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Aluminium Arducopter parts - first attempt!

Posted by DaveyWaveyBunsenBurner on May 13, 2011 at 4:00am

As part of my plane to create a simple, solid Arducopter frame, I have had a number of parts laser cut in 2mm 6082 aluminium from the original Arducopter frame design by the DIYD team.

 

3689406327?profile=original

 

The parts have come back a little more "bashed up" than I expected, but apparently that's normal, they just need a clean-up with something abbrasive.

 

I had trouble opening the DXF files in the SVN. In the end I opened them in Microsoft Visio, saved them as Autocad files and then exported them back into DXF files from within Autocad after I tweaked the legs etc not to need the dome. The laser cutters seemed to need the DXF files in the 2004 format attached.

 

I can't verify anything fits (they've just arrived and I'm in the office), but for those feeling brave the DXF files I used are attached for anyone that wants them.

 

BatteryHolder-2004.dxf

CarrierBoard-2004.dxf

LandingGearFin-2004.dxf

MainSqure-2004.dxf

MotorMountLower-2004.dxf

MotorMountUpper-2004.dxf

 

Cheers!

Tags: aluminium, arducopter, cutter, dxf, files, frame, laser, parts
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Comments

  • Distributor
    Martint BuildYourOwnDrone.co.uk May 13, 2011 at 9:29am
    Hi Dave,

    That frame looks great. Can't wait to see it looking arf! If you need any nylon spacers, hex mounts or screws please let me know I'm sure I will have a little something in stock that should work!

    Will you be bringing this with you to the UK fly in June? Would be great to see it first hand!

    Regards

    Martin.

    www.buildyourowndrone.co.uk
  • Russell B. Sutton May 13, 2011 at 8:48am
    Ha Ha Yeah add some ingraved iron crosses and BLING!!  Call yourself West Coast Copters or Orange County Copters.  LOL 
  • DaveyWaveyBunsenBurner May 13, 2011 at 8:02am

    @ Gary: Interested to know how that works out Gary, I have no experience of that material. Was considering Carbon Fibre possibly at some point in the future once I have ironed out any wrinkles.

    @ Ken/Ethan: That sounds very Pimp my Quad! Hmmmm, anodized... That could be good!!!!

    @Russell: Sorry I don't know yet but will update ASAP

  • Russell B. Sutton May 13, 2011 at 7:20am

    What is the weight of your all Aluminum Copter skeleton.  I'm working on a Foam and Carbon arrow shaft frame.  Should be about 175 grams. 

  • Ethan Ferrell May 13, 2011 at 7:19am
    Doing a powder coat would look sick...Do you know the cost of that?
  • Ken McEwan May 13, 2011 at 7:08am
    Excellent! I just wish the decision was made to go with aluminum when I was on the arducopter frame development team. I had a couple of aluminum prototypes made here in the US that turned out very good. Two sets were powder coated and one was anodized.
  • Moderator
    Gary Mortimer May 13, 2011 at 7:07am
    Thanks for those DXFs Dave I might cut some in G10 and see how they go.
  • Ethan Ferrell May 13, 2011 at 7:05am
    Doesn't sound too bad. I still need to weigh my Delrin and compare to your numbers. Would be beneficial for the community to get weight measurements for each type of material. Mine wouldn't be comparable though because I enlarged my main plate and carrier boards for the Chumby.

    I was thinking about the plastic screws: one benefit would be that they would hopefully break and relieve pressure before any of the metal bends. But then, they may break too often and the aluminum remains well under it's bending point.
  • DaveyWaveyBunsenBurner May 13, 2011 at 6:55am

    UPDATE:

    I ran down to the post room and weighed one set consisting of: 2 main boards, 1 carrier, 4 motor upperas, 4 motor lowers, 1 batter holder, 8 legs and the total was 212 grams. I have nothing to compare that to until I get home...

  • DaveyWaveyBunsenBurner May 13, 2011 at 6:25am

    Ethan,

    I still have my Arducopter kit sitting at home ready for a build (hopefully this weekend) so I was going to have a sit down and use the plastic kit screws for now and then upgrade to aluminium if/as required. Spacers etc will be plastic and I may need to insulate the carrier boards for obvious reasons.

     

    Weight wise I have no idea! When I get her anywhere near finished I will throw her on the scales! I have the original parts for comparison.

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