Measuring throws on control surfaces

[Ohio AV8TOR]

Just curious to see what you guys are doing to measure your throws.  I have used simply gauges like 3DHS provides and sells, iPhone angle apps, home made protractors but mostly I have settled in on the throw meter Aero-Werks sells.  Pretty simple to use and quick to read.

 

[Ohio AV8TOR]

I did a build thread on my Extreme Flight 60" Edge and I used some simple printed protractors that when printed can be scaled to your control surface.  I printed and taped on card stock to stiffen.  You can make these for each surface and have them on all at the same time.  I just thought I would share this but I use the Aero-Werks pretty much all the time now. 

 

 

 

 

[Ohio AV8TOR]

$59.99 is a lot to spend just to measure throws but this is pretty cool from Hanger 9

 

 

[Alky6]

I use all three. I have got really spoiled with the hangar 9 incidence/throw meter; though it doesn't work all that well on surfaces with small servos - it is pretty heavy and deflects the surface at the zero point.

-Paul

 

[Ohio AV8TOR]

Alky6 said
I use all three. I have got really spoiled with the hangar 9 incidence/throw meter; though it doesn't work all that well on surfaces with small servos - it is pretty heavy and deflects the surface at the zero point.

-Paul

On the Hanger 9 if the plane is not sitting level can you zero the reading out at neutral and measure from there?  I wondered about the weight.  

 

[Alky6]

Ohio.AV8TOR said
Alky6 said
I use all three. I have got really spoiled with the hangar 9 incidence/throw meter; though it doesn't work all that well on surfaces with small servos - it is pretty heavy and deflects the surface at the zero point.

-Paul

On the Hanger 9 if the plane is not sitting level can you zero the reading out at neutral and measure from there?  I wondered about the weight.  
Absolutely! That is the coolest feature of that unit. You can press the "acquire" button and establish a new datum line. Then simply read the degrees positive and negative on the surface deflections (or incidences). No need to get each surface level. Downside to using the thing as an incidence meter is that the beam it comes with is relatively short. Difficult to use it for anything much larger than a 48" wingspan - even worse on a scale aerobatic wing as they are really deep at the root. It barely fits my .40 size pattern plane. I did buy the 36" beam that works well for 60" edge and up. Plenty of room to spare on my 78" extra. Probably would make it to a 40% but not sure.

-Paul

 

[reyn3545]

I have an angle gauge that I picked up from the hardware store.. it's about six inches square, with a round dial in the middle of it to indicate the  angle of the surface that the gauge is sitting on.  On a flat horizontal surface, it measures zero, and on a vertical surface, it's 90.  I wish that it had a "datum" function that would let you zero it at any particular angle, then read increments from there.... but for control surface throws, it's easy to take whatever angle it may be sitting at as the baseline, then just make sure that both surfaces move the same distance from that point.

 

[stangflyer]

Alky6 said
Ohio.AV8TOR said
Alky6 said
I use all three. I have got really spoiled with the hangar 9 incidence/throw meter; though it doesn't work all that well on surfaces with small servos - it is pretty heavy and deflects the surface at the zero point.

-Paul

On the Hanger 9 if the plane is not sitting level can you zero the reading out at neutral and measure from there?  I wondered about the weight.  

Absolutely! That is the coolest feature of that unit. You can press the "acquire" button and establish a new datum line. Then simply read the degrees positive and negative on the surface deflections (or incidences). No need to get each surface level. Downside to using the thing as an incidence meter is that the beam it comes with is relatively short. Difficult to use it for anything much larger than a 48" wingspan - even worse on a scale aerobatic wing as they are really deep at the root. It barely fits my .40 size pattern plane. I did buy the 36" beam that works well for 60" edge and up. Plenty of room to spare on my 78" extra. Probably would make it to a 40% but not sure.

-Paul
We've been using the H-9 on all our larger, (and smaller) planes lately. It does in fact work on 40% as we also purchased the longer bar. The nice thing about the H-9 unit is that it is absolutely dead on. I used to use the Robart angle and Incidence meter. Just a little too small and "jittery" for our "Big-Uns". I purchased an Aero-Works last year. Really hate it. Someone want it? "FREE"....BRAND NEW, USED ONCE. You pay for shipping and it's yours. 

 

[siko_flyer]

I also have the H9 unit.Worked great.Left it on and the batteries died,took me almost 2 months to get batteries from Batteries+. I bought 2 sets and I put them up until I needed them,now I can't find them,grrrr.....

 

[Capt.Roll]

Dang Jeff.............what is the battery number?