mCCPM and eCCPM Systems

By Val Campos

mCCPM and eCCPM
What is the deal with mCCPM and eCCPM?

know how tough it is being a beginner. I was there once. It's already hard to grasp all the terminology that’s floating all over the place, but lucky you, I have more...

What I am going to do is tell you a little more about the swash plate.

I want to go into more detail on the hardware that controls the rotor movements of the collective pitch R/C helicopters, the swash plate.

To start things, there are two types of systems that you can purchase that control the swash plate on your R/C helicopter.

The two types are mCCPM and eCCPM.

Both are nice systems but each has its pros and cons…

Most R/C helicopters that are built today have the CCPM system, which means that the R/C helicopter uses some form of control mixing while in flight.

Some R/C helicopters like the Raptor and the Hirobo Sceadu use the CCPM (Cyclic/Collective Pitch Mixing) but in a mechanical mixing form called mCCPM (Mechanical Cyclic/Collective Pitch Mixing.)

On the other hand, R/C helicopters like the Fury by Miniature Aircraft, also use the CCPM but in an electric mixing form called eCCPM (Electronic Cyclic/Collective Pitch Mixing.)

There’s lots of discussion from both type of systems among pilots on which is the best to use. But like I told you before the mCCPM and the eCCPM have their advantages and disadvantages.

mCCPM – (Mechanical Cyclic/Collective Pitch Mixing.)

This is a typical mCCPM swash plate

The mCCPM uses a servo for each axis. For example, one servo will move the swash plate back and forth. Then, the other servo will move the swash plate from side to side and the final servo will move the swash plate up and down for the pitch.

Still with me?

The advantage on the mCCPM system is that the setup is very simple. The bad part is that each servo’s life tends to be reduced by the extra work it has to carry out from moving the collective cyclic and pitch. It’s like having two guys watching the other guy push a car up the hill, eventually the guy pushing will wear out.

By the way, if any servo that controls the swash plate fails with the mCCPM system while in flight, you won’t have any control of that movement. As a result, your helicopter will kiss the ground very hard.

eCCPM (Electronic Cyclic/Collective Pitch Mixing.)

This is a typical eCCPM swash plate

Next, the way that the eCCPM works is that it uses all three servos to move the swash plate to the direction you want your R/C helicopter to move. For example, all three servos will work as a team to make sure the swash plate moves from side to side, back and forth and up and down.

This makes the R/C helicopter respond quicker to flips, rolls and loops.

The advantages are that you will have less links that you’ll have to deal with when setup comes along. Also, the servo’s life expectancy is longer compared to the servos that are on the mCCPM setup because all of the servos work as a platoon reducing the friction to each servo.

It’s like having all three guys help push the car up the hill, makes things easier don’t you think? And if one servo fails, you will get the opportunity to save the helicopter from slamming onto mother earth.

And of course we have the disadvantages. The bad part with eCCPM is that its complicated to setup compared to the mCCPM. And, you have to make sure that you have a transmitter that supports eCCPM mixing.

But let me tell you this. It doesn’t matter what type of setup you get stuck with. Just make sure that it fits your flying needs and the number one biggie, is that you use the proper setup for it before attempting any flying.