FT Slow Stick S250
- Thread starter makoman1860
- Start date
RickyG
Member
I too loaded up the parts into Tinkercad and adjusted the hole to 8.2mm I came up with the original hole diameter as 7.4mm. I thought it would be super easy in tinkercad, and it was... Except for the motor mount as it looks like there is some built in right/down thrust. I was able to make it work, but it took a bit of tinkering...
I couldn't source any arrow shafts easily, so I got some Karbxon carbon fiber tubes off amazon for about $11 each. They are 8mm x 6mm x 1000mm. They should be in today and I'll get to building!
Ricky
Aslansmonkey
Well-known member
In tinkercad you can set your build surface. Just set it it to the back of the motor mount and then make your cylindrical hole. It'll be angled correctly that way.
RickyG
Member
Dude... That was WAY simpler than what I did... I enlarged the entire part until the "hole" was about 8.2mm, then I "cut away" all the other parts that were now too big, just to get the now enlarged "tube" Then I grouped the now larger tube into the original part. where I had "cut" the smaller tube out.
Your way is so much easier. Thank You!
Ricky
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Foamforce
Elite member
Microcenter has the Ender 3 Pro for $199 with a $100 off coupon if they do not have your phone number in their system.
$100 Off Creality Ender 3 V2 3D Printer | New Customer Exclusive
New Customer Exclusive! Sign up to get your coupon via text. Limit one coupon per person. One time use in-store only coupon. While supplies last.www.microcenter.com
Oh man, that’s a raging bargain! The nearest Microcenter is 2:15 from me, near Chicago. I’m seeing if my wife wants to visit Chicago now. 😀
Draftman1
Active member
got my coupon, going down to denver friday to pick it up!, thanks for the tip!Microcenter has the Ender 3 Pro for $199 with a $100 off coupon if they do not have your phone number in their system.
$100 Off Creality Ender 3 V2 3D Printer | New Customer Exclusive
New Customer Exclusive! Sign up to get your coupon via text. Limit one coupon per person. One time use in-store only coupon. While supplies last.
RickyG
Member
Besides enlarging the diameter of the hole to 8.2mm (8.3mm on the tail part) I also made another piece to help support the battery and I printed two esc holders. One for the esc and another for the receiver.
I printed everything in Polymaker PolyLite LW-PLA. The pre-foamed LW-PLA with the same settings I use for PLA. I haven't cut out the foam yet, but I'm thinking I'm going to go for an "Ultra" Slow Stick look. I might even put some LEDs in it.
View attachment 20230423_181046.jpg
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I printed everything in Polymaker PolyLite LW-PLA. The pre-foamed LW-PLA with the same settings I use for PLA. I haven't cut out the foam yet, but I'm thinking I'm going to go for an "Ultra" Slow Stick look. I might even put some LEDs in it.
View attachment 20230423_181046.jpg
View attachment 20230423_181040.jpg
Aslansmonkey
Well-known member
Here's my progress so far. Like @RickyG I'm using Polymaker LW-PLA. I also printed an additional ESC mount to put between the wing mounts. That one will hold the receiver. The ESC will go on the flat space behind the motor for the most direct airflow. The battery will go on the "ESC" mount floating between the wings and the motor mount. My plan is to NOT glue that one in place so I can slide the battery back and forth to balance the plane (I plan to add rubber bands to both help hold the battery in place and keep it moving in flight down to a minimum. I also needed an additional tail wire guide to keep the wires from warping so much.
Also shown are my pool noodle wheels and hubs.
I've not yet glued things in place as I plan to get all the equipment on and configure it for flight and then position the wings for proper balance.
Also shown are my pool noodle wheels and hubs.
I've not yet glued things in place as I plan to get all the equipment on and configure it for flight and then position the wings for proper balance.
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CappyAmeric
Elite member
How far back did you mount the front wing mount, and what length arrow did you use?
Aslansmonkey
Well-known member
I'm using a 32" 8mm diameter arrow for this as that's what I had. I have NOT glued the wing mounts in place. My plan is to get all the running gear on it including the battery, then using the balance points marked in the plans, move the wing forward and back to get it close to balancing first (with the battery mid way between the forward wing mount and engine mount). Then I'll glue the wing mounts in place and can refine the balance by moving the battery forward or backward on the space between the motor mount and the forward wing mount.
Hi Aslanmonkey,
Thank you for writing down how you are balancing your plane. I talked to a friend of mind about putting the slow stick together and he told me to put the whole plane together with the tail glued on and the rest of the parts not to be glued yet and find the cg of the plane by moving the main wing back and forth. I like have great minds think alike.
