Quadrocopters :)

[jimmy]

Originally Posted by andys

Piccy of my little Quad.

HobbyKing UK have the F450 frames back in stock. Ordered a couple to ultimately build something a bit bigger to carry a camera once I master this little fella.

Go big or go home!

[andys]

Jimmy.

That's a very impressive prop - but you'll need a few more bits than that to get it in the sky buddy

Can't wait to see it when it's done. Can I have a ride on it first?

Re my 'diddy' Quad - this is what I ended up with :

From the UK Warehouse:
F330 Glass Fiber Mini Quadcopter Frame 330mm (UK Warehouse)
Hobbyking KK2.0 Multi-rotor LCD Flight Control Board (UK Warehouse)
Turnigy Aerodrive SK3 - 2822-1275 Brushless Outrunner Motor (UK Warehouse)
Turnigy nano-tech 2650mah 3S 25~50C Lipo Pack (UK Warehouse)
5.6mm x 21mm M3 Nylon Threaded Spacer (10pc) (UK Warehouse)

From the Hong Kong Warehouse:
Turnigy 9X 9Ch Transmitter w/ Module & 8ch Receiver (Mode 2) (v2 Firmware)
10CM Male to Male Servo Lead (JR) 26AWG (10pcs/set)
8045 SF Props 2pc Standard Rotation/2 pc RH Rotation (Black)
8045 SF Props 2pc Standard Rotation/2 pc RH Rotation (Red)
On-Board Lipoly Low Voltage Alarm 2s~3s
HXT 4MM to Banana Plug Charge Lead Adapter
HXT 4mm Connector to T-plug conversion charge lead
Q Brain 4 x 20A Brushless Quadcopter ESC 2-4S 3A SBEC


I bought an extra 330 frame and used the top plate so make a kind of cage for my KK2 board. I thought the motors may be underpowered as they are the smallest - lowest powered ones in the SK3 range (95w) but for the little 330 frame they seem perfect.

The Q Brain was a winner - required a bit of re-wiring, but means I don't have speed controllers hanging from each arm which keeps it tidy.

All in all it's great. Approx 15mins flight time on the 2650 lipo. Not sure if it would be much quicker / run longer with a less capacity / lighter battery. It seems great so i've ordered 2 of the same battery but with higher C rating - so hopefully i'll get a bit more acceleration!

A couple of points - the KK board - I updated the firmware to 1.5 before even building the Quad (thanks to Col for posting me the info / cable thing). I believe the auto level on 1.5 firmware is much better than previous firmwares. Personally I think the auto level works beautifully, so deffo update your KK2 to 1.5

Also - Turnigy 9x has I believe no proper failsafe. On my set if the quad goes out of range or I turn of the TX the motors stop, so the quad would fall out of the sky. I believe with the FrSKy module / RX you can set it properly, so say quarter throttle so it doesn't fall like a brick! I may upgrade to this soon - but apart from that the Turnigy is great value.

Lastly a big thankyou to Neal Lewis - who answered my many, many questions and gave me lots of help

Hope this helps anyone else looking into this minefield!

Next up - i'm building a 450 quad for a go pro

[Col]

Little list of my own...

First order:
Hobbyking SK450 Glass Fiber Quadcopter Frame 450mm
Hobbyking KK2.0 Multi-rotor LCD Flight Control Board
10x4.5 SF Props 2pc Standard Rotation/2 pc RH Rotation (Red)
10x4.5 SF Props 2pc Standard Rotation/2 pc RH Rotation (Green)
D2830-11 1000kv Brushless Motor x4
Turnigy TY-P1 25Amp HEXFET Brushless Speed Controller x4
Turnigy TY-P1 25Amp Brushless ESC Programming Card
Turnigy 9X 9Ch Transmitter without Module (Mode 2) (v2 Firmware)
FrSky DF 2.4Ghz Combo Pack for JR w/ Module & RX
5.6mm x 21mm M3 Nylon Threaded Spacer (10pc)
M3X10 Nylon Screws (10pcs/bag)
M3 Nylon Nut (10pcs/bag)
PolyMax 3.5mm Gold Connectors 10 PAIRS (20PC)
Hobbyking SK450 Replacement Arm Set - Red (2pcs/bag)
10CM Male to Male Servo Lead (JR) 26AWG (10pcs/set)
Turnigy 2450mAh 3S 30C Lipo Pack
XT60 Male w/ 12AWG Silicon Wire 10cm (5pcs/bag)
Hobby King Quadcopter Power Distribution Board
Turnigy 4mm Heat Shrink Tube - RED (1mtr)
Extra Size Cardboard Box and Packing 183g

Second order:
Atmel Atmega Socket Firmware Flashing Tool
USBasp AVR Programming Device for ATMEL proccessors

Third order:
D2830-11 1000kv Brushless Motor x3
Battery Velcro Strap (2pcs/bag)

Forth order:
Turnigy TY-P1 25Amp HEXFET Brushless Speed Controller x4
(blew a coupe - problem now solved)

Fifth order:
Turnigy 3000mAh 3S 40C Lipo Pack (UK Warehouse) x2
(now it fly's, I need to fly more!)

