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I observed a severe vibration on my stand. What shall I do?

Vibration is very common on the turning motor and propeller. However, severe vibration can potentially damage the load cells and the structure, and it may also loosen the fasteners thus fail the structure, where it may cause motor or propeller flying out.

First to understand the nature of the vibration or the resonance:

  • All propulsion systems generate vibration and it is a matter of severeness.
  • Propeller shall be properly balanced before using on the stand.
  • Motor, propeller and also the prop adaptor shall be perfectly symmetrical and well aligned.
  • The stand has a natural frequency but it also depends on the size and the weight of the propeller.
  • Resonance will only occur at a certain range of RPM, when the speed goes higher or lower, the vibration may potentially disappear.

Please also understand the limit of our thrust stand:

  • This is not a tool used for dynamic characterization (acceleration, vibration, etc.)
  • This is not a tool designed to test unbalanced propellers, motors or adaptors.
  • The tool will break when extreme vibration occurs.
  • Fasteners can get loose due to the vibration.

When you observe severe vibration, follow this procedure:

  • USE CAUTION and stop the test immediately.
  • Disconnect the thrust stand from the power source.
  • Once the voltage drops below 15 V, approach the stand and check the propeller. If you have a propeller balancer at the correct size, remove the prop and try to balance the prop by adding a small counter-balancing weight on different sides.
  • Check if the propeller adapter is properly balanced as well: you shall not have set screw on one side but not another.
  • Check the tightness of ALL the fasteners: screws, nuts and standoffs. If you are using the optical RPM probe, also check the fasteners fixing the probe on the motor mount.
  • Make sure that all fasteners are properly tightened, if you have a torque wrench, you may use it to properly gauge the fasteners.
  • Once confirmed with the fasteners, connect the power.
  • Use manual control to quickly increase the throttle, and mark down the throttle A% (PWM μs input) then continue going up until the vibration ends, mark down again the throttle B% when this resonance disappears.
  • Stop the test and shut off the power, then check the fasteners again once the voltage drops below 15 V.
  • At any test, you shall always QUICKLY bypass the throttle A% to B%. For example, when you are writing a script for automatic control, you may need to avoid staying at A% of throttle at all and quickly move to B% in order to avoid any damage. If you are running manual control, move quickly to B%.

Please also take note that:

  • The A%, B% throttle may differ based on the motor and the propeller
  • On the Series 1585, you may choose to use the L-bracket instead of the hinge, this may avoid certain resonance

When your thrust stand is damaged by the vibration, please send your request of RMA to sales@tytorobotics.com and include the following info:

  • Subject: Vibration/Resonance caused damage
  • Photos of the broken components
  • If possible, video of the accident
  • If you have an output CSV file, please also include it

We will suggest the necessary replacement parts according to the damage.