Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

Show off your prints!!!
User avatar
JohnnyRobot
Posts: 128
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:25 pm

FYI: Components list

Post by JohnnyRobot » Tue May 27, 2014 4:17 pm

Here's a BOM for The Big Red Beast.

I was inspired to build this quad by Brendon22. I saw his thingiverse post and was hooked (http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:261145) his parts list really helped me out.

Keep in mind that I designed the big red beast to be a big, slow, high payload, smooth flying, aerial camera platform. Depending on your needs, you may not need the big propellers, slow motors, high current ESC, etc..

Also, this project would've taken FOREVER if I didn't have a local hobby shop to get my piddly little odds and ends. I highly recommend you find your closest hobby shop and make friends with the employees there. They usually know their stuff and can point you in the right direction if you need a solution.

The Required
  1. Spektrum DX5e Transmitter (Qty. 1) @ http://secure.hobbyzone.com/SPMR5510.ht ... LVZADw_wcB NOTE: I want to upgrade to the DX6i @ http://www.horizonhobby.com/products/dx ... -2-SPM6630
  2. Spektrum AR6210 6-Channel DSMX Receiver.
  3. 3DR PixHawk flight controller (Qty. 1) @ https://store.3drobotics.com/products/3dr-pixhawk
  4. IRIS Battery Pack (Qty. 1) @ https://store.3drobotics.com/products/iris-battery-pack NOTE: If you're new to RC, you'll need a charger with a JST-XH charge port, and cell balancing!
  5. 3DR uBlox GPS with Compass Kit (Qty. 1) @ https://store.3drobotics.com/products/3 ... th-compass Actually optional, but makes life oh so much easier
  6. APC Propellers 11X47 Push-Pull Set @ (Qty. 2 - Should have gotten 4 so I had extras) https://store.3drobotics.com/products/a ... -sfp-style
  7. Motor 880Kv AC2836-358 with new prop adapter (Qty. 4) @ https://store.3drobotics.com/products/m ... 58-880kv-1 NOTE: Either the motor connectors, or ESC connectors need to be replaced, they are different sizes.
  8. Q Brain 4 x 25A Brushless Quadcopter ESC 2-4S 3A SBEC (Qty. 1) @ http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/stor ... _SBEC.html
  9. 48" Carbon fiber tube (Qty. 1) @ http://www.acpsales.com/Pultruted-Carbo ... -eiYPw_wcB NOTE: This is not where I bought mine, but it's the same stuff.
The Optional
  1. 3DR Radio Set (Qty. 1) @ https://store.3drobotics.com/products/3dr-radio The things you can do with this! You'd kick yourself if you were missing out
╒═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
-- Hi! No signature here.
╘═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛

outlaw704
Posts: 18
Joined: Fri Apr 11, 2014 11:58 pm
Location: Austin, Texas

Re: Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

Post by outlaw704 » Tue May 27, 2014 5:19 pm

Thanks for posting this! Very helpful.

Time to start printing.

And saving $$.

User avatar
JohnnyRobot
Posts: 128
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:25 pm

Mission Complete!

Post by JohnnyRobot » Tue Jun 24, 2014 3:57 pm

It's complete! Well... Until the next upgrade.

Image

A video sample can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqCtrkh0ffo
╒═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
-- Hi! No signature here.
╘═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛

User avatar
j-rod
Posts: 53
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2014 9:48 pm
Location: San Francisco

Re: Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

Post by j-rod » Thu Jun 26, 2014 12:34 am

nice work! i keep meaning to take some time and sit down to design a mini quad platform for my aeroquad flight controller. right now its in a big, sturdy airframe i rebuilt after i crashed my cyclone. its tough and the thing has a lot of lifting power, but its a bit intimidating to fly around and you can't really fly it indoors at all. (its too gusty most days where i live to fly outside)

User avatar
jimc
Posts: 2888
Joined: Wed Apr 09, 2014 11:30 pm
Location: mullica, nj
Contact:

Re: Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

Post by jimc » Thu Jun 26, 2014 3:58 am

well the quad is back in good shape.....how about the pilot?

