Flight B/C

[randomdogonapc]

How do you guys feel about 3d printing parts(any weight differences, etc.)? I use PLA filament. Me and my partner have just finished a “test model” that we made from scratch out of balsa and HDPE bags for covering. It flies pretty well, but I feel like 3d designing a model could speed up a few other elements of building. Our Freedom Flight kit is still on the way, so we want to get some stuff done before it gets here.

[BrianZ]

We 3D print our propeller hangers. I've tried to 3D print parts that would normally be made from balsa, but there's just no comparison on how good the strength-to-weight ratio is for balsa. Last year we did 3D print our own propellers and have very good results from them, and they were not much heavier than a commercially available prop. We used the spiral vase mode in our slicer to get single-wall thickness blades. This year we are 3D printing our own balsa propeller blade forms, and making balsa propellers. They're much lighter and stronger than the 3D printed ones, but it takes 6 hours to print the forms, and another hour to soak the balsa, and then a few hours to dry, and a half an hour for assembly.

[randomdogonapc]

Ok, thanks. I’ll probably print templates for different parts or try and learn how to use our school’s laser cutter.

[BrianZ]

If you have a laser cutter, learn to use it. It's the best! You can knock out endless kits for like $5 each. We even lasered our own boxes out of 1/8" thick hardboard. Does your school have a computer-aided drafting class, or a Project Lead The Way Introduction to Engineering and Design class?

[Frost0125]

HI! This is a very beginner question, but how do I launch/wind the plane? I have J &H's Senior flyer for reference. I have the plane built, a motor, and winder, but I have no idea how to put it all together to launch it. Is there a video I can watch or article I can read to learn how?

[pumptato-cat]

Hey Frost-If you scroll back and read some of the past forums, they will provide in-depth explanations as to how to wind and launch your plane.
There are better links that were posted a while back, but I can't remember where they are- I did find this one, however. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrlH4WjYDGY
DO NOT WIND YOUR MOTOR ON YOUR PLANE. The video does it so this is probably not the best example but if your motor snaps while winding on the plane... bad things happen :0 As for launching, you can watch videos on youtube of people launching their planes, or read the forums.

Wow--it's amazing that your school has a laser cutter. Definitely use that to your advantage, randomdogonapc.

[Frost0125]

Ok update, I got the plane to fly, but I can't get it to turn. I know this is a rookie question, but how do I get it to turn/what should I do to trim it/ what problems might be causing it not to turn?

[randomdogonapc]

If you have a laser cutter, learn to use it. It's the best! You can knock out endless kits for like $5 each. We even lasered our own boxes out of 1/8" thick hardboard. Does your school have a computer-aided drafting class, or a Project Lead The Way Introduction to Engineering and Design class?

We have a comp sci class that covers everything, I’m in it, but with only a week of school left until winter break, I probably will have to learn it after our first invites.

[randomdogonapc]

Also, another question(I’m just full of them), how many planes do you suggest building? A kit normally comes with two, but our school split the two between our team and the younger team also competing in division B. As a result, our kit builds one plane. Do you recommend that we build our kit and work to optimize that with the meager gym time that we have, or build two planes(one from the kit and one from my own design) that we can work on at the same time?

[pumptato-cat]

Others might have better advice to offer but I'd say be able to fly the FF kit until ~3mins before you try building from scratch, or just order a new kit. I have the same kit, and I built one and messed around with it for ~1 1/2 months. I learned a lot from it and it might just be better to experiment and get familiar with planes with the first plane, like an experiment of sorts, and then apply what you've learned to another plane.
How did your school split the kit? Did they buy Div C and split that plane with Div B and C?