Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

JohnnyRobot · Post by **JohnnyRobot** » Sun May 18, 2014 6:19 am

Hey everybody,

Just wanted to share with you my latest creation. A 550 series quadrotor.

This picture is of only the frame and battery. I will post more as things progress.

JohnnyRobot · Post by **JohnnyRobot** » Mon May 19, 2014 3:36 pm

Any ideas on what I should name this thing?

JohnnyRobot · Post by **JohnnyRobot** » Tue May 20, 2014 1:32 pm

jsc · Post by **jsc** » Tue May 20, 2014 5:51 pm

What are you using to model? Are those carbon fiber rods for the arms? What are you going to do for cable management to the rotors? Where does the battery go?

JohnnyRobot · Post by **JohnnyRobot** » Tue May 20, 2014 6:15 pm

I'm using Alibre Design.

And yes, the arms are .5" carbon fiber tubes. The motor wires are to be routed through them. Unfortunately .5" is a bit too small and they're very difficult to fit in there. I may need to find smaller connectors. (Or just solder them

)

The top picture is of an initial fitment test. There's an additional plate holding the battery that's not installed on the bottom picture.
The bottom picture was right after I calibrated the ESC, I assembled it so the motors would be secured while I was calibrating and testing motor direction. (I put propellers on for the photo)

I'll post another one tonight after I add more goodies.

JohnnyRobot · Post by **JohnnyRobot** » Wed May 21, 2014 1:25 pm

Build log update.

I didn't get to work on it much yesterday. Not enough time in a day...

Here's what I did get done.

Calibrated ESC
Verified motor rotation
Replaced motor connectors with wire to wire solder. (not happy about it, but the wires fit through the arm tubes now)

j-rod · Post by **j-rod** » Thu May 22, 2014 1:38 am

you could always space the connectors at different lengths along the wire so they aren't all bunched up at one spot, but that's a tad bit more work.

JohnnyRobot · Post by **JohnnyRobot** » Thu May 22, 2014 3:50 pm

you could always space the connectors at different lengths along the wire so they aren't all bunched up at one spot, but that's a tad bit more work.

I thought of that after I cut my motor wires too short.

JohnnyRobot · Post by **JohnnyRobot** » Thu May 22, 2014 4:11 pm

Build log update.

Here's what I got done.

Routed motor/ESC wires through the carbon fiber tubes.
Completed soldering all the motor connections.
Tidied up the wiring.
Started to add additional pieces for mock up/fitment testing.

9V Battery placed for scale

JohnnyRobot · Post by **JohnnyRobot** » Mon May 26, 2014 6:22 am

Pay close attention @ 2:17

http://youtu.be/jqyysKg7WJw

Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

Re: Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

A different lander gear config. A little bit further along..

Re: Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

Re: Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

Update - 5/21/14

Re: Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

Re: Big Red Beast. A 3D printed quadrotor

Update - 5/22/14

It Flies! AND Crashes...