Stabilizer And Control Surface Assembly

Watch Animation Video

Note: Please watch the Animation and Assembly Video before reading the details below by clicking the following button if you have not done so. The videos explain the relationship between parts but not including details guide and alignment.
Click Here

All stabilizers and control surfaces are designed to use guide or alignment tools.

Please find detail below explaining about pin and rod as guide and/or alignment.

Preparing Pin and Rods

  • You may need to prepare different size rod ranging from 1.0 mm to 2.0mm OD. Mostly it will fit into with 1.5mm rod size but in some cases (usually when using higher hotend temperature, it only fits with 1.0mm rod).
  • For metal pin, use metal rod with OD size ranging from 2.0mm to 2.5mm. Some cases for small control surfaces may need 1.5mm OD.
  • Use carbon fiber rod to save some weight if necessary.

Guide and Alignment Tools and Mechanism

Try to understand the relationship among parts by watching provided animation and assembly videos (just click the button above). Once you understood the relationship, the next step is to try identifying the pin locations. 

Identify Pin Location

  • The two figures on the right side show how to find the pin locations by utilizing the Slicer.
  • Take note and next, try to find in the 3D printed part.

Stabilizer Pins

  • The left side figure shows two pins are used as guide and alignment.
  • The rod pin long is about 5-6mm each side but just cut what you feel the best size.

Control Surface Pin and Rod

  • Control surface parts also use pins like stabilizer parts above.
  • Whenever possible use hinge rod as guide and/or alignment when assembling parts.

Gluing Two Parts

  • Use thick CA for bonding two parts.
  • Press firmly so that there is no gap between joining surface.
  • Use CA accelerator right after joining (faster cure time).
  • Good practice if you coat the joining surface area with thin CA so that it will add more bonding strength.

Locking Hinge Rods

In general, try to lock hinge rod position with rod shape and also with CA glue. 

Rudder Rod

  • Insert the rod in its position.
  • Secure the position with CA glue.

Elevator Rod

  • Insert the rod in its position.
  • Secure the position with CA glue.

Aileron and Flap Rod

  • Shape the rod so that it fits into.
  • (c) shape is the best, (b) shape is better (in some cases, not enough room to shape like (a) or (b) for small models).
  • Secure the position with CA glue.