Hi all,Jake Wells started this all by building a really cool Quadcopter from a Tupperware box. His plan was to be able to fly over and on water. Well I got hooked and since I live in South Florida with water everywhere and me wanting to fly over it, but was afraid of landing or crashing in the water. And we know what happens when electronics and water meet. Not pretty.Enter BoxCopter. Jake has built and flown a number of these beauties.So here is a post of my build. I'm still waiting on motors and ESCs.The design is pretty simple with a flat Tupperware box that holds your electronics and you arms are mounted on top of the box.I've attached some pictures that show the basic shell.Will add more post as things move alone.Thanks to my neighbor Carl who has all the tools one might need. Wood rasp, drill press, vice, zip tie tightener.Richard
Finally got the correct prop adapter and final completed my build. The props I bought had messed up labels and when I first tried to fly nothing happened, even with 80% throttle. Switch the CCW with the CW props and vice verse and up we go. I was amazed my BoxCopter actually flew! Had an issue with placement of the APM. I was hoping to mount it upside down under the lid, but the APM can't be placed upside down. Also found out you did not need to place the APM in the center. So the APM and GPS are on the bottom of Tupperware box up front and everything else is either Velcro or electrically taped under the lid. Still working on where I want everything placed before I permanently mount stuff. My soldering the bullet connectors was not the best and I may have to rework them. Also, I bought a power distribution board from 3DR for the ESC hookup and ended up extending the signal and power leads for the APM by 12 inches. It was pretty winding yesterday when I flew off my front lawn. I used Moon Gel for the APM and zAccel graph was excellent. I think I may need to use some kind of screws for the lid to keep it from picking up on the corners when I fly. Heat may be another issue. I have small thermometer inside the box and the max temp got to 94 F. I wonder what the max temp is for APM?
I want to do some more test flights before I mount my GoPro camera. Looking forward to seeing what's in my canel in my backyard. LOL
While I wait to hear from HK about my missing threads, I figured I'd work on APM and ESC. These ESC are different then the ones I've worked with before. I figured out how to calibrate the throttle range and I get all motors to spin ok. But when I unplug the battery and plug it back in, I get 6 beeps like the throttle is to high. Yet the throttle is down. Anyone have any ideas what I'm doing wrong?
Hi guys I built a website for everyone interested in BoxCopters. If you could test it out for me and sign-up and try posting your videos and builds I would be grateful. http://www.theboxcopter.com
You're missing out and I'm having fun. Here's the video from today's flight with the BoxCopter. It's day #2 for it. It needs a little more PID tuning. I have a different controller on the way so won't worry about to much tuning on this one.
Finally got enough pieces to my BoxCopter to begin building. Some many solder joints so little time. LOLMounted my motors and attached my prop adapters and motor number 3 prop adapter had no threads. I'm so bummed out.
I hate to think I'm going to have to wait weeks to get this resolved.
My cupcake carrier boxcopter build is in the works. The aluminum tubes are fitted and the arms are cut. I need to pick up some nylon screws for mounting/securing everything. My escs are on order and should be here sometime this coming week. I still have to decide what controller I'm going to use so I can do up the FC mount. I figure everything should fit in the lid, leaving the box as just a mount for the camera.
Today I hit the local hardware store. The smallest aluminum square tubing they had was 3/4" OD. I thought that was to big. I checked and picked up a square (thin wall) towel rack bar instead. The ID is just over 1/2", so 1/2" wood arms are out. I grabbed some, to big, 5/8" wood arms and will just trim them down until they just fit in the towel rack arms. I figure it shouldn't take more than 1/2 hour to get everything cut. Hmmm...I really need to clean off the work bench first...I can' see the top of it any more. My boxcopter build will commence soon.
Replies
Finally got the correct prop adapter and final completed my build. The props I bought had messed up labels and when I first tried to fly nothing happened, even with 80% throttle. Switch the CCW with the CW props and vice verse and up we go. I was amazed my BoxCopter actually flew! Had an issue with placement of the APM. I was hoping to mount it upside down under the lid, but the APM can't be placed upside down. Also found out you did not need to place the APM in the center. So the APM and GPS are on the bottom of Tupperware box up front and everything else is either Velcro or electrically taped under the lid. Still working on where I want everything placed before I permanently mount stuff. My soldering the bullet connectors was not the best and I may have to rework them. Also, I bought a power distribution board from 3DR for the ESC hookup and ended up extending the signal and power leads for the APM by 12 inches. It was pretty winding yesterday when I flew off my front lawn. I used Moon Gel for the APM and zAccel graph was excellent. I think I may need to use some kind of screws for the lid to keep it from picking up on the corners when I fly. Heat may be another issue. I have small thermometer inside the box and the max temp got to 94 F. I wonder what the max temp is for APM?
I want to do some more test flights before I mount my GoPro camera. Looking forward to seeing what's in my canel in my backyard. LOL
Ok I worked on TheBoxCopter.com all day long today. I've been trying to stream line it as much as possible. Simple is the goal.
Hi guys I built a website for everyone interested in BoxCopters. If you could test it out for me and sign-up and try posting your videos and builds I would be grateful. http://www.theboxcopter.com
You're missing out and I'm having fun. Here's the video from today's flight with the BoxCopter. It's day #2 for it. It needs a little more PID tuning. I have a different controller on the way so won't worry about to much tuning on this one.
http://youtu.be/AaMbEN891w4
Hobby King strikes again!? ;)
Finally got enough pieces to my BoxCopter to begin building. Some many solder joints so little time. LOLMounted my motors and attached my prop adapters and motor number 3 prop adapter had no threads. I'm so bummed out.
I hate to think I'm going to have to wait weeks to get this resolved.
My cupcake carrier boxcopter build is in the works. The aluminum tubes are fitted and the arms are cut. I need to pick up some nylon screws for mounting/securing everything. My escs are on order and should be here sometime this coming week. I still have to decide what controller I'm going to use so I can do up the FC mount. I figure everything should fit in the lid, leaving the box as just a mount for the camera.
Today I hit the local hardware store. The smallest aluminum square tubing they had was 3/4" OD. I thought that was to big. I checked and picked up a square (thin wall) towel rack bar instead. The ID is just over 1/2", so 1/2" wood arms are out. I grabbed some, to big, 5/8" wood arms and will just trim them down until they just fit in the towel rack arms. I figure it shouldn't take more than 1/2 hour to get everything cut. Hmmm...I really need to clean off the work bench first...I can' see the top of it any more. My boxcopter build will commence soon.
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