gjohnson
05-19-2001, 04:21 PM
I have been planning to build a motor test rig so I can evaluate motor/prop/gear/battery combinations for the Flying Aces Stick I'm building. Motors for that plane are glued to small balsa plates and then rubber banded to the airplane. So, testing them on a stand and swapping will be quite easy. There was an article on how to build a test stand in the March Electric Flight International. That one was built to handle large Astro motors. Seems to me for indoor motors we need much less robust rigs. This morning as I was playing with my son and his Tinker Toys, I realized I could build one out of them. Off we went to the workshop, and 5 minutes later I was testing a Kenway KR1 on the new 4x70 mAh NiMh batteries.
Basically, the motor and all gear is stuck on with foam double sided tape (need to glue the motor to a mounting plate and then rubber band to the stand in the future to make sure it is held on more securely). The round knob presses down on a digital scale. The two sliding pieces are to balance it so it puts a slight pressure on the scale. Note the initial reading on the scale, then start the motor and test. Scale readings need to be multiplied by the leverage factor (left side from pivot is longer than the right side).
Full motor tests will have to wait till my tachometer comes and I hook up my Astro micro meter (need to do some soldering). But, it seems to work.
I may still build a "formal" test rig. I think I'd like to use skate board ball bearings at the pivot (although this one pivots freely). On the other hand, perhaps I'll just enhance this Tinker Toy rig. If anyone has built rigs for testing motors, either large outdoor or very small indoor, please post details/pictures/techniques here.
--Gordon
http://www.rcmicroflight.com/upload/TestRig1.jpg
[ 05-19-2001: Message edited by: gjohnson ]
Basically, the motor and all gear is stuck on with foam double sided tape (need to glue the motor to a mounting plate and then rubber band to the stand in the future to make sure it is held on more securely). The round knob presses down on a digital scale. The two sliding pieces are to balance it so it puts a slight pressure on the scale. Note the initial reading on the scale, then start the motor and test. Scale readings need to be multiplied by the leverage factor (left side from pivot is longer than the right side).
Full motor tests will have to wait till my tachometer comes and I hook up my Astro micro meter (need to do some soldering). But, it seems to work.
I may still build a "formal" test rig. I think I'd like to use skate board ball bearings at the pivot (although this one pivots freely). On the other hand, perhaps I'll just enhance this Tinker Toy rig. If anyone has built rigs for testing motors, either large outdoor or very small indoor, please post details/pictures/techniques here.
--Gordon
http://www.rcmicroflight.com/upload/TestRig1.jpg
[ 05-19-2001: Message edited by: gjohnson ]