Sixth order:
HXT 4mm to XT-60 Battery Adapter (2pcs/bag) (UK Warehouse)
(to make fifth order battery's fit)

Seventh order:
10x4.5 SF Props 2pc Standard Rotation/2 pc RH Rotation (Red)
10x4.5 SF Props 2pc Standard Rotation/2 pc RH Rotation (Green)
(current ones are a bit battered - you wouldn't believe the damage caused by flying through flys!)

Eighth order:
Turnigy Battery Strap 330mm
Hobbyking KK2.0 Multi-rotor LCD Flight Control Board

So far, that's the lot.
I've oredered a spare KK2 for one reason - they no longer make the single axis giro that the board uses. One way or another this means the end of the KK2. Rumour has is a KK3 is on the way

[andys]

Heyup Col

I'm on order No.8 too !
It's one of those games where you always order something wrong / forget something - or realise when it's too late you need something else. My little list is far from what i've bought, but it is the parts that are in the Quad - and if I knew then, what I know know, it's the only parts I would have bought (apart from the extra lipos)

In light of the 'mishap' over the weekend, i've butchered my 949 quad and taken off the red led's and created what i'm calling - 'The Neal Lewis Orientation System'



Works really well - just flown the quad in the park with the light starting to go and it really helps. One set of led's on top of the red 'tongue' and one set under it too.

[Col]

ooooh... didn't think of that! I've got 2 949's.
How did you wire them up?

edit: I see tape on your props. Do you use a proper magnetic balancer, or a rolling pin? I've not bothered with mine as yet, but am thinking it can't possibly do any harm

[andys]

Originally Posted by Col

ooooh... didn't think of that! I've got 2 949's.
How did you wire them up?

edit: I see tape on your props. Do you use a proper magnetic balancer, or a rolling pin? I've not bothered with mine as yet, but am thinking it can't possibly do any harm

Hi Col.

I just cut the small plugs from the led strips from the 949 and then soldered the 2 red sets to a receiver wire/plug and run it from the receiver. The 949 lipos are I think 3.7 (or3.4v) so the led's are running on 5V - seems to work just fine

The cheap HobbyKing props are well out of balance without the tape.

All I did was use the smallest adapter ring (the one with the tiny hole) and put a small drill bit through so it's nice and snug when on the prop, then I rested the prop - with the drill bit through the middle on the jaws of my metal vice. It falls very freely to the heavy side. The props are real bad without the tape. Put one on the vice and one side drops like a brick !

Just used normal clear tape to get them so they settle in the middle Saves buying a fancy balancer. To be fair the motors are not very well balanced as you can feel the vibrations in the arms with the props off. Hence me wanting better motors for the 450. Currently looking at SunnySky - or the 'T' motors.

[Col]

Originally Posted by andys

All I did was use the smallest adapter ring (the one with the tiny hole) and put a small drill bit through so it's nice and snug when on the prop, then I rested the prop - with the drill bit through the middle on the jaws of my metal vice. It falls very freely to the heavy side. The props are real bad without the tape. Put one on the vice and one side drops like a brick !

Just used normal clear tape to get them so they settle in the middle Saves buying a fancy balancer. To be fair the motors are not very well balanced as you can feel the vibrations in the arms with the props off. Hence me wanting better motors for the 450. Currently looking at SunnySky - or the 'T' motors.

Good idea. Think I'll get my work bench level and give it a go

[neallewis]

Originally Posted by andys

Heyup Col

I'm on order No.8 too !
It's one of those games where you always order something wrong / forget something - or realise when it's too late you need something else. My little list is far from what i've bought, but it is the parts that are in the Quad - and if I knew then, what I know know, it's the only parts I would have bought (apart from the extra lipos)

In light of the 'mishap' over the weekend, i've butchered my 949 quad and taken off the red led's and created what i'm calling - 'The Neal Lewis Orientation System'



Works really well - just flown the quad in the park with the light starting to go and it really helps. One set of led's on top of the red 'tongue' and one set under it too.

Fantastic Andy! just what I need!

