Here's something I've been working for a few months, a fully 3D printed airframe, to test and practice the technology and to make a prototype of a design I've been wanting to build at a larger scale.
The airplane has a wingspan of almost one meter and the total weight of the airframe is around 400 grams, almost half of it from the wings, so later on I'll make foam wings with fiberglass skinning to save weight.
Here are some photos of the airframe and some parts:
I'm currently working on some small details, mostly on the interior figuring out the best layout for the R/C gear and making mountings and brackets for it.
If anyone has a 3D printer the complete files to print one at home can be found here: http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:272478
Comments
I've never seen anything adverse from a V, even without ailerons on the wing. I tend to make them so they look too big rather than too small. I've had people say, man that tail looks too big. Thank you very much it flies great.
Very nice work, Alejandro. landing is for people who can fly long enough. Lol. I am putting up the techpod soon for open source. you project sounds very cool. if you want to print your own techpod I would be 100% behind you.
good luck with your endeavors.
Eli Cohen, I'm using PLA. It's not very durable, but it's easier to print and biodegradable and that has to count for something! =D
Later on, if the plane flies well I will print the molds to make a fiberglass fuselage, the end goal is to build a UAV for a NGO in Indonesia to monitor Manta Ray populations near Bali, so it will have to be more durable than printed PLA.
The inverted V-tail... one of those things I want to try out. =) The idea behind it is to save weight, specially on the tail end since the motor is mounted there, also so that there's no need for a landing gear while still protecting the propeller and, later on, the CP antenna that will be mounted under the tail.
The stabilizers look strong enough to me, although later I'm going to replace them with fiberglass and depron ones, they are very easy to swap since they are held in place with two nylon screws. In fact the plane is meant to be modular like that, I could swap parts easily, wings, fuselage front/center/rear, try different tail configurations, etc, etc...
After I'm done with this variant I want to try one with a high wing and maybe twin motors, that would give a better weight distribution so that will give more flexibility on how and where to install the electronics in the fuselage.
Mark, the reason for the low wing is so that it will be easier to mount and access the Ardupilot board that will be mounted above the wing spars.
Aerodynamics is one thing, practicality another.
Gary, Actually correct way for V-tail is down. This way it is rudder, elevator and aileron at the same time. It is not practical, but form the controls stand point is the best config.
Yeah, the way to land this plane in up-side-down, not very survivable if landed the normal way. One probably would never need those small wheels on the tail as, if not landed perfectly the whole tail probably would be ripped-off.
The whole concept is great! Some practical details has to be worked-out and it may make a good airframe.
Looks very nice! I've had good success with very similar internal wing structures. Plenty stiff and prints nice and fast.
What material are you using?
Wow that's cool, why the anhedral tail and low wing? Both bit breaking positions. I look forward to seeing it fly. Looks good so should work.
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