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DIY HEXA power distribution PCB

Posted by ARHEXA on April 29, 2011 at 2:30am

Hexa frame adventures continue !

 

This time I've prepared the power board that will distribute power to all 6 ESC's and to additional devices (video TX, camera controls receiver unit, tracking system TX, LEDs and more...)

 

Important issues were: Lightweight, simple, high current, fail-proof.

 

 

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And as we all LOVE pictures:

 

 

the view on the following picture is the BOTTOM of the central plate.

yes, the power board will stay under the main plates. it will allow interference free environment for the electronics mounted ABOVE the plate. as well as don't pissing off the magnetometer with high currents flowing nearby.

 

 

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cutting the stencil paper:

 

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PCB pen drawing:

 

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After a few minutes of dremel-ing:

 

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and... there you go.... nasty copper etching :

 

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in it's final position - with nylon standoffs (mmm... guess why):

 

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a decent layer of tin solder applied:

 

 

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and a final view with 1/6 ESC's mounted:

 

3689403994?profile=original

 

 

We like your comments..... :)

 

 

 

 

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Comments

  • Alex Lee May 1, 2011 at 6:48pm

    Nice Gary. Well done.

  • Moderator
    Gary Mortimer May 1, 2011 at 6:28pm
    Ok mine flew but I am certainly thinking about changes now, thats the beauty of designing things. One week to flight and then six months to think.

    http://www.vimeo.com/23129201
  • Moderator
    Gary Mortimer April 30, 2011 at 12:20pm

    Heres my finished one, not super happy with it but its finished,

     

    finishedpower.jpg

    Added the motors as well.

    motorson.jpg

  • Moderator
    Gary Mortimer April 29, 2011 at 11:26pm
    @Alex I like
  • ARHEXA April 29, 2011 at 11:18pm

    Terminal blocks solution is great in my opinion,

    until it comes to a final construction step of a professional vehicle.

    if you keep it hobby and develop it all the time, OK,

    but there isn't anything safer, lower resistance, and more sure than wire to wire solder.

    and yes i know, my power board also could have been optimized more for lower resistance and lower weight, i'll maybe do that in the future...

  • Alex Lee April 29, 2011 at 4:40pm

    3692204988?profile=original

    AR, this is where i'll smile and grin with my terminal block. easy simple durable lots of accessories etc etc.

    It's really not heavy at all. 10-15 grams.. guessing of course.

     

  • Moderator
    Gary Mortimer April 29, 2011 at 2:59pm
    I will use heat shrink on top of the lot. I agree its more failure points its a way to get into the air whilst we think of a much better easier to build solution for power distribution.
  • ARHEXA April 29, 2011 at 1:48pm

    Gary,

    your board is smaller and probably lighter. (i have many more 'appliances' to be connected other than ESC's)

    wht i don't like is the T connectors... why add weight, resistance, potential failure point, etc....

     

    I don't like much the hot glue idea on power electronics. hot glue doesn't like heat at all if you see what i mean.

    also, for future soldering or modification, hot glue is a mess.

    use heat shrinks.

  • Moderator
    Gary Mortimer April 29, 2011 at 11:50am

    Ok, here's my more traditional version. Will test it and then encapsulate the exposed connections in hot glue tomorrow.The soldering today took longer than making the frame.

     

    power.jpg

  • Alex Lee April 29, 2011 at 5:53am

    You guys really amaze me with your machining. My limited shop, I can only cut plywood and square tubing.

    Nice..

    AR, I think the distro is doable in my shop from your tutorial.. I think i'll give that a go.

This reply was deleted.