RC Aircraft Thrust Stand Version 2 - Hack of a Kitchen Scale for only $10

Using a standard kitchen scale purchased from amazon (Item # B00MN0NI90 or search for "DecoBros Digital Food Scale") for $10 and some 3D printed parts, you can make an RC Aircraft Thrust Stand to measure thrust produced across the operating range of an RC motor and prop combination. Using a standard RC watt meter you can now also measure efficiency and better match props, batteries, and motors. Building a custom Quad, a 3D aircraft, or gentle flyer that you want ultimate flight time on, this is a must have.

Step 1: Pop the back off the Scale

A couple screws and some tabs and you have gained entry into the scale. The arrows show the scales feet attached to the sensor plates (metal plates with strain gages). Each one of these provides input in to the central processor that sum the strain (bending of the metal plates) and displays that force as pounds or grams. Bend back the tabs and remove the sensors from the scales frame. Careful of the wires and do not bend the metal plates.

Step 2: Cut the plastic frame of the scale

Leaving the electronics in tack, cut the plastic frame of the scale as shown. I used a cut off wheel on a dremel type tool. Clean up the edge to the webbing frame as shown. Using a pair of flush cut pliers, (not the dremel), nip the plastic nibs that hold the plastic feet on the sensor plates. You do not want to damage or bend the sensor plates, these are calibrate to measure force and any change to the way they bend will cause false readings.

Side note: I clip off the coin cell holder and used a 2 AAA battery hold from RS in it's place. (Don't solder until later, if you decide to do this; but you don't have to.)

You're scale is ready to be reused as a thrust measuring device.