Heli-Max HMXM1015 User Manual

Thank you for purchasing the Heli-Max HM4050 Heading

®

Lock Gyro. You can use this fast setup guide to get you
going but please take the time to read the full manual
at Heli-Max.com. There you will learn all the bene ts
this gyro o ers.

HM4050 AVCS Heading Lock Gyro Fast Setup Guide

Understanding Your Gyro

1-Light Emitting Diode (LED)

The LED will glow green anytime the gyro is

powered and operating.

2-Limit Dial (LIMIT)

This dial adjusts the rudder servo travel. 100% =

maximum travel.

WARNING: In this step it is best to unplug the
motor or move the motor pinion gear away from
the main gear or you might risk injury.

Installing the Gyro

3-Sensing Dial (SENS)

This dial is used to change the delay time between

the gyro and the servo. NOTE: With the GYRO

SENS ADJ switch set to (ON) this dial becomes
your GAIN adjustment (see below).

4-SENS ADJ

This switch is used to change the gyro from being

able to adjust “gain” from the transmitter (O ) or
adjust the gain from the SENS dial (On).

5-Direction (DIR)

This switch is used to change the gyro’s compensation

direction. NOTE: Incorrectly setting the direction

switch can cause an unsafe situation.

6-Digital Servo (DS)

This switch is used to select between digital or

analog servos.

Attach the 3 wire male connector (rudder) from the
gyro to channel 4 of your receiver (Futaba®). Also, plug
in the one wire plug from the gyro (gain) in to channel
5 (Futaba), making sure the yellow wire is aligned with
the signal wire of the other servo plugs.

Install the rudder servo following the helicopter
manufacturer’s instructions. Note: A more detailed
servo installation is explained on heli-max.com.

Installation: Once your helicopter is fully assembled
and you are ready to install the gyro, take time to verify
that the tail rotor’s pitch compensation is the correct
direction. To do this, simply plug the rudder servo into
channel 4 of your receiver. Turn on the transmitter
and then power up the helicopter. Moving the left
stick (rudder stick) to the left should cause the trailing
edge of the tail blades to follow the stick movement.
If it does not, use your transmitter’s servo reversing
switch to change it.

To install the Gyro select an open area on the helicopter

away from the motor and motor controller. Your
installation position should be with the gyro in-line
with the main shaft. Typically, most gyros are installed
on the frame set over the tail boom mounting area.

The orientation of the gyro’s sensor is such that the label

of the gyro faces up. Clean the area with an alcohol pad
and attach the gyro using the supplied foam tape. Press
down  rmly to secure the gyro. To be consistent, mount
the gyro so the face plate wording is legible from the
back of the helicopter.

Gyro Setup

Turn on your transmitter and enter your radio’s menu

and check to make sure REVO MIX (Revolution Mixing)
is disabled. Plug the main power battery into the
controller. Again, it is best to unplug the motor or

move the motor pinion gear away from the main
gear or you might risk injury. Wait at least 5 seconds

before moving the helicopter. This is important as the
gyro is reading its current position and should not be
disrupted at this time. Move the rudder stick left and
right. Adjust the LIMIT dial so the tail pitch slider does
not bottom out on the tail case or tail hub. Start at 50
percent and work the dial either a lesser percentage or
larger percentage to complete the adjustment.

Adjust the DIR switch so the gyro provides the proper

compensation direction. To check this, grasp the
helicopter holding the tail away from you. Swing or
rotate the helicopter left to right. The trailing edge of
the tail blades should move the same direction as your
rotation direction.

Gyro Usage

Flying using “LOCAL” mode
(SENS ADJ Switch “ON”)

Attach your rudder servo connector to the open female

connector leading from the gyro.

© 2012 Hobbico®, Inc. All rights reserved.

If you choose to use the gyro in local mode it will
automatically be in heading hold. It’s important to note

HMXM1015

that when in heading hold the servo arm will not center
when you release pressure of the rudder stick. This is
normal. To adjust the gain you must do this manually
using the SENS dial located on the top of the gyro.

