It started when during a boring afternoon at work I told my colleague that I found a very interesting web site called DIYDRONES. We realized that our aptitudes and knowledge were complimentary meaning that he understood what I was talking about and I was also understanding him when he was telling me about how to integrate (something) into a closed loop after having characterized (something) to determine (something else). WOW!

My friend is a senior aerospace engineer at the aircraft certification division of Transport Canada and I am an aircraft maintenance engineer working also for Transport Canada as a civil aviation safety inspector.

That day, I challenged him into a project and he said with a smile; I hate you !

Since then, according to our wives, we are crazier then ever. We are now obsessed into accumulating enough honey-do list points to buy free time to go forward with our project.

I posted here a few pictures to tease your curiosity. If you want to play with me until the end you will get the complete story and details about what we created. All because of what DIYDRONES put in our heads.

We are planning to give most of it to the open sources community.
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For me it started by looking and drawing on an autocad 2009 computer screen. Did I mentioned also self learning how to use autocad?



One of my neighbor, also a friend, bought from China, on Ebay, a $1500.00 CNC machine knowing that I would learn how to use it and then teach him. Sure... but before I had to put together a computer powerful enough from some of the junk found in my garage. Could not wait to find a case for it.


After going through a few online tutorials (or was it a lot?) about Mach 3 CNC software, Sheetcam CAM software, stepper motors and controllers, etc. I ended up with my case less computer showing this screen;



and a noisy set up doing that; At least that is what my neighbors complains at 3 o'clock in the morning, you know ! CNC, router and vacuum noises.








Realizing that honey-do points are very hard to accumulate, we decided to start with cheap and easily available trex rc helicopter parts and built around it. Also we had the wisdom to start with a mock-up made with acrylic instead of wasting some very exotic and expensive material like carbon fiber. I think they call that the learning curve.


But what is that gizmo?


The continuation of our story will be by acclamation from you guys or it will die with this post...


Are you curious? Did DIYDRONES made you crazier to? Maybe we should consider a class action for it to stop...


Cheers!


Mario


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Comments

  • fibreboard for templates and mockup is very good when you are testing a concept. And when your CNC machine is going Awack because the operator (that is me) is still on the learning curve, you are glad that it was not a hundred dollars carbon fiber plate.

    But Ron is wright. That part will never fly. This one will :)

  • Whatever it is, it probably isn't going to fly. That fibreboard is very heavy. A lawn mower perhaps? Or "Ardu" beverage server.
  • You've got me stumped as well as interested, enough so that I've added my name to those who
    want to stay updated on where this all leads.
  • Here some more pics...

  • please, we want more!!! a lot more!!! :D :D :D
    by the way, really interesting start!
  • What are you planning to do? Make us crazier too? :D
  • I'm currious too...!
  • I have no clue what it is, but I am VERY curious
  • duel motor, gas electric hybrid. set us up with more pics!!!! or at least another CAD pic
  • Moderator
    Add to that variable pitch- I wanna' see this thing fly upside-down!
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