My understanding by doing this balancing method the arrow shaft does not need to be a certain length.
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Foamforce
Elite member
This plane seems like a good opportunity to put the battery mount directly below the COG so that different size batteries don’t have to be moved around to maintain balance. On most planes this would mean having a long nose, since most(?) designs use the weight of the battery to counter balance the weight of the tail. With the long arrow shaft though, there appears to be plenty of room to move the wing back while still having a good distance between the trailing edge of the wing and the stabilizers. Being able to slide things around and try it out will be fun.
Hoomi
Master member
For the arrow I bought, I had to print the parts at 106% for the shaft to fit though the parts. I printed the 4 channel servo mount, but the PLA I have is too fragile for the dimensions on the part. I ended up cutting some scrap foamboard to fit in a triangle configuration starting at the front wing support, and mounted the servos in that. The elevator and rudder servos are on the sides, while the aileron servo is directly on top, below the wing. My plan is to go ahead and glue the wing onto the mounting struts, and maybe add the rubber bands for additional support. The plane is small enough that keeping the wing removable isn't really necessary for me. I'll take some photos when I get home this afternoon, and post them here.
I still need to finish the assembly. My plan is to not secure the wing supports until I have the rest of the plane assembled, and then settle on a final position for the wing by placing it for the best CG with the recommended battery.
I still need to finish the assembly. My plan is to not secure the wing supports until I have the rest of the plane assembled, and then settle on a final position for the wing by placing it for the best CG with the recommended battery.
Spitfire76
Well-known member
Started my build by printing the 3d printed parts (3ch version) with regular PLA but may reprint with some LW-PLA. I've also cut out the foam board parts. From the 3d printed parts it looks like the arrow shaft needs to be 9/32" dia.
I need to buy some electronics. I do have an Emax MT1806/2280Kv motor and a couple of old 5g servos but will need an ESC with 2mm bullet and XT30 connectors, some 6 x 4.5 props and some 800mAh 2s batteries also with XT30 connectors. I also need to get a small PWM receiver, possibly a Radiomaster R84.
I know that this is a simple plane but I think I'll hold off though on ordering anything until a build video is available.
I need to buy some electronics. I do have an Emax MT1806/2280Kv motor and a couple of old 5g servos but will need an ESC with 2mm bullet and XT30 connectors, some 6 x 4.5 props and some 800mAh 2s batteries also with XT30 connectors. I also need to get a small PWM receiver, possibly a Radiomaster R84.
I know that this is a simple plane but I think I'll hold off though on ordering anything until a build video is available.
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Aslansmonkey
Well-known member
It'll be difficult to balance that way. This plane has very large tail surfaces to give it gentle flight characteristics, but this also makes it tail heavy. I got mine to balance with a 850mah 3S on the flat behind the motor mount. I'd have to add weights if I wanted to fly it on the little 450mah 2s batteries I have (though I'd probably just put two of those on).
To put the battery at the COG you'd have to have the wing WAY far back.
RickyG
Member
I have to figure out my landing gear. I really like your hubs for the fun noodle @Aslansmonkey I might need to print those out! Mine will be a FT Ultra Slow Stick. I haven't cut my 8mm carbon rod yet, but am thinking 32" is a good number. Besides squaring the trailing edges off I redesigned the rudder to look more "ultra"
Ricky
Ricky
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Taildragger
Legendary member
Ok you guys made me want one... a trip to walmart and a few hours of printing and I have this:
Going to make the whole ting just red like the GWS slow stick
Going to make the whole ting just red like the GWS slow stick
I just bought one and got the $100 off coupon too. Score! My son and I put it together. Looks like a nice printer. I have zero experience but like building things. My son actually put it all together (13 yr) with my help. I watched a Youtube video to do the fine tuneing of the bed and printed the one cat file they had and it started out perfect. I had to leave and was considering stopping the print when it slipped most likely due to the many fingerprints on the bed during assembly. (Now I know.) I also watched some more videos and can't wait to slice and print the Flight Test parts. I will try again on Thursday. Cleaning the bed before printing will likely fix my problem.
Curious minds need to know what arrow shaft you bought.
I still need to make my trip to Walmart.
Taildragger
Legendary member
I got a youth 26" 35lb arrow, then i heated the tip and notch to pull them off, and cut off the feathers. Seems like the youth arrows are the closest to the right diameter (7mm)Curious minds need to know what arrow shaft you bought.