Adjust the SENS dial to 50%.

Hover the helicopter and look for any tail wag or fade. If
you are a skilled pilot you will want to put the helicopter
in forward  ight and review the tail’s performance.

Adjust the SENS (gain) dial either higher for more gain

or lower for less.

NOTE: Dialing back the SENS (gain) dial too far will
limit the travel of the servo. The goal is to adjust
the gain so the tail does not wag but holds the
yaw axes in all  ight directions. It’s also important
to note that if you are using a radio system with
limited programming capabilities, this might be
the best mode for your application.

Using the gyro in “REMOTE”
(SENS ADJ Switch “OFF”)

With the LOCAL switch o , you will enter the GYRO
menu of your transmitter to adjust the gain.

To get an idea of how this works, let’s step through

setting up the gyro using the Futaba 6EX radio system
in our Heli-Max AXE 400.

switch will cause a small arrow to change from up to
down based on the position of the switch. You will also
see a plus or negative symbol to the right of the small
arrow. You will use the +/- button located to the right
of the screen to change the gain value.

If you set both values to a positive percentage, switch
up and switch down, you can obtain two heading hold
gain values in the same  ight program; for instance, one
value for hover (typically a higher gain percentage) and
one value for forward  ight or 3D (typically less gain).

Again, it’s important to note that in Heading Hold the

servo arm will not center when you release pressure o
the rudder stick. We  nd this to be the most common
gain setup. That being said, 55% to 60% gain is a good
starting point.

If you have both percentages at a negative value the
gyro will operate in “normal” mode and also provide
you with two possible “normal”  ght gain conditions.

This is the least common gain setup.

If you choose, you can have the heading hold switch
position (up) and a normal switch position (down), with
di erent values at the same time – a combination of
the two gyro gain setups. Most call this style of set up
a “trim setup”; one can easily toggle from normal to
heading hold to review the installation and setup of
the rudder servo.

First make sure your rudder trim setting is centered
on the transmitter. Leave it at center; you do not want
to make any adjustments to the trim with the gyro in
heading hold anytime the helicopter is in use.

Check your electronic EPA (end point adjustment) in
the transmitter.

To start you want those values (rudder stick left and

rudder stick right) at 100%. To do so, with the transmitter
on (the helicopter need not be powered up for this
adjustment), press and hold the Mode/Select buttons
simultaneously. The system will enter the main menu.
Press the Mode button until EPA appears. Press the select
button until you bring up channel 4. Move the rudder
stick left to right to view the end point percentages.
Set the value to 100% using the +/- button if needed.

To Set Up the Remote Gain Percentages

Enter the main menu by pressing and holding the Mode/
Select buttons simultaneously.

Warranty Service

Heli-Max® will warrant your Gyro for 90 days after the
purchase from defects in materials or workmanship
of original manufacture. Heli-Max, at their option, will
repair or replace at no charge, the incorrectly made part.

This warranty does not cover damage caused by crash,

abuse, misuse, alteration or accident. To return your
Gyro for service you need to provide proof of purchase,
your store receipt or product invoice will su ce. IN NO
EVENT SHALL THE PURCHASER BE ENTITLED TO ANY
INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES, WHETHER RESULTING FROM THE USE,
MISUSE OR INABILITY TO USE THE PRODUCT OR FROM
DEFECTS IN THE PRODUCT. This warranty gives you
speci c legal rights and you may also have other rights,
which vary from state to state.

Hobby Services

3002 N. Apollo Drive, Suite 1
Champaign, Illinois 61822

Press and hold to scroll to the GYRO menu. If the GYRO
menu is INH (Inhibited) shift the arrow key positive +
and hold until the GYRO menu says ON.

Press the select button; here you will see a number
percentage with a small arrow to the left. NOTE: Switch
H is the GYRO switch on the 6EX (CH: 5). Flipping this

Attn: Service Department

Phone: [phone]
9:00 am - 5:00 pm Central Time M-F

E-mail: [e-mail]

Outside USA and Canada, contact local importer for
warranty information.