THE ULTIMATE P4 PROP BALANCER !!

GreggC · Mar 21, 2016

Hey guys,
This prop balancer is the same principal as the
Ultimate P3 prop balancer I built a few months ago (see link below)
One very small point of contact resulting in the least friction possible.
I used the Top Flight prop balancer, the balance shaft is .125 (1/8")
I turned the shaft down to .116 and the fit was perfect, I'd turn down to .118
first and go from there to account for any difference in vernier calipers,
you want the fit to be a light press in fit by hand, no slop or that will
affect the "center" and wont balance correctly.
Note the air gap, it about .060

The Ultimate P3 Prop Balancer

10jqkadiamonds · Mar 21, 2016

Very nice. Any observations regarding the balance of the DJI props?

GreggC · Mar 21, 2016

I balanced 12 P4 props, 3 were perfect, the rest were blade down out of balance. (thats a lot)
I'm a firm believer in balancing props, I can go on and on regarding the benefits of balancing a rotating mass.

10jqkadiamonds · Mar 21, 2016

Did you use a lathe or just spin the shaft in a drill?

GreggC · Mar 21, 2016

I spun the shaft in a drill and used a fine file to groom it to .116
I groomed a total length of 1/2",
I used vernier calipers to check the diameter at the tip and at
the opposite end, I got .116 at both. I was pleased with that.

10jqkadiamonds · Mar 21, 2016

Great! Thanks for the "tutorial", I'm going to have a go at it. Very helpful.

doctordrone · Mar 28, 2016

Nice work! You should be an aircraft mechanic!

10jqkadiamonds · Mar 28, 2016

I got one of these balancers and modified it as GreggC suggested. It worked perfectly. One big disappointment for me...all 8 props I checked were in balance. Checked them twice. I was really looking forward to balancing some props....

Jussaguy · Mar 28, 2016

GreggC said:
Hey guys,
This prop balancer is the same principal as the
Ultimate P3 prop balancer I built a few months ago (see link below)
One very small point of contact resulting in the least friction possible.
I used the Top Flight prop balancer, the balance shaft is .125 (1/8")
I turned the shaft down to .116 and the fit was perfect, I'd turn down to .118
first and go from there to account for any difference in vernier calipers,
you want the fit to be a light press in fit by hand, no slop or that will
affect the "center" and wont balance correctly.
Note the air gap, it about .060

The Ultimate P3 Prop Balancer

Awesome! I want one. Are we selling these or are we being dirty socialists and I can get this on thingverse

I love it. ^^^Sarcasm above. I always feel like I'm not giving enough love to my props. For example, yesterday for the first time ever I chopped up some leaves with my props and didn't know if I should keep using them or not. Everything seemed fine.