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Post by sandy69 on May 18, 2021 17:47:24 GMT -4
WOW. I'm still learning my little Ender 3Pro and you've moved on to the 5 Pro. SUPER
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Post by krmckay "Bombs away" on May 18, 2021 18:53:16 GMT -4
not the 5 Pro ...it's the 5 PLUS, one version higher
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Post by krmckay "Bombs away" on May 19, 2021 15:23:26 GMT -4
Wings complete except for ailerons and servo install. Elevator still to be installed. As pictured in the two photos uploaded today weight is 2.32 KG. Approx 5.1 pounds (with 2200MAH Battery) but as stated still needs aileron servos and elevator installed.
One problem even with the battery installed C of G is off by approx 2" (tail heavy) and will be more so once all control surfaces are installed. I have nothing I can move forward so I either have to extend the motor mount or add lead to the nose.. or both. I haven't yet checked the weight from side to side I'm hoping that is balanced at least.
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Post by scooterboy on May 21, 2021 12:14:02 GMT -4
Kevin; I would extend the nose or move the motor forward like you suggested for sure. Adding significant amounts of lead will just make the whole model much heavier. Cool build by the way. Are you using standard PLA or Light weight PLA (LWPLA)? If the LW PLA....where did you get it? Have fun! The other Kevin
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Post by krmckay "Bombs away" on May 21, 2021 17:55:13 GMT -4
I'm in the process of extending the motor mount from 20mm to 55mm in length. therefore moving the motor out front by more than an inch. That also allows me to move the ESC forward an inch as well. But right now I'm paused as I have to source 3" machine screws to secure the motor to the mount and the mount to the fuse. If I need more I will be cutting off F1 and reprinting it longer to give me more weight further out front of the C of G.
I have built the whole plane with standard PLA (4043D from EurekaTec ) the 'random' filament that is discounted due to colour variation between production lots....nothing wrong with it, just not a standard colour. perfect if you plan on painting it.($14.99 for 1KG spool)
If I print another plane I will definitely consider LWPLA. I have seen some for sale on Amazon and a few other 3D printing sites. This has been more of a learning experience than a build thread and I have learnt a lot about 3d printing planes and my Printer. My new printer arrives tomorrow so I'll be spending the day setting it up and running test prints on it.
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Post by krmckay "Bombs away" on May 24, 2021 18:03:13 GMT -4
Of course my new 3D printer was delayed and didn't arrive until Sunday. I spent all day trying to assemble and setup the printer....what a bear!! almost nil instructions. assembly book showed mostly only pictures, showing connecting wires of the same colour together. Fine if you're not colour blind!!! After 45 mins of assembly it was on to bed levelling. 8+ hrs later I finally figured out what the pictures wanted/needed (also youtube videos). Then on to the next problem. It would not read the gcode files on the TF Card. An hour ago I finally figured out the software on the printer can't read file names longer than 16 Alpha-numeric in length without any spaces. No where on the manufacturer's website or instruction booklets does it mention that VERY Important fact. 36 hrs later and I'm finally printing on the new machine.....what a beast, it's 3 x the size of the Ender 5.
This Ender5 Plus is all software driven for levelling and error detection etc. I do like the older ender5 with all the manual tweaks you can make on the fly. After only one day and I have already begun upgrades on the 5Plus. bed levelling coil springs where thrown out and replaced with Hi temp silicone rubber bumpers (much more steady for levelling the bed). I'm in the process of printing a wire strain relief structure for the heating bed cable, right now wires are just dangling from the bottom of the bed. That is a poor design.
I'll soon be back at the Liddle stik.
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Post by krmckay "Bombs away" on Jun 3, 2021 12:06:19 GMT -4
Well I'm back at it and have completed reprinting/painting and attaching a new F1 (nose) to the plane 20% longer. Latest pic uploaded to the share point. I have installed a new motor mount 2 1/2" long to the nose and mounted the motor. Before doing a proper weight and balance I still need to install the ailerons and landing gear. When I went to prep the ailerons for installation I found that the hinge slots needed to be cleaned out as filament had oozed into the slots. Well that isn't going to work so I'm reprinting both ailerons in the vertical orientation as I had previously printed them flat to save filament but that allowed the warm filament to close off the slots. I'm also waiting on a piece of aluminum from my good friend Jim Halliburton who graciously offered me the metal as a proper landing gear. So weight and balance is going to be a while longer, but it looks like it is a lot closer than before. If I do need additional nose weight I have two options .....double the batteries (2x3S in parallel) or remove and reprint the Hortz stab with a lighter version. Time will tell.
I've pretty much figured out My new Ender 5 PLUS printer. It does suffer from software issues as noted previously. File names are limited to 16 characters max and after printing the print head does not return to home position but instead drives hard over to the left rear corner placing the BL touch (auto level sensor ) directly over a frame support. when you start a second print or reboot the machine the sensor contacts the frame support and messes up the levelling process and will not allow you to print. You have to manually move the print head right or forward one inch so it clears the frame support and cycle the power on the machine and you're back in business. I can't wait for a firmware update. stupid things like this should never have been released to the public until corrected. Otherwise it is a really good machine especially for large jobs.
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Post by krmckay "Bombs away" on Apr 15, 2022 17:54:50 GMT -4
I had to add one last item to the battery access hatch and it turned out to be functional as well. Snoopy is also a handle to open the hatch.
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Post by krmckay "Bombs away" on Apr 15, 2022 18:00:30 GMT -4
Forgot to mention the all up weight of the plane is 5.36 lbs without the battery (battery 3300mah 3S is 262 grams). The motor is rated for 480 watts and should be able to make this fly with ease. On the next calm day with perfect flying weather, I plan on having a maiden flight with her. Whether that be at Shearwater or Avon club remains to be seen.
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Post by coyote on Apr 18, 2022 6:26:03 GMT -4
Nice. Unfortunately I've got no room for one 😕
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Post by krmckay "Bombs away" on Oct 23, 2022 17:04:13 GMT -4
Well after the maiden earlier in the year and subsequent repairs from a hard landing due to being extremely tail heavy. I test flew the plane again this morning at Avon club field as I thought Grass and corn stalks would soften any impacts if I didn't get the repairs correct. With help on trimming the plane while I concentrated on flying it. The plane flew for a 4:30 flight and landed without a scratch. Still minor changes to be made but it flys fast and cuts threw the air like a knife. it is now slightly nose heavy but that is easily corrected with changing to a lighter battery (3300mah down to a 2250mah 3S) and removing some of the lead weight from the nose.
I am really impressed with a 3D printed plane and really didn't think it would fly like I wanted. It is a real nice surprise that this is a good flyer and will stay in my hangar for next year....just have to watch out for summer sun and heat as PLA filament will warp and sag in high summer temperatures. One more flight after weight and balance adjusted 'again' it will be a weekly flyer.
Sorry guys no video or photos of the flight this time.
Kevin
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