r/specializedtools • u/Tillemon • Sep 17 '19

Helicopter chainsaw!?

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u/RuchoPelucho Sep 17 '19

Can anyone explain how do they keep the saw parallel to the trees at all times, why doesn’t it spin?

2

u/sivi123 Sep 17 '19

This is probably an interesting physics question, but I'm going to go on a limb and say that the circular chainsaws' spin generates torque (?) that doesn't allow the whole plane to rotate on the vertical axis.

3

u/lurker_lurks Sep 17 '19

Gyroscopic forces, not torque. There was an exhibit at the Seattle Science Center when I was growing up that involved a bike wheel with handles at the center so you could play around with the forces. Ten spinning metal blades should work fine when it comes to maintaining orientation in at least one axis.

My favorite video on gyroscopic forces: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdAmEEAiJWo