Align 3GX V2.1 Manual

Align3GXV2.1‐SetupSummary
SwashplateSettings SpeedGovernorSettings RudderSettings FlightModeSetting
EnterSetupMode Turnontransmitter,press/holdSET,poweron
heli,releaseSETbeforeLEDsstopscrolling.
The3GXneedstoknowthemaximumandminimumpositionsof
thethrottleandmechanicaltravelrange,youhavetosetthis
functionwhetheryouuseitornot.Note:Swashplatesettings
needtobecompletedandthensetthegovernorfunction.
1.Resetthrottlecurveandpitchcurvetodefault0‐50‐100.
2.Confirmthetransmitterispoweredup,andthrottlestickisat
lowestposition.
3.PressandholdtheSETbuttonwhilepoweringupthereceiver
untilall1~5LEDlightsup.ReleasetheSETbuttonandGOVred
LEDwilllightup.
4.Pushthethrottlestickontransmittertothemaximumtop,and
inafewmomentsLEDwillgooffandsystempowercycles,
indicatingthecompletionofsetupprocess.
1.PushandholdtheSETbuttonfor2secondtoenterthe
ruddergyrosetupmodewhile3GXisturnedon.
2.Eachsettingvalueislabeledonthe3GXcontrolunitwith
eithergreenorredlettering,whichcorrespondstotheSTATUS
LEDcolor.Subsequentsetupmodeisenteredbyasinglepress
oftheSETbutton.Setupmodewillexitifnoactivityisdetected
in10seconds.
1.With3GXinoperationmode,pushruddertoleftorright,and
presstheSETbuttonforaboutasecond.
2.Afterenteringsettingmode,theSTATUSLEDwillflashspecific
numberoftimestoindicatespecificsettings.
3.Duringsettingprocess,LED1to5indicatetherateofsetting;
flashingLEDrepresents10%,whilesteadylitLEDrepresents20%.
Forexample,ifLED1andLED2aresteadylitwithLED3flashing,
thesetrateis2*20+10=50%.
Setting1LED LED1Lit LED1~5alllitup STATUSflashesgreenonce
Setting MechanicalTravelandNeutralpointsetting Speedgovernorsetup Wide/narrowservobandsetting Cyclicpitchspeedadjustment.
SetupMethod 1.ServoonrightsideofheliframeisAIL,middleis
ELE,leftsideisPIT.DonotexchangeAILandPIT
connections,otherwisesomecompensation
featuremaybereversed.
2.ConfirmproperswashplateactionwithPIT,AIL,
andELEcommands.
3.Ifincorrectmovementsorservohasno
movement,pleasecheckservoconnectionto3GX
aswellasradiocontrolsystem.
1.Ensurecorrectthrottleservodirectionandmechanicaltravel
rangepriortoconnectingthegovernor.
2.Connectwiresandinstallsensormagnetasshownindiagram.
3.WhenusingstandardparallelchannellayoutorS.BUSsystemto
connectthe3GX,speedsettingisdonethroughchannel7.
Turningchannel7onoroffwillenableordisablegovernor
function.Whensatellitereceiversareused,governorspeed
settingisdonethroughchannel5.
4.3GXGOVLEDwilllitgreenwhengovernorisactive,redwhen
inactive.
1.3GXFlybarlesssystemiscompatiblewithboththe760μs
narrowframerateservos(suchasFutabaS9256,S9251,
BLS251),aswellasthestandard1520μsframerateservos
(mostothers).Properframeratemustbeselectedbasedon
yourservo'sspecifications.
2.Pushtheransmitterrudderstickleftorrighttoselectthe
framerate.Forexample,ifrudderispushedtotheleft(or
right)andSTATUSLEDturnsgreen,theframerateissetto
1520μs.Tosetitto760μs,therudderstickneedtobepushed
fromthecentertotheopposingend3timesfortheSTATUS
LEDtoturnred,indicatingframeratesetto760μs.
1.Afterenteringsettingmode,STATUSLEDflashesonce.
2.Aileronandelevatorratecanbeadjustedindependently.
3.MovingtheaileronstickwilldisplayaileronrollrateontheLED.
ThemoreLEDs,thefastertherollrate.Movingtheaileronstick
canincreaseordecreasethenumberofLEDsthatlightsup
betweenLED1toLED5,whichsetstheaileronrollrate.Same
methodisusedtoadjusttheelevatorflipratewhenelevatorstick
ismoved.
4.Elevatorfliprateisadjustedbasedonaileronrollrate.When
thedifferencebetweenelevatorfliprateandaileronrollrate
differsby20%ormore,3GXwillautomaticallyadjustuntilthe
errorratefallswithinrange.Therefore,werecommend
adjustmentaileronrollratefirst,andthenadjustelevatorfliprate.
4.Adjustthemaximumcollectivepitchusingthe
transmitter'sswashplatemixingfunction(pitch
swashAFR).Donotadjustindividualservos
endpointsthroughtheservoATV/AFRfunction.
Shouldanychangesmadetotheendpointsor
subtrimsonthetransmitterinthefuture,the3GX
flybarlesssysteminitialsetupmustbeperformed
again.
5.3GXthrottlegovernorhasthrottlesafetybuiltin.Ifthrottle
isn'tloweredtominimumduring3GXstartup,governorfunction
willnotactivate.Restartthe3GXwiththrottleloweredallthe
waydown.
6.Thefollowingtworequirementsmustbemetinorderfor
governortoactivate:
(1)Governorswitchedon.
(2)Throttlepositionisat30%orhigher.
5.Movingtherelatedcontrolstick,LEDwillautomaticallyjumpto
thesetratedisplayofthespecificstickfunction.Forexample,
movingtheaileronstick,LED1toLED5willdisplayaileronsetrate.
Movingelevatorstick,LEDtoLED5willdisplayelevatorsetrate.
Align3GXV2.1‐EasySetupTable
3GXV2.1EasySetupTable(English).xlsx DduRand‐July2012 1of4

Align3GXV2.1‐SetupSummary
SwashplateSettings SpeedGovernorSettings RudderSettings FlightModeSetting
5.Swashplatecyclicpitchsetting:withthemain
bladesparalleltohelicopterbody,throttlestick
positionedwheremainpitchis0degrees,move
aileronstickallthewaytotheright,adjusttheAIL
mixingratiowithinradio'sSWASHmenusothe
mainbladepitchisthefactoryrecommended
value±8degrees.
6.TheELEmixingratioinSWASHmenucanbeset
tothesamevalueasAIL.
7.Whengovernorisfunctioning,enginerotationalspeedis
controlledbythepercentagesetbyuser.Therotationspeedof
mainbladeisconvertedaccordingtotheengineratiooforiginal
helicopter.
8.Usingthechartontherighttoobtainenginerotationspeedand
headspeedundercorrespondinggovernorchannelpercentage.
Setting2LED LED2Lit LED2Lit STATUSflashesgreentwice
Setting ElevatorTravelLimitSetting Digital/AnalogueServoSelection Elevatortravellimitsetting
SetupMethod Whilekeepingswashplatelevelandmainpitchat
zerodegrees,presstheSETbuttontoregisterthe
neutralpointandenterE.LIM
setupmode.TheE.LIMLEDwilllitupafterDIR
turnsoff.
2.Thethrottlestickpositionwheremainpitchis0
degreemustbemaintainedthroughthissetup
process.
3.Withallchannelsstationary,movethe
transmitterelevatorstickforward,andthenback
tocenterposition.Thiscompletestheswashplate
mixingtyperecognizationprocess.Thecontrol
unitwilldeterminetheCCPMmixingratioor
traditionalmechanicalmixingmaximumelevator
endpoints.

5.MaintainThrottlestickpositionwheremain
pitchis0degreethroughthissetupprocess.
1.Thereisadirectcorrelationbetweenservos'speedtogyro's
performance.Fasterservosareabletoexecutecommands
fromthegyroatfasterandhigherprecision.Duetothehigh
performancegyrosensorsusedinthe3Gflybarlesssystem,
premiumhighspeeddigitalrudderservosaremandatoryfor
optimaltailperformance.Someoftherecommendedrudder
servosincludeAlignDS650,DS620,DS520,DS420,Futaba
S9257,S9256,S9254,S9253,orotherservoswithsimilar
specifications.
2.Setupmethod：PressandholdtheSETbuttonfor2seconds
toenterthesetupmode,thenpresstheSETbuttontoselect
DS/ASsetupmode,asindicatedbythelightingofDS/ASLED.
Usingthetransmitter'srudderstick,selecteitherdigitalservo
DSmode(STATUSLEDisgreen),oranalogservoASmode
(STATUSLEDisred).
1.Beforeenteringelevatorandaileronlimitsetting,pleaseswitch
thetransmittertothrottleholdmodeandpushthethrottledown
to0degreepositiontoavoidmechanicalinterferencedueto
excesstravelrange.
2.Afterenteringsettingmode,STATUSLEDflashestwice
3.Afterenteringsettingmode,elevatormaydeviateasmuchas8
degreespluscompensatingrateeitherforwardorback.Moving
elevatorstickcanadjustservotravellimit.Forexample,ifLED
shows50%,totalelevatortravelrangeis8+0.5*8=12degrees.
