Heli-Max HMXM1010 - Manual

You may have heard the term single axis when
speaking of gyros. Your Micro Piezo Gyro is a
single axis gyro (as are all gyros intended for R/C
use). This means that it can be used to control
only one axis. The three axes of flight are roll (the
axis about which a model banks as it turns), pitch
(simply stated, the axis about which a model tilts
downward or upward), and yaw (the axis about
which a model changes its heading). The Micro
Piezo Gyro can be used to stabilize any of the
three axes, but for your helicopter, you’ll want to
use it for the yaw axis.
Traditionally, model helicopter gyro devices have
been operated by an actual gyroscope—a
spinning flywheel driven by a small electric motor.
This is old technology. You’ve probably seen a
mechanical gyro on one of those educational
television programs showing the development of
rockets for early space flight! Your Micro Piezo
Gyro uses the latest technology with a piezo-
electric crystal. A piezo-electric gyro has no
moving parts, is much more compact, lighter,
more durable, and uses much less battery power
than a mechanical gyro. Further, a piezo-electric
gyro offers faster response time and more
accurate control than a mechanical gyro.
The way a gyro works is by sensing motion about
the axis which it controls (the yaw axis for your
helicopter), and sending a signal to your servo
instructing it to steer the tail in the opposite
direction, thus preventing unwanted rotation of the
tail. The end result is a much more stable tail and
a helicopter that is easier to control! This gyro
does not, however, return the model to its starting
position. Don’t worry, the gyro knows the
difference between this unwanted rotation and
your control inputs—you’re still the one in control!
Follow these instructions so your gyro will operate
correctly.
PRECAUTIONS
Before you mount your gyro, keep these things in
mind.
❏
1. You can mount the gyro anywhere on your
helicopter as long as its rotation axis (noted on
the label on your gyro) is lined up with whatever
axis you wish to control. In the case of your
helicopter, this is the yaw axis.
❏
2. Although your piezo gyro is mounted in a
protective case, as with any electronic device, you
must protect it from vibration or shock. Mount your
gyro in a strategic location where it is not likely
to hit the ground or be hit by parts of your
helicopter that may break away in a crash (such
as the battery pack). Most helicopters have a
location intended for mounting the gyro. Use at
least one layer of 1/8" (3mm) double-sided foam
tape to mount your gyro and make certain none of
the surfaces of the gyro contacts any part of the
helicopter. Clean the mounting surfaces with
alcohol so your gyro will remain secure. Some
modelers prefer to cover the gyro with foam or
other protective material to provide extra crash
protection. We recommend this also.
❏
3. You may use a servo extension cord if the
cord on your gyro is not long enough to reach
your receiver.
❏
4. Piezo crystals are sensitive to temperature
changes. It is important that you mount your gyro
in a ventilated area to avoid excess heat buildup
during operation. Avoid mounting your gyro close
to the engine or muffler, or locations on your
helicopter that do not provide any air flow.
CONNECT YOUR GYRO
❏
1. Your Micro Piezo Gryo comes with a Futaba ®
brand “J” style connector that plugs into your
receiver. If you own a Futaba radio control system
proceed to step 3. If you own another brand of
radio with a different type of connector, you may
have to modify the connector on the gyro to match
your radio, and the connector on your servo that
plugs into the gyro. Usually, all that is required is
to carefully shave the key from the gyro connector
so it will fit into your receiver and rearrange the
wires so the polarities match your radio system. In
some cases, you may have to cut your servo cord
and the cord on the gyro, then solder on Futaba J-
connectors.
❏
2. If you’ve modified your connectors, make
certain the wiring order on your servo connector
and the gyro connector is the same as the wiring
order on the Futaba connector. Study the
diagram. The positive (+) wire is in the center, the
negative (-) wire is on the side opposite of the
key on the connector, and signal (s) is on the side
of the connector nearest the key. WARNING!
Failure to match polarities on any connector may
damage your gyro and will void your warranty.
❏
3. Plug the connector coming from the gyro into
the channel in your receiver you intend the gyro to
assist (in the case of your helicopter, the
rudder/tail rotor channel).
❏
4. Make sure the wiring order on your tail rotor
servo is correct. Connect your tail rotor servo to
the slot on the gyro marked servo.
MICRO PIEZO GYRO
INSTRUCTIONS
Congratulations and thank you for purchasing the
Heli-Max
™ Micro Piezo Gyro for R/C helicopters.
A gyro stabilizes the tail rotor control on your
model helicopter. Of all the controls on a model
helicopter, the tail rotor is the most difficult to
master. In fact, flying an R/C helicopter without a
gyro is nearly impossible, or extremely difficult at
best. Even an expert wouldn’t be caught without
a gyro and a beginner would probably never get
off the ground without one. Someday you may
wish to find out just how difficult it is to fly a model
helicopter without a gyro—just turn off your gyro
and try to establish a hover—you’ll see! Don’t try
this until you have mastered hovering!