F550 Weight and Balance

[PilotHal]

Well, I have my F550 with WKM 95% complete! I just have to verify the direction each motor is spinning, then attach the props. All is hooked up and ready and an initial configuration has been done in the software. My first flight will be to adjust the gains with my AUX3 knob then set them permanently. After that, I'll move on to setting up IOC and "return to home/failsafe" on a switch.

But what I'm curious about is how do I balance the multicopter? Also, is there a rated max payload weight for the F550 with the stock motors/esc's?

Thanks!

 

[Nuttzzy]

What I did... On my 2nd go at building the 550, was I put all the weight as close to center mass as possible. Including the MC haven't checked the CG yet tho. The first time I just put everything on there found the CG and entered the numbers in the software was still stable.


Beep, Beep, Honk, Honk, Over and Out Rotorhead

 

[PilotHal]

Ok, well that doesn't help me. My electronics are loaded somewhat equally along the lateral axis of the F550. What I'm looking for is a procedure to balance the copter. I'm also looking for a spec on the max payload of the copter.

 

[VINHEX]

I just lifted my F550 from the centre arms and check if rocked forward or backward and then adjusted WKM with details. Max load for F550 STD is 2400g however some people inc me are running a 2.9kg with loads of kit on.

 

[olof]

I fly with a bit more than 3KG, I will post photos soon.

It is easy to check CG. Just pick up the 550 with a finger under the built in "landing stubs" on the arms. Do this for each of the three pairs. Move the battery or whatever you can around until it stays level no matter what pair of wings you lift by.

This is a very quick and easy procedure. Especially if you have a gimbal and camera as that lowers the CG a lot. W/O a gimbal put fingers just under and outside the motors and us the same procedure.

I fly with standard motors and ESCs, GPS kit, 3 cel 6400 lips and have a Sony NX5n and a small fpv w/transmitter on a MKTR pro gimbal. I get about 6min max flight time with 20% left on lipo when landing. Everything is still cool when I land, it is winter here, it may be different in hot weather. I use 10" CF props, they are quiet and smooth.

 

[OneStopRC]

Found this on DJI's FAQ, Not very accurate to say the least, but this is it....
What’s the payload of F550?

About 0.5-1kg. On another website it says 2kg...

As for your CG, I line everything up electronics wise under the battery. Then I find two equal point to put my fingers under the frame, and space them as close as I can. From there I can see where my CG kind of is, and move my battery around to shift the CG.

There is also the CG settings in the WKM, but I would try to equal out the CG as much as possible, or one maybe two motors will be working harder than the rest to keep the CG. Balance is the key to a nice steady flight!

 

[VINHEX]

Thats giving me some confidence on what I run. Cool

 

[PilotHal]

I fly with a bit more than 3KG, I will post photos soon.

It is easy to check CG. Just pick up the 550 with a finger under the built in "landing stubs" on the arms. Do this for each of the three pairs. Move the battery or whatever you can around until it stays level no matter what pair of wings you lift by.

This is a very quick and easy procedure. Especially if you have a gimbal and camera as that lowers the CG a lot. W/O a gimbal put fingers just under and outside the motors and us the same procedure.

I fly with standard motors and ESCs, GPS kit, 3 cel 6400 lips and have a Sony NX5n and a small fpv w/transmitter on a MKTR pro gimbal. I get about 6min max flight time with 20% left on lipo when landing. Everything is still cool when I land, it is winter here, it may be different in hot weather. I use 10" CF props, they are quiet and smooth.

Excellent! This is what I was looking for.
Thanks!

 

[Nuttzzy]

Ok, well that doesn't help me. My electronics are loaded somewhat equally along the lateral axis of the F550. What I'm looking for is a procedure to balance the copter. I'm also looking for a spec on the max payload of the copter.

So you needed to find the Center of Gravity.. Ok guess I didn't understand that part.. I did it with string. Hung the 550 by opposite arms so I had free hands to move stuff around to where I felt comfy. Then... I had a screw in a board or some type of point (saw a guy do it with a wine cork) and set the 550 on the point and found the precise balance point. That is your X,Y CG. For your Z CG you can balance it on your front arms and work the angles like in this picture. I personally also used string Hung by two rear arms. It's about 1/4 or 1/2 in above my table. But not touching that will throw off the angle. then gravity will hold the right angle and you have free hands. (I do this on my helis by the main shaft also). But I crash my 550 and broke and arm. So I turned it into a quad. And never changed the CG in the Naza. It still is very stable.

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Beep, Beep, Honk, Honk, Over and Out Rotorhead