I finalized a new layout of my drone design. It now includes a top and bottom plate, a canopy to protect the autopilot and a platform for a GPS (if needed). It also includes legs to be attached to the current 3DR arms.

In detail, the bottom plate includes 3M hole pinouts for the old and new arducopter power distribution boards. The bottom plate also has holes to attach the ESCs with zip ties, and this at three locations depending on ESC size etc.The top plate includes an extension and holes to hold a standard XBee module. There is also room and holes for the standard 3DR GPS stand. Holes in the canopy allow for access to analogue inputs and to check autopilot warning lights.

The model accepts the Xaircraft F4005 arms, and the current 3DR aluminium arms. I’m willing to adapt the model to the more common flamewheel plastic arms but I lack the measurements. If someone could provide them I can adjust the design.

The current design is drawn in FreeCAD and can easily be exported DXF format for compatibility with other CAD software or laser cutting, cnc milling.

The FreeCAD model can be downloaded using this dropbox link.

All feedback is appreciated!

After the crash of my stock arducopter due to a dying battery on my controller I had to rebuild.

The result of my rebuild pleases me a lot, for one I decreased the weight by almost 500 gr. The total weight with a camera and battery (not shown) is ~1400 gr. Adding telemetry will increase the weight only marginally and there is still plenty of space in the canopy for FPV gear.

specs:

standard jDrones arducopter electronics but with the new APM 2.0 (it arrived :) ).

Motor AC2830-358, 850Kv

jDrones ESC 20 Amp

and power distribution board.

4S 3000mA 25C battery pack

sexycopter black crow 4 fibreglass frame

50mm sexycopter landing legs, the landing legs are not compatible with the black crow frame but this was easily solved with an additional aluminium frame (with minimal extra weight).

Finally, a very strong DVD spindel.

All adding up to ~1400gr !!! if my final spinner and propeller / telemetry arrives next week I will start test flights.