User avatar
JohnnyRobot
Posts: 128
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:25 pm

Re: Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

Post by JohnnyRobot » Thu Jun 26, 2014 10:36 pm

I'm doing much better. Thank you. :D

Everything healed up quite nicely, however, I'm still missing a lot of feeling on the pad of my right pinky.

Not a big deal, I'm thankful I still have it.
╒═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
-- Hi! No signature here.
╘═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛

jsc
Posts: 1864
Joined: Thu Apr 10, 2014 4:00 am

Re: Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

Post by jsc » Fri Jun 27, 2014 3:02 pm

I looked into building a quadrotor a few months ago, and determined that the 3DR Iris is a good way to get all the parts fairly cheaply. Plus, it comes with a ready to fly airframe. I figured I will fly it to my first unrecoverable crash, then transplant all the electronics to a printed design.

What would you say are the main design differences between your design and Brendan's T4? What is your flight time like with the gimbal and camera attached? Is that a T2D gimbal, by the way?

The flight time on the Iris is middling to poor with their standard battery, by the way. An upgrade to a Zippy Flightmax 5000 mAH battery, which barely fits, improves it dramatically. It requires changing the connectors to XT60, though, which requires a powerful soldering iron.

User avatar
Capt. John
Posts: 271
Joined: Sun Apr 13, 2014 7:48 pm
Location: Manistee, MI
Contact:

Re: Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

Post by Capt. John » Wed Jul 02, 2014 6:41 am

Is that a pan/tilt feature on the GoPro?
Capt. John
Manistee, Michigan
Reel Amateur at 3D printing
Fishing Tackle Manufacturer & Webmaster for:
http://www.michiganangler.com
http://www.michigansportsman.com

User avatar
JohnnyRobot
Posts: 128
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:25 pm

Re: Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

Post by JohnnyRobot » Wed Jul 02, 2014 4:49 pm

What would you say are the main design differences between your design and Brendan's T4?
Brendan's T4 and my X550 are using pretty much the same stuff. I have added some extras to mine though. An FPV system with on screen telemetry for example.
  • I think Brendan's T4 is what they call a "T config". Front arms exit the body @ 20* and rear arms at 45*. Mine is an X configuration, all 4 arms @ 45*.
  • I'm using carbon fiber tubes for the arms. More hardware is required but I'd say it lightens it up. 797grams (-battery) vs. 1,011 grams (-battery)
  • Brendan's is encapsulated, which makes everything look cleaner, I like the look of his.
  • I accidentally (happy accident) designed in the ability to choose where the landing gear is mounted. Either out @ motor mounts, or in @ frame. (shown in photo with GoPro) It's the same bolt pattern.
  • I also think that I have a wider airframe @ 550mm (not positive though)
What is your flight time like with the gimbal and camera attached?
  • Right now I'm running a HobbyPeople 3S 4500MaH battery, when the quad is fully loaded it weighs 1600g (Camera, Gimbal, 600mw video transmitter for FPV) I'm getting 12 minutes. I usually land it at 10 though. I would be interested to see what kind of flight time I get with the Zippy Flightmax 5000 mAH battery.
  • I also REALLY want to know how DJI fits 5200mAH in a 300g battery, I'd like to get my hands on one of those but it would need to be reverse engineered to work and they're expensive. I'd hate to break it.
Is that a T2D gimbal, by the way?
  • Yessir, I'm pretty happy with it. When it does fail, or act stupid, there's always an obvious reason for it.
╒═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
-- Hi! No signature here.
╘═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛

User avatar
JohnnyRobot
Posts: 128
Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 9:25 pm

Re: Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

Post by JohnnyRobot » Wed Jul 02, 2014 4:57 pm

Capt. John
Is that a pan/tilt feature on the GoPro?
The tilt function is from the Gimbal, and the pan function comes from the quadcopter rotating.

It looks to me like you're a Michigan fisherman like me. This photo was taken with the quad on Little Torch lake in Ellsworth.
You're a webmaster. Feel free to use it!

Image
╒═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╕
-- Hi! No signature here.
╘═════════════════════════════════════════════════════════╛

Post Reply