Here's a source of 3mm standoffs, like the ones under my GPS module. They are available at any computer store that sells PC parts. Fry's and Microcenter come to mind.
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Here's a source of 3mm standoffs, like the ones under my GPS module. They are available at any computer store that sells PC parts. Fry's and Microcenter come to mind.
You need to be a member of diydrones to add comments!
Comments
McMaster has a great selection but don't search too quickly or you might get this lockout O-o
OK, I've decided to actually try to include a photo in the post so I shot one of the Wiha tools, nylon standoffs, acrylic bubble level, socket head SS screws, nuts with locking nylon inserts and the really cool neoprene vibration dampers.
Yes, I did the same thing. All hardware is either SS or Aluminum, to reduce any magnetism as much as possible.
Yes, I also found the threads in the plastic standoffs were just crap. They strip out easy. Thus the aluminum which is very strong.
On my 3DR kit, I also drilled out the plastic spacers on the legs, and use long through-bolts and then a nut on the far side. Because eventually I had stripped out the spacers anyway, and the screws were falling out, and the legs were not stiff anymore. Now with the through-bolt, they are hugely stiff.
Robert: Order from .ca, they would probably "force" the order there anyways.
The books are handy (like the large d-k and Mouser cats. are too) because I build in the basement (where I get my ideas) and I don't have a computer there. I will, soon... I mark up the books with stuff I like/have bought before too...yeah, I'm old, I still like paper (that was supposed to disappear a few decades ago, they said).
I noticed in my 3DR-B kit that they tended to use SS hardware around where the electronics might sit. That may be just a coincidence, but I made sure to use only SS/brass/Al/nylon/etc. non-magnetic stuff in the same areas. The threads on those 3mm male nylon standoffs are kinda crap IME, need a light hand when interfacing them with metal hardware (and I like tight lol).
I bought them at HobbyKing, nylon version, so a bit lighter than your metal ones. It's easy to cut them if you need shorter.
Oh, and I went the other way. I've replaces much of the plastic standoffs on my quad with aluminum ones. Much stronger than the plastic, and just a small weight penalty. RF interference? I wouldn't know.
Really? I've been wanting to order from digi-key, but I'm always afraid of the shipping charges. You just never know. Buy $5 worth of stuff and pay $50 for UPS shipping...
Does it matter if I'm at Digi-Key.ca or .com?
I would throw the MC book out, because their website is amazing. The search function REALLY works, and there's so much info.
You can search for something and, not only does it return *everything* with that word in it (unlike this Ning search... <cough>) but they also often come back with basically "are you actually looking for this?" because sometimes you don't know the word for what you're looking for, but they seem to have figured out what the common wrong searches are.
^ Really? I didn't even know they had one, last time I asked about how they got stuff here so fast they said they didn't have a warehouse in Canada...but that was some years ago. I'm in Toronto, and everything says Thief River Falls MN as return address, but I've never returned anything...probably just corp. address by default.
digi-key is a great place that's way too convenient and fast to get parts from for those late-night ideas that might not seem so hot after a sleep...
For those in Canada, consider digi-key for metric standoffs/hardware. I've ordered at around midnight and had stuff before 10AM the same day (amazing! since it comes from U.S.), $8 shipping IIRC, and no minimum. "Standoffs" and "metric spacers" are your search terms.
Yeah, had an MC account at work, and their huge printed cat is one of my prized books...but retired so the cat is my "what's out there" dream book.
McMaster is amazing. I've ordered on Sunday afternoon and it STILL gets here on Monday afternoon UPS. The items are packed in baggies labeled with their matching number from the packing list.
The standoffs are available in nylon for less weight and more RF transparency. And they're metric.
Other hard-to-find items I found at McMaster: self-fusing tape (epoxy), Wiha hand tools like metric ball drivers and socket drivers, neoprene vibration damping mounts, acrylic bullseye level (level the quad).
McMaster has a permanent bookmark in my drone list.
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