Comments

• Richard Sterling December 7, 2016 at 4:09am

  Hi Tommy, thank you very much. I haven't had a chance to open the zip file yet but it downloaded perfectly.

  Thanks again,

  RS
• 

  Tommy Larsen December 6, 2016 at 3:44pm

  Hi

  You can download the stl files from :

  https://www.dropbox.com/s/ndnvk7ghh1c5vx4/UAV%20Deliverables.zip?dl=0

  

  UAV Deliverables.zip

  Shared with Dropbox
• Richard Sterling December 6, 2016 at 1:24pm

  This will be long term project. I hope to have the first assembly complete and flying in May 2017. 

  Once I have everything where I'm happy I'll produce a couple for further testing.

  This isn't a commercial exercise but if anyone wants one I'll be happy to offer them. Anyone that helps through the design process will be at the top of the list.

  Thanks again everyone. 
• Richard Sterling December 6, 2016 at 1:19pm

  Thanks Roger, I'll have a look. I'm really interested in a blended wing for this project. I picked the x8 as a test run as its well known and people have plenty of hours flying experience with that wing. Meaning I can get a lot of feed back on the short comings, effectively helping me to learn.

  Thanks for your input. 
• Richard Sterling December 6, 2016 at 1:16pm

  Cheers for the advice Ronald. I'll have a look at the foil and run some simulations and tweak it accordingly.

  Had a quick look at Alta Devices. They look very nice, I'll have a chat to Rich Kapusta when I'm in the final stages of the design.

  Thanks again.
• 

  Ronald Pandolfi December 6, 2016 at 1:08pm

  Check with Rich Kapusta of Alta Devices for their latest gallium arsenide solar sheets. They are extremely thin, flexible, and efficient. You should get about 20% conversion of available solar power so size appropriately for the power you need at cruise.
• 

  Ronald Pandolfi December 6, 2016 at 1:06pm

  I would not recommend at X-8 design for carbon or fiberglass composite. The X-8 design is based, in part, on the limitations of EPO foam, so the airfoil is rather poor. Fiberglass might be a better choice than carbon for an X-8 size aircraft.  In that size, we often 3d print using an EOS SLS printer with a mix of nylon beads and glass filaments.
• Richard Sterling December 6, 2016 at 12:51pm

  @Brandon: thanks for the suggestion. I think Tommy might have the models in CAD.

  Richard
• Richard Sterling December 6, 2016 at 12:50pm

  @Tommy: Hi That would be very cool. As I mentioned I plan to modify the design to take my payload.

  Once I have the design where I want it I will CNC the patterns from Epoxy tooling block. The mould tools will be laminated from carbon in an autoclave.

  The final components will be a carbon epoxy matrix autoclaved processed.

  As I mentioned I am planning to have photovoltaic cells laminated into the upper surfaces to extend the flying time. I'm not exactly sure how much energy this will generate at this time I will know more when I get the model and can calculate the surface area. 

  Cheers Tommy.
• Roger Monongo December 6, 2016 at 12:44pm

  If you're open to other models, you can try this:
  http://aerofred.com/