I mailed you the LED system I've got on order?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230842690648

[neallewis]

I've got this balancer: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...aft_Blade.html

If you want to use it, let me know and i'll make sure I have it with me.

[Col]

Originally Posted by neallewis

I've got this balancer: http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...aft_Blade.html

If you want to use it, let me know and i'll make sure I have it with me.

York on the 22nd?

[neallewis]

Originally Posted by Col

York on the 22nd?

Yup, will try to be there.

[Col]

Cool. With a mild amount of skill the carpark is a great place to open them up a bit!

[andys]

Originally Posted by Col

Cool. With a mild amount of skill the carpark is a great place to open them up a bit!

No way i'd fly over concrete yet!
I like lots of grass - preferably nice and long. I've not crashed it properly yet but I have brought it down at speed and it skidded and tipped over. No problem on grass but would maybe have upset it on anything harder.

Also - I now have this great iphone app - iSeismometer - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/isei...304190739?mt=8

Looks like it will be really useful for seeing the results / before / after of balancing motors and props

Neal - this is interesting comparing the DJI with Sunnysky motors - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7xceZSym9A

[neallewis]

Originally Posted by andys

No way i'd fly over concrete yet!
I like lots of grass - preferably nice and long. I've not crashed it properly yet but I have brought it down at speed and it skidded and tipped over. No problem on grass but would maybe have upset it on anything harder.

Also - I now have this great iphone app - iSeismometer - https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/isei...304190739?mt=8

Looks like it will be really useful for seeing the results / before / after of balancing motors and props

Neal - this is interesting comparing the DJI with Sunnysky motors - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7xceZSym9A

I broke my first arm, first time out over grass, albeit short grass.


I've also got something similar to that program on my android. not used it yet for prop balancing, but did try it on my motors. you need to do each one individually. Mine didn't appear to be out as much as the one shown in that example/comparison.

I'm sure there are examples of all motor makes that are perfectly balanced or unbalanced. I guess you need to test lots to find an average, which would say if one brand was better at making/QC for shipping balanced stock.

Where can you buy sunnysky motors from?

Seen these: http://team-blacksheep.com/products/prod:900kv_30aesc

[neallewis]

Andy, have you seen the Team Black Sheep videos?

https://www.youtube.com/user/nastycop420/videos

[andys]

Originally Posted by neallewis

Andy, have you seen the Team Black Sheep videos?

https://www.youtube.com/user/nastycop420/videos

Awesome videos

Yes - i've looked a few times at the black sheep stuff. It's not cheap though
Also - the motors look a bit like the Sunny Sky / T Motor units?
These - http://quadcopters.co.uk/t-motor-ms2...otor-634-p.asp

Think I may get a 'spider' frame when I build my next one. No rush though - i'm taking my time as I want it to be right and not end up with loads of orders and left over parts!

Whatever I do the 2x 450 frames / arms will be used in some way

[neallewis]

Originally Posted by andys

Awesome videos

Yes - i've looked a few times at the black sheep stuff. It's not cheap though
Also - the motors look a bit like the Sunny Sky / T Motor units?
These - http://quadcopters.co.uk/t-motor-ms2...otor-634-p.asp

Think I may get a 'spider' frame when I build my next one. No rush though - i'm taking my time as I want it to be right and not end up with loads of orders and left over parts!

Whatever I do the 2x 450 frames / arms will be used in some way

Yes I thought the sunnysky motors looked a bit like the TBS ones.

I fancy this upgrade: http://quadcopters.co.uk/tbs-discove...late-465-p.asp

Again it won't get me flying any better now, and I'm not yet buying up my FPV gear... so I don't need it right now.

[Col]

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...ter_Frame.html



Not sure if your arms will fit, but mine do

[andys]

Originally Posted by Col

http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...ter_Frame.html



Not sure if your arms will fit, but mine do

Hi Col.

That looks more in my price range Dead Cat though - crazy name - prefer TBS Discovery - sounds impressive Also the integrated wiring on the TBS frame looks cool.

Think i'll go TBS with the 450 arms I have from the HobbyKing frames. I really like the simplicity of the GoPro mount on the TBS - rubber band

Still - as I said no rush - lots of stuff at HobbyKing is out of stock anyway.

Flying - went to the park again armed with the patented 'Neal Lewis Orientation System' - I can now fly figures of 8 Park is pretty open and big - but no way I can get on full throttle unless I only go straight up. That Warthox guy must be a robot.
Awesome.

[Col]

The only item I would 100% change would be my power distribution board to this:
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...trSearch=sk450


Much neater than mine now my soldering skills are better...
Might add one to my next order