The case for Hex

[annikk.exe]

Rotors tend to be more efficient with fewer, larger propellers.  Quadcopters have 4, and also have the advantage of being very simple mechanically.
Running an Octocopter can provide redundancy - if a motor fails then in theory the aircraft can remain airborne.

What, then, is the case for hexacopters, which sit between these two?  If four larger rotors would be more efficient, and redundancy is only available at 8 rotors, what is the point in 6?

The usual reason I';ve seen is that "More motors is more power!"
But it';s also more weight, you need a heavier battery to feed more motors, and it';s probably less efficient than a similar thrust quadcopter.

Do hexacopters have some different and awesome flight characteristics or something?
Sorry if this is a dumb question... :>

[Gandhi]

I';ve got two and I love them - one is 300 sized and one is 360. I did try to sell them a little while ago but I';ve decided to keep them now.

For me, they are more stable, have better yaw characteristics and look menacing :)

Not so good for mad 4s acro action though.

50% extra thrust is useful too, especially if you can keep the weight down. I think the dry weight of my 300 hex is 540g, then it just depends on battery.

[JeremyE]

What, then, is the case for hexacopters, which sit between these two?  If four larger rotors would be more efficient, and redundancy is only available at 8 rotors, what is the point in 6?

There are ways to fly a hex with 5 motors. I flew my Y6 with 5 motors once as the one would cut out intermittently. So I guess the idea is redundancy.

[PropsToYou]

Redundancy was one big thing for me, but also I was able to upgrade from a quad with a relatively small weight increase.

[Yellow]

A hex still has redundancy, they fly easily with one missing, I suppose they just fill the gap between quad and October, a step up in stability and redundancy

[NorcoT]

Cost? You can get redudancy for the price of only 2 extra motors, escs and props instead of 4.

I only have quads so could be wrong..

[annikk.exe]

I didn';t realise Hex could have redundancy.. :>  I guess that explains it.

So in that case, what';s the point in Octocopters?  Why not just have a hexacopter with larger diameter props?

[NorcoT]

Perhaps redudancy again? If you lose one motor on an oct you only loose 1/8th of the thrust (well minus a little more for it to conteract for yaw) and if you lose one on the hex thats 1/6th of thr thrust lost.

So for heavy payloads on a hex you would have to have more unsed thrust in the bank to get the same level of redudancy?

Stab in the dark..

[Soler]

A Hex will fly with one motor down but not very well,  (Don';t ask how I know)  Where as an Ocot will fly quite well with 7 motors. 

[teslahed]

Hex';s need enough spare thrust on their 5 other motors to carry on flying after they lose one. If you have a well built hex that isn';t overloaded then it can carry on flying with 5 motors. If you load it up with too much weight then it may lose this redundancy.

[Gatallica]

I went for a hex for three reasons; 1. Redundancy as above, 2. Heavy lift and 3. Smoother more stable platform for AP.
The latter diddnt work out at all though...AP video from my quad was smooth and jello free but the hex is back to square one! Bit frustrated really but there you go.

They do look menacing though!

[PropsToYou]

I went for a hex for three reasons; 1. Redundancy as above, 2. Heavy lift and 3. Smoother more stable platform for AP.
The latter diddnt work out at all though...AP video from my quad was smooth and jello free but the hex is back to square one! Bit frustrated really but there you go.

They do look menacing though!

Exactly the same experience for me. Out of curiosity, was this a flamewheel? It took a lot of work to make my hex jello free but my quad had been perfect from word go

[Gatallica]

Exactly the same experience for me. Out of curiosity, was this a flamewheel? It took a lot of work to make my hex jello free but my quad had been perfect from word go

Yes, it is a Flamewheel. What did you end up doing in the end? Problem I guess is ';more motors, more vibration';...

[PropsToYou]

Yes, it is a Flamewheel. What did you end up doing in the end? Problem I guess is ';more motors, more vibration';...

I tried a number of things, different props, different flight settings, moving the GoPro back and forth on the mount for different balancing options, I even did a full breakdown and re-build incase there were any loose nuts etc. None of that made any difference for me (Though obviously it certainly could for others).

Eventually I decided I was just going to have to throw some more money at it. I was already rocking the AeroXcraft landing gear which is superb, giving you great reach on your GoPro, also holding your lipo which is used to counterbalance, and also very light. AeroXcraft also offer two additional products to help reduce vibration from your hex down into the landing gear (which also holds the GoPro). I ended up getting both of these and this was the result:

! No longer available

[DarkButterfly]

I fly a custom built talon hex for AP and I can confirm multiple times that it does stay aloft with a prop bust, in fact I';ve broken three mid flight and didn';t crash, luckily they weren';t all on the same side.

[Gatallica]

"Eventually I decided I was just going to have to throw some more money at it. I was already rocking the AeroXcraft landing gear which is superb, giving you great reach on your GoPro, also holding your lipo which is used to counterbalance, and also very light."

I was looking at this but your right, it is very expensive!! Maybe I';ll just have to bite the bullet and get one.