4.Generally70%issuitableformosthelicopterframe.If
recommendedvalueisnotused,pleaseadjustsettinguntil
maximumisreachedwithoutmechanicalbinding.
Setting3LED LED3lit LED3lit STATUSflashesgreen3times
Setting Elevatorgyrosetting RudderGyroNOR/REVSetting Ailerontravellimitsetting
SetupMethod 1.PresstheSETbuttontoenterE.REVsetup
mode.TheE.REVLEDwilllitupafterE.LIMturns
off.Thissetupmodesetstheelevatorgyro
direction
2.Tiltthehelicopterforwardasshownindiagram,
andcheckifswashplateistiltingcorrectlytoward
theback.
3.Iftheswashplateistiltingatthewrong
direction,movethetransmitterelevatorstickuntil
STATUSLEDchangescolor,andre‐checkthe
swashplatetiltingdirection.
1.Liftupthehelicopterbyhand,andturnittotheleft(yaw).
Checkiftherudderservoisapplyingcorrectcompensationto
theright.Ifreversed,settheNOR/REVsettingasfollow.
2.Setupmethod：PressandholdtheSETbuttonfor2seconds
toenterthesetupmode,thenpresstheSETbuttontoselect
NOR/REVsetupmode,asindicatedbythelightingofNOR/REV
LED.
3.Usingthetransmitter'srudderstick,selecteitherNOR
(STATUSLEDisgreen),orREV(STATUSLEDisred).
1.Afterenteringsettingmode,STATUSLEDflashes3times.
2.Afterenteringsettingmode,aileronmaydeviateasmuchas8
degreespluscompensatingrateeitherforwardorback.Moving
aileronstickcanadjustservotravellimit.Forexample,ifLED
shows50%,totalelevatortravelrangeis8+0.5*8=12degrees.
3.Generally70%issuitableformosthelicopterframe.If
recommendedvalueisnotused,pleaseadjustsettinguntil
maximumisreachedwithoutmechanicalbinding.
3GXV2.1EasySetupTable(English).xlsx DduRand‐July2012 2of4

Align3GXV2.1‐SetupSummary
SwashplateSettings SpeedGovernorSettings RudderSettings FlightModeSetting
Setting4LED LED4LED4STATUSflashesgreen4times
Setting AileronTravelLimitSetting RudderServoTravel SwashplateDampeningSetting
SetupMethod 1.PresstheSETbuttontoenterA.LIMsetup
mode.TheA.LIMLEDwilllitupafterE.REVturns
off.
2.Withallchannelsstationary,movethe
transmitteraileronsticktotheright,andthen
backtocenterposition.Thiscompletesthe
aileronendpointsetupprocess.Thecontrolunit
willdeterminethemaximumaileronendpoints.
1.PresstheSETbuttontoenterLIMITsetupmode.
2.Pushthetransmitterrudderstickleftuntiltailpitchslider
reachestheend,thencentertherudderstickandwait2
secondsfortheSTATUSLEDtoflashred.Thiscompletesthe
rudderendpointlimitadjustmentfortheleftside.
3.Pushtherudderstickrightuntiltailpitchsliderreaches
theend,thencentertherudderstickandwait2seconds
fortheSTATUSLEDtoflashred.Thiscompletesthe
rudderendpointlimitadjustmentfortherightside.
1.Afterenteringsettingmode,STATUSLEDflashes4times.
2.Movetheaileronsticktoadjustcyclicpitchdampeningrate;the
moreLEDlightsup,themoredampeningeffect.Pleasenote
aileronandelevatordampeningcannotbeadjustedseparately.
Movingaileronstickisforadjustingcyclicpitchdampeningrate,
butmovingelevatorstickisforadjustingcollectivepitch
dampeningrate,NOTelevatordampeningrate.
3.Themoredampeningeffect,thesmootherhelicopterflies,but
feelslessdirect.Therateofdampeningshouldbeadjustedtosuit
pilot’spreferences.
Setting5LED LED5 LED5 STATUSflashesgreen5times
Setting Ailerongyrosetting HeliSizeandDelayValue Swashplatebump(acceleration)Setting
SetupMethod 1.PresstheSETbuttontoenterA.REVsetup
mode.TheA.REVLEDwilllitupafterA.LIMturns
off.
2.Tiltthehelicopterrightasshownindiagram,
andcheckifswashplateistiltingcorrectlytoward
theleft.Iftheswashplateistiltingatthewrong
direction,movethetransmitteraileronstickuntil
STATUSLEDchangescolor,andre‐checkthe
swashplatetiltingdirection.
