HardWired II

[Flag Captured]

In emachineshop there's an option you can select to highlight the centre of gravity, no idea if this was the 'proper' way to do it but I just made a rough spiral shape then placed cutouts until the marker was exactly where the shaft would go so it was properly balanced. I'd presume there's the same sort of options on Inventor and Solidworks, just found it much easier to get my head round it on that!

Thanks for the comments too! I'm hoping it does come together well. It's definitely been a learning curve, finally learned how to Cad so that's definitely a good thing. Harry's done an excellent job on the parts, it's looking great!

Haha yeah it is a spare Jamie, got a spare pair of discs should the worst happen. Not taking any chances with how scary everything sounds this year! Won't lie though, I have been thinking of other uses for the spares which you may see in due course, after this one's done

[Ellis]

You coming to Yeovil? We'll have to have a drumlet-off.

[Flag Captured]

Oooh the gauntlet has been thrown down I will almost definitely be there, depending when it is. Don't get many opportunities to get the spinners out, so it'd be wrong not to take the trip down!

[daveimi]

Hiya, I wondered if you could recommend a smallish battery for a beetle?

[Flag Captured]

Depends how small really! I'm using a 1000mah Nano-Tech 3s that Sam used to have in Lynx (http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...Lipo_Pack.html I think) and that seems to run alright. What are you running from it? Just drive motors?

[mrsam]

The battery Matt currently has ran Lynx okay but couldn't really last a whole fight with both drive and weapon, if you're looking at a battery for your machine though that battery would be perfectly fine, nice and light too.

[daveimi]

Yeah been using nimh packs for the last couple of years was impressed with how much space id save with a lipo. This is a stupid question but what would I need to charge a 3s pack? Is the second plug for balance charging?

[Flag Captured]

You'll need a balance charger for any Lipos, I use the Turnigy Accucel 6 and I've had no problems with that up to press. The white plug is for balancing, you put that into the charger at the same time and it keeps the cells balanced which is what you need for Lipo cells to not consume themselves in a fireball!

I'd recommend reading up on Lipo safety first then making the jump, they're cheap and incredibly power dense for the size and weight so you can't really go wrong. I think the vast majority of beetles use them and I think it's much the same for feathers, though there are a few that use A123 cells in those...

Don't forget you'll need a fuse, rated for something below the battery's maximum burst output, as well as a lipo sack to charge it in. Also will need 2mm aluminium/steel/ti below the battery too as per the rules, though you could try encasing it in a box to keep it in place too and that covers all of your bases!

[daveimi]

Ok thanx for the info. Will google it and have a read

[Flag Captured]

No worries at all! Happy to help Just be aware though that Lipos are a lot more volatile compared to most other kinds of battery so make sure you know what you're doing before you use them. I've never had an issue and I'm about as technologically incompetent as they come, but you've really got to be careful with them!