Model Forum / Radio Controlled / Helicopters / January 2009

but most are more than just collective pitch and I would not think even
a 90 powered bird will have a 14mm shaft

If you're not going to have any cyclic control at all, all you need is
a bearing. You should get a "deep groove" type, since they are
designed to handle more axial load. Ideally, you should use two axial
bearings turned opposite ways, but your load should be light enough to
work with a deep groove ball bearing. You might even get away with a
standard bearing.

You will, of course, need to attach some pushrods to both the inner
and outer race. If you use a piece of pipe that has a sliding fit on
the shaft, and then attach the bearing inner race solidly to the pipe,
you can attach pushrods to the rotating parts to the pipe. You will
also need some arrangement to keep the pipe from spinning on the
shaft.

A swash plate is essentially also just a bearing, only it has a ball
in the center to allow tilting.