3.PresstheSETbuttonagain,andthecontrolunit
willrestartwithallLED'sflashing.
Thiscompletestheflybarlessportionofthesetup
process.
1.PressSETbuttontoselectDELAYsetupmode.Thechoiceof
smallorlargehelicopterisdonebymovingthetransmitter
rudderstickleftorrightwhileobservingthecolorofSTATUS
LED.(Forexample,T‐REX500/550/600/700theSTATUSLED
willbegreen.T‐REX250/450theSTATUSLEDwillbered.)
2.TheamountofrudderstickmovedfromcenteristheDELAY
amount.WhenDELAYLEDbeginstoflash,delayisat0%.
Whenrudderstickispushedtotheend,delayisat100%.
3.ConfirmthesettingbypushingtheSETbutton.
1.Afterenteringsettingmode,STATUSLEDflashes5times.
2.Movetheaileronsticktoadjustcyclicpitchaccelerationrate;
themoreLEDlightsup,themoreaccelerationeffect.Pleasenote
aileronandelevatoraccelerationcannotbeadjustedseparately.
Movingaileronstickisforadjustingcyclicpitchaccelerationrate,
butmovingelevatorstickisforadjustingcollectivepitch
accelerationrate,NOTelevatoraccelerationrate.
3.Whencyclicpitchaccelerationisactive,hoveringpointfixation
abilitymaybereduced.BeginnersorF3Cpilotsshouldminimize
cyclicpitchaccelerationratevalue,orsetittozero.
4.Settingswashplateaccelerationmayincreasetheburstamp
drawofservos.Therefore,BECoutputcapabilityshouldbe
confirmedtohandleburstcurrentwhensettingcollectivepitch
acceleration,otherwiseinsufficientcurrentsupplymayresultin
flightaccidents.Werecommenddirectpowersupplyif
accelerationishigherthan50%.
3GXV2.1EasySetupTable(English).xlsx DduRand‐July2012 3of4

Align3GXV2.1‐SetupSummary
SwashplateSettings SpeedGovernorSettings RudderSettings FlightModeSetting
Setting6LED LED1~5alllitup
Setting Gyroinstallreversesetting
SetupMethod 1.Toachieveconsistentgyrogainonleftandright,3GXhas
builtinanti‐torquecompensationfunction.Userneedto
confirmif3GXismountedrightsideuporupsidedown.
2.Rightsideup:Installedwith3GXlabelfacingup,anti‐torque
compensationsettopositive(greenSTATUSLED).Upside
down:Installedwith3GXlabelfacingdown,anti‐torque
compensationsettonegative(redSTATUSLED).
4.Setupmethod:PressandholdtheSETbuttonfor2seconds
toentersetupmode,selectuntilanti‐torquecompensation
section,asindicatedbylightingofall5setupmodeLEDs.Using
theruddersticktoselecteitherpositiveanti‐torque
compensation(greenSTATUSLED)forrightsideupmounting,
ornegativeanti‐torquecompensation(redSTATUSLED)for
upsidedowninstallation.
Inadditiontotransmitter,theanti‐torquecompensation
featurecanalsobesetthrough3GXinterface'srudder
parameter.
Transmitter Setting RudderGainAdjustmentonTransmitter
SetupMethod 1.Forradiowithbuiltingyrogainsettings,gaincanbeadjusted
directly.Forexample,50%‐100%settingontheradio
translatesto0%‐100%gainintheheadinglockmode;50%‐0%
settingontheradiotranslatesto0%‐100%gaininthenormal
(non‐heading)lockmode.
2.Actualgainvaluediffersamongstservosandhelicopters.
Thegoalistofindthemaximumgainwithouttailhunting.This
canonlybedonethroughactualflighttests.
3.Therecommendedstartingpointfortransmitter'sgyrogain
settingshouldbe70~80%forhovering,60~70%foridle‐up.
Valueshouldbetunedunderactualflightconditionsby
increasingtothemaximumgainwithouttailhunting.
Warnings Aftercompletingsettingof8degreesSWASH,do
notmakefurtheradjustments.Ifadjustmentto
helicopter’srollrateisneeded,theadjustment
mustbemadeintherollrateunderflightmode’s
cyclicpitchsection.
1.FlashingLEDindicates10%;fullylitLEDindicates20%.For
example,LED1andLED2arefullylit,whileLED3isflashing,thisis
translatedto2*20+10=50%.
2.Movethesticktodisplaythestickfunction’ssettingvalue.For
example,movingaileronstickwillresultinLED1~LED5displaying
aileron’ssettingvalue.
DeonduRand‐2012‐7‐04
3GXV2.1EasySetupTable(English).xlsx DduRand‐July2012 4of4