Developer

ArduCopter Frame development

We all are working hard to get this done as soon as possible. And as relief the pain of wait, here are some previews of new ArduCopter frame designs for the masses to look and to comment.

Current design will have two center plates like most of multirotors have, it also have carrier boards to carry electronics like APM, APM shield and Receiver. Another carrier board will be mounted under main frame to be as a battery holder it also creates supporting base for future landing gear addon.

It's been planned to have a power distribution board above center plates.

Square center plate having X setup, it also holds + setup on this board


Center plate with carrier board. Carrier and also power board (not shown) can be rotated with 45° steps on all designs. Power board will have 10 mm spacers and carrier 20 mm.


Square frame with carrier (rotated +45°) and power board.


And last but not least round Quad/Hexa center board. Quad power distribution included. Both carrier and power boards can be mounted either above or below center plates. They also fit on both square Quad plates and round Quad/Hexa plates.


We are closing finishing line so not any major changes should happen. Tho this is still preview on what we have been working behind the scenes.

First frames are being build as we speak..

I will post more pictures on development wiki https://code.google.com/p/arducopter/ during new couple of days.

Cheers,
--jp
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!

Join diydrones

Comments

  • Developer
    First 3D parts was just posted to SketchUp 3D Warehouse. If you want to play with frame and maybe start building your ArduCopter. You can download this center part from

    http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=488437bbcd52dfb0...

    More parts will follow later. This is not yet final part but no major changes are expected to this design.
  • well even if its not foldable, could be possible to dismount it in an easy way, and mount it in a few minuts in the field ? way more confortable to transport it packed in a backpack or so
  • Developer
    We going to produce our own tubes for this as sell in package. It can be build with other sizes too. For example if you crash and bend one arm, it can be easily replaces even with bigger tube. Tubes like that your 12.7mm. Smaller are always easy to mount too.

    @Jhon well if we try to keep manufacturing cost low and on reasonable level. I'd say no it's not directly foldable. Tho with minor modifications model can be folded, depends on how cabling and other things are done.
  • Developer
    Cool, Jani! So, we can do that at the right time. Until then, I'll be tuned in the news.

    When you said 12x12mm, is the real measurement? Or are you rounding it? In fact, the smallest tube that I found here is a half inch square tube = 12.7 x 12.7mm. For make the design available for a lot of places around the world, maybe this measurement could be adopted. Imperial sizes are more common. Import the tube isn't so interesting, comparing with the other parts.
  • so it will not be foldable for easy transportation?
  • Developer
    square plate is 110 x 110 mm and round is 130 mm diam. Booms are 12 x 12 mm alu tubes lengths around 18" and 24"
  • what are the dimensions? are we still thinking of use heli boom tails or square alum tubing?
  • Developer
    Arms will be aluminum for sure, power plate is rather normal PCB so fiberglass with copper on it. Other frame parts like carrier and center plates is still a bit uncertain. We are looking yes PCBish plastics and also CNC'd fiberglass. Time will show our final material.

    On plastics we need to have molds made and making them is a bit costly, sure if we can sell 50.000 units price will be low but you guys ready to buy so many?? :P

    Plastic would be really great looking and it's strong too. These designs can be made from both plastic and FC materials. Even plywood is possible for DIY people. When design is totally ready, We will post full specs of it including measurements and others.

    @Sandro thank you, we actually could use your help but let us finalize plates and then we can look more.
  • Developer
    looking very professional. The ability to rotate the upper platforms by 45deg is presumably to allow both + and x varieties easier or for some other reason?

    By the way, what's the material? Aluminum, Graphite or maybe that PCBish plastic?
  • Developer
    If you need to produce some 3D versions of the frame for Digital Mockup purposes, will be a pleasure for me to contribute with that work. :)
This reply was deleted.