Blogs

Quadrocopter Electronics Mount

Posted by François Ubald Brien on March 23, 2011 at 8:30pm

Just received the plates I ordered at Ponoko and mounted my electronics on it. My measures were good but I chosed to put the xBee on the side instead of on top so I missed two holes for it, fortunately tie wraps saved the day! Next version will account for the new placement of the xBee and protect it better. If people are interested I can upload the eps files for Ponoko after I make some adjustments.

 

3689395783?profile=original

Tags: ardupilot, mega, ponoko, quadrocopter, xbee
E-mail me when people leave their comments –
Follow

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

Join diydrones

Comments

  • I.S. March 25, 2011 at 7:25pm

    I've just came up with this post that surprised me

    @Jani

    1- Are you sure that common GPS receivers sends some RF?! (Nnot unintended reflections, but deliverated signals?!?) what for? to where?

    2- Does acrylic block RF?!? I know that metals and carbon do but I thought most plastics were RF friendly such as acrylic and scotch tape (ok maybe some bearable attenuation)

  • François Ubald Brien March 25, 2011 at 5:58am
    Hmm, definitely something I'll have to look into, thanks for the info, it's the first time I read about it.
  • Developer
    Jani Hirvinen March 24, 2011 at 8:46pm

    GPS chip and receiver emits small radio frequencies, if you short circuit your antenna it will reflect everything back to GPS chip it self and that way overloads it. Different materials are reflecting those radio waves back with different amount. One best cover for GPS antennas is to have thin kevlar cover. Then again easiest way to burn your GPS is to have normal thin and clear packing tape on it (Like Scotch tape).. That small piece of packing tape shorts antenna totally and reflects everything back to GPS chip.

     

    All commercial GPS antennas have special plastic cover to avoid this problem and different plastics behave different way.

  • François Ubald Brien March 24, 2011 at 8:02pm
    The ArduPIlot Mega is mounted with nylon nylon spacers and this whole thing is mounted to the frame with rubber grommets. I don't know yet if it will cause too much vibrations or if it will be ok.
  • Moderator
    Grips March 24, 2011 at 7:09pm
    I believe he may mean covering it with the ziptie for mounting it? Just a guess honestly.  How are you mounting the ardupilot boards to the frame? Zip Ties? Rubber Grommets?
  • François Ubald Brien March 24, 2011 at 9:03am

    I know I shouldn't cover the GPS, that's why I also have a spare top plate with holes if I want to later mount it on top of the acrylic. As of now I was able to get a GPS fix even inside, but you're right the reception is probably not optimal. But what do you mean I can burn it?

  • Developer
    Jani Hirvinen March 24, 2011 at 8:33am
    Looks great but I also noticed that your GPS is under Acrylic sheet. Watch out, you might burn it and also your signal strength will be really low under that cover. Also you might want to move your magnetometer from under GPS. Maggy is rather sensitive instrument and you don't want it close with radio transmitters/receives.
  • François Ubald Brien March 24, 2011 at 8:25am

    The bottom plate (which we don't see really well in the picture) is made from Delrin 3.2mm and Both top plates from Acrylic 3.0mm. Ponoko's materials, cutting and shipping cost about 30$, Delrin is a bit more expensive than acrylic but is more resistant.

     

    @SciFly I know I could do that but... I don't have a drill. I was kind of hoping I could assemble an entire quad without needing one :P

  • Jose Angel March 24, 2011 at 8:14am
    Very nice. What material have you used from the ponoko catalog?
  • Jesse March 24, 2011 at 4:00am
    Looks great, a very nice job on the design.
This reply was deleted.