set is for the T/O. Any other time, who cares? You just set it by feel. So,
I mounted a small magnet to the trip lever, and mounted a reed switch to the bracket. When the mechanism is in the correct T/O position, the magnet is aligned with the reed switch, closing the contacts, thus causing a green LED in the panel to light up.

Works great in the garage.

d


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Bill Williams
PostPosted: Wed May 23, 2012 3:35 pm 
I think a ten turn pot. and a couple of gears and a meter would work. Mount the gears on the jack shaft and pot. using a meter as the voltage changes the meter wouln indicate the trim position. Go figure!


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