Rotor heads

[mike glass]

Hi All,
I'm thinking of building a autogyro. One question?
What is the advantages of a head that is tilted by servos versus a fixed head?

I know nothing about this subject and would like your help!

Thanks,
Mike

[David A Ramsey]

Hello Mike;
A fixed head will require manual adjustments by tilting the mast axel at the rotor head to bring the gyro into a level flight trim. This can be a finicky set up but is good for small simple Gyrocopters. Rudder and elevator provides good flight control.

Controlling the rotor tilt with servos allows the rotor tilt for level flight to be trimmed with these roll and pitch servos. Overall flight control is much more positive. A rudder is needed for yaw control.

Check out and read all the material posted by "mnowell129" in this fourm.

[Buzz]

Hi All,
I'm thinking of building a autogyro. One question?
What is the advantages of a head that is tilted by servos versus a fixed head?

I know nothing about this subject and would like your help!

Thanks,
Mike

Hi Mike/David.....

Like Mike, I have always wanted to build an autogyro. When I was a kid I remember looking at pictures of them and they were more like regular airplane fuselages with a rotor on a mast. I've been eyeing my Pico Tiger Moth foam fuselage with front mounted motor. I keep thinking there must be some way to turn it into an autogyro that looks like the old ones. Fixed head is what I had in mind. But, where to start? What kind of rotor head? How much power will I need? I know absolutely nothing about Gyros. I did build and "fly" a helicopter years ago, but I am looking for something slow and easy.

Any suggestions, or am I totally out of my mind!?

:) Buzz

[mnowell129]

Hi Mike/David.....

Like Mike, I have always wanted to build an autogyro. When I was a kid I remember looking at pictures of them and they were more like regular airplane fuselages with a rotor on a mast. I've been eyeing my Pico Tiger Moth foam fuselage with front mounted motor. I keep thinking there must be some way to turn it into an autogyro that looks like the old ones. Fixed head is what I had in mind. But, where to start? What kind of rotor head? How much power will I need? I know absolutely nothing about Gyros. I did build and "fly" a helicopter years ago, but I am looking for something slow and easy.

Any suggestions, or am I totally out of my mind!?

:) Buzz
you have a common affliction, but not out of your mind.
I'm in Longwood, just down the road from daytona. If you want to take a road trip I'll show you my stuff.
Note that there is an all autogyro fly-in this month on the 24th and 25th in brookesville.

[David A Ramsey]

Hi Mike/David.....
Any suggestions, or am I totally out of my mind!?
:) Buzz

Hey Buzz;

Pico Moth should provide a good autogyro base. Probably need a 300 size motor.

I see you have mickey's attention and an invitation I wouldn't pass up.

I would be happy to help with fixed head rotor should you like.

David

[Buzz]

you have a common affliction, but not out of your mind.
I'm in Longwood, just down the road from daytona. If you want to take a road trip I'll show you my stuff.
Note that there is an all autogyro fly-in this month on the 24th and 25th in brookesville.

Whoa! Thanks for the invitation! This will be great. My wife will NOT believe it! :D :D I'll be at the Rolex 24Hr race this weekend... if I survive that, I'd love to see your stuff. Stay in touch, and thanks!

Buzz

Edit: Hmmmm.... Brooksville sounds fun too. BTW, don't let this get into the Parkflyers forum yet. :cool: I want to surprise them with another way to fly a Tiger Moth. They just think they've done it all. :) :D

[mike glass]

Thanks guys,
I too plan to use a fuse for the basic frame.
I think I'm going manual on the first try! What material do you guy use for the flex plate that the rotors attach too. I saw a company that sells laser cut ones. I just so happen to have a laser.

Mike

[mnowell129]

Thanks guys,
I too plan to use a fuse for the basic frame.
I think I'm going manual on the first try! What material do you guy use for the flex plate that the rotors attach too. I saw a company that sells laser cut ones. I just so happen to have a laser.

Mike
can you cut depron? I'll gladly trade gyrocopter design consultation for a little prototyping....

[mike glass]

You Tell me!

[mnowell129]

Way cool. Do you offer your service for real?
I a plane designed that people are screaming to get kits for.....
All depron.

[mike glass]

mnowell,
www.horseflyhobbies.com
Go to my site and e-mail me or better yet my phone number is on the contact page. I'm in after 3:00pm.

Mike

[Buzz]

Mike,

I love that little Bee Gee! I've got extra radio equipment to put in it, several differently geared IPS's ... but I have goofy transmitters. I have one with one stick that has 2 channels(rudder/elevator), and motor is controlled by a slide on the back. It does have mixing though. How many channels do I need?

Buzz

[mike glass]

Hi Buzz,
Your TX will work. You can use elevons and throttle.
The planes a lot of fun!

Did you start your autogyro?

Mike

[David A Ramsey]

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=2997835&postcount=33

Hello Mike / Buzz; The above post link shows my fixed head rotor. It's made from epoxy glass sheet and CF. The 0.023 epoxy glass was laminated to 0.010 carbon matte. I feel the 0.023 glass sheet would have been ok, but at the time I was experimenting and ended up with 0.033 thickness which works very well. Rather than work with a circular disc, I scalloped the disc so that the 3 rotor blade attachment points would be more independant during flexing. The hub halves were made from magnesium to hold 0.125" x 0.250" flanged, extended inner race ball bearings. A sullivan brass 2-56 control rod fitting provides the axel. I'm building a smaller version of the this autogyro which uses 0.023 epoxy glass and PVC for the bearing holder hub halves. I chose 3 blades mostly for esthetic reasons.

David

[David A Ramsey]

mnowell,
www.horseflyhobbies.com
Go to my site and e-mail me or better yet my phone number is on the contact page. I'm in after 3:00pm.

Mike

Nice site Mike! Lovely work. I can forsee an autogyro appearing soon.

Great fun.

David

[Buzz]

Hi Buzz,
Your TX will work. You can use elevons and throttle.
The planes a lot of fun!

Did you start your autogyro?

Mike

Great.... good to know my TX will work with it. No, I haven't started the gyrocopter yet. I've got a lot to learn about the flexing of the hub and how to make the rotor head. I don't know anything about making blades, what angle to mount the hub at, etc. In other words.... I don't know a darned thing! :D

Where should I start? <boy, is this going to be basic stuff to most of you guys>