Getting Started with TrueProp Software...

Some users need a little help getting started - and that's OK! We are here to help you maximize your use of TrueProp!

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​This brief introduction helps new users understand how to navigate through the TrueProp interface. This includes opening propeller scan projects, reviewing the scan history, analyzing the various graphical views, and generating reports for customers.

This tutorial assumes you have already installed TrueProp Software and the associated drivers before continuing. We also recommend setting your Project and Archive file storage directories from the Tools | Options.... Administrator tab.

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Run TrueProp and you will see the main screen, PROJECT page. 
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1. Open a scan from the Project Library.
   Click the OPEN button on the left-hand toolbar.
   
   
2. The Project Library dialog appears. This contains all of your propeller inspection projects, you can sort the data by clicking the desired column header.
   
   Select a file and click OPEN to load the project data.
   
   NOTE: If you do not have any scans in your library, consider adding the sample scans from the Samples folder in your TrueProp directory.
   
   
3. Each project file contains information about the customer. It also include the basic information about the propeller.
   
   You can store multiple scans of the same propeller in each project. You can store Left-hand and Right-hand propellers of the same diameter in each project.

1. Click SCAN from the upper-most navigation toolbar. You will see the SCAN page.
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   This page is used to pull data from a inspection device and record it to the computer.
   
   
2. On the left-hand toolbar, you will see the Scan History.
   Your first scan will be A. The next scan will be B, followed by C, and so on.
   
   You will only see Left-hand or Right-hand scans in your history. You can change which scans are loaded from the Rotation field on the PROJECT page.

1. Click CHECK from the upper-most navigation toolbar. You will see the CHECK page.
   
   ​This page is used to apply the ISO-484 criteria to your scan. It provides several graphical views for visualizing the data.
   
   
2. ​Click the PITCH button from the left-hand toolbar. This toolbar contains the different graphical view options.
   
   The PITCH view shows the measured section pitch values for each radius. The left side shows the average pitch for each blade and the average pitch for the wheel.
   
   The values of each pitch bar is shown towards the bottom of the bargraphs. The reference target value and the tolerance is shown at the top of each bargraph.

1. Click the RADIUS LOCAL button from the left-hand toolbar.
   
   The RADIUS LOCAL view shows the face-line for each blade. This visualizes the pitch in smaller segments, called local pitch values.
   You can change the displayed radius using the right-hand toolbar.
   
   

1. Click the BLADE LOCAL button from the left-hand toolbar.
   
   The BLADE LOCAL view shows the local pitch values for an entire blade.
   
   You can change the displayed blade using the top, right-hand toolbar.
   
   Note: In both the RADIUS LOCAL and BLADE LOCAL views, the number of segments is dictated by the ISO-484 standard and desired Class.
   
   In this view, TE indicates the Trailing Edge, and LE indicates the Leading Edge.

1. Click the OUTLINE button from the left-hand toolbar.
   
   ​The OUTLINE view shows the chord lengths, position of the leading edge (i.e. skew of the leading edge), and the rake position of the blade centerline (BCL).
   
   There are "field goal" markers to indicate whether the values are acceptable. If the lines are outside the markers, the criteria fails and the blade number (i.e. [1,2,4]) that is failing the criteria will be indicated near the marker.
   
   
2. Click the PATH button from the left-hand toolbar.
   
   The PATH view overlays all face-lines from each blade. This visualizes the angular sweep vs the drop.
   
   The rake tolerance is noted here with  "field goal" markers.
   You can change the displayed radius using the right-hand toolbar.
   

1. Click the REPORT button from the top navigation toolbar.
   
   Reports are available for printing and saving in PDF format. They are document the condition of the current selected propeller scan.
   
   The STATUS report is a short, 2 page document with graphics to illustrate compliance.
   
   The FULL report includes the graphics as well as additional pages with numeric data.

Congratulations on completing the introduction to TrueProp!

Please note that TrueProp staff is available Monday - Friday 9am-5pm EST for technical support and questions. Do not hesitate to contact us!

Discover more!

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Learn more: Pitch Distributions

There are many styles of propellers out there - and contemporary propellers have more variation in pitch measurements than traditional flat-face propellers. TrueProp supports both constant pitch and variable pitch propellers. TrueProp also supports both flat and cambered blades (also referred to as progressive pitch propellers).

This section includes guidance for identifying the type of propeller blade you are working on. We will also demonstrate how to setup TrueProp's Reference Targets (REF) for the job at hand.

Pitch Distribution: Constant Pitch or Variable Pitch?

First, let’s review the propeller from the root to the blade tip. On a traditional propeller, we would expect that the section pitch to be the same at all radii – this is referred to as constant pitch. For example, on a 20 inch pitch propeller with constant pitch, the 50R, 70R, and 90R all measure to 20 inches pitch.

Figure 1 - Constant Pitch pitch measurements from TrueProp Software.

On contemporary propeller designs, the section pitch changes from the root to the tip in order to better match the inflow under the hull – this is referred to as variable pitch. We often see the highest pitch at the 70R, with decreasing pitch at the root and tip. For example, a 20 inch pitch propeller with variable pitch could have a pitch of 19.5 in the 50R, 20.5 at the 70R, and 19.5 at the 90R. The average pitch for the propeller is still 20 inches, but the distribution of section pitch is variable from the root to the tip.

Figure 2 - Variable pitch measurements from TrueProp Software.

Local Pitch: Flat-face/constant pitch or Cambered-face/progressive pitch?

Next, let’s review the propeller from the leading edge to the trailing edge. Again, on many traditional propellers, the propeller face is flat – as a result, the local pitch is the same on the leading edge, the middle, and the trailing edge of the blade. In the previous example of a 20 inch pitch, this means that the first local pitch segment will measure as 20 inches, as will the second and third segments (and so forth). We refer to this as a flat-face/constant pitch foil shape (technically, the term is Ogival).

Figure 3- Flat-face/constant pitch 70R line with consistent local pitch values from TrueProp Software.

However, contemporary propellers will have variation in the local pitch from the leading edge to the trailing edge. This is because these propellers utilize camber (additional curvature in the face of the blade) to increase performance. Often, the local pitch increases from the leading edge to the trailing edge – so many people refer to these designs as a cambered-face/progressive pitch.

Figure 4 - Cambered-face/progressive pitch 70R line with varying local pitch values from TrueProp Software.

When repairing propellers, it’s important to review and understand the intent of the propeller’s design. Is the variation in pitch due to damage or was that the design intent? Is this propeller a traditional design, where the face of the blade is flat and the pitch is uniform across all radii? That would be a constant pitch propeller with a flat-face…  Is there more to the design? Is this propeller a contemporary design, with section pitch varying from the root to tip, like a variable pitch prop? Is there variation in the local pitch from leading edge to trailing edge, like a cambered faced/progressive pitch propeller? These are important questions to answer before you begin reworking the blades!
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Example: A Constant Pitch, Flat-Face Propeller

Example: A Variable Pitch Propeller with Camber/Progressive Pitch and Cupping

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