Legs Eleven

[Opto-Mystic]

I have just come in from doing a quick test flight. I DID NOT crash (honest) ... It was a heavy(ish) landing...

I have cracked one of the one of the stock landing legs.
[attachimg=1]

Before I order another set, should I be using anything different?
Your recommendations  please

[Opto-Mystic]

Perhaps something like this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M200-Crab-Leg-Landing-Skids-for-FPV-Camera-Gimbal-Deluxe-Set-DIY-Black-/121200656441?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item1c381f4039

[Cloudbuster]

Hi donald !!! This is one of my most thought about subjects.. It seems most of the landing gear out there is really pretty flimsy and not up to much and its all to easy to have a heavy landing and wreck your landing gear !!! I have resorted to making my own from carbon tubing and also using the heavier gauge stuff . It all costs a bit extra but the results are landing gear that can cope with the odd hard landing with no ill effects !!! Most of the chinese carbon is so thin it breaks very easily !!! I think the landing gear is probably the only area where a little extra weight can out way the potential damage from you gear getting wrecked. I trashed a gimbal a few weeks ago because of weak landing gear !!!

All the best rob 

[Dek]

+1 for the carbon. I get mine from be composites http://be-composites.com/be-shop/#!/~/category/id=6738747&offset=0&sort=priceAsc. I think the prices are reasonable and delivery is very quick.

What I have found difficult to source are the tee connectors, 16mm main leg to 10mm landing skid. Had to buy a set for a Phantom and use the bits off that

[robshaw]

+2 for carbon. I made my own retracts from carbon tube. They seem solid enough.  I did manage to trash my gimbal despite the strong legs tho. Was mostly due to an unexpected landing with the legs retracted tho. Ooops.

[Opto-Mystic]

Thanks folks for the replies and comments - it looks like carbon is the way forward (or should I say ';up & down'

Thanks for the link to the source of carbon rods - I have bookmarked it. All I have to do is find a suitable design and source all the bits 

[Opto-Mystic]

Saw this on eBay - supplied from Shanghai, China:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=181213548387&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

This also seems to add real estate on the frame for  the extra goodies to be mounted... Comments please
I have no issues about buying from China...

[orfordness]

Saw this on eBay - supplied from Shanghai, China:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=181213548387&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

This also seems to add real estate on the frame for  the extra goodies to be mounted... Comments please
I have no issues about buying from China...

That';s the one I have and it adds quite a bit of weight.....

[flybywire]

I use the same legs as you Donald, maybe i';ve been lucky but they';ve been fine so far.  Only drawback is they can sink in to soft ground, especially if you have a gimbal in tow. 
I had some of those other Chinese legs, they broke second outing!

Probably best to build your own from 10mm carbon tube.  You could even pivot them at the base and make them retractable with HK retracts, the sexiest legs around!

Andy

[Cloudbuster]

Saw this on eBay - supplied from Shanghai, China:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=181213548387&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

This also seems to add real estate on the frame for  the extra goodies to be mounted... Comments please
I have no issues about buying from China...

This is not much different to what you already have donald !!! Save your money and look at a carbon fibre option !

[twinrotor2]

I have a set of these legs fitted to my 450 work very well and you can get spares
http://quadframe.com/collections/legs/products/155mmll

Jim

[Opto-Mystic]

Well, thanks for your input guys. Made me double think...

Rob: Retractable appeals to me but the thoughts of forgetting to drop the legs  and landing on the H3-2D make me shudder. As per Robshaw's Oooops moment! My heavy landing yesterday was a flat battery ... yes, I know! Lesson learnt the hard way.

However, retractables are not ruled out at the moment 'coz they be sexy, very sexy!


Dek: thanks for the link to carbon stock. That may prove useful once I have a design. That idea is in the mixing pot too.


Andy: I note your comments too about Chinese flimsiness. Point taken – retractables. HK retracts- hmmm. Interesting

Jim: Thanks for that link too. That is a definite candidate if I decide not to go the DIY route

All: So the vote for carbon seems to be the way to go... but... with the plastic legs, they seem to be flexible and act as a shock absorbing device. Giving soft corners to the G curve.

But what about Carbon – do they have any shock absorbing properties? Or do they have a sharp corner on the G curve and transmit all the G forces into the plates & Naza & rest of the goodies we all want to overload our birds with?


Until I have this issue resolved & my 450 has had its hip replacements, I will be risking landings on my hand --- eeek (aka plucking it outa the sky during a flyby  ::) )

[Opto-Mystic]

This make you think! I have just added this into the decision making equation!

http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/be-careful-with-the-new-dji-landing-gear

[Opto-Mystic]

OK, So it will be retractables! ::)

I have just ordered a pair of Hobbyking servoless retracts
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=23483

I now have to do my homework on either locating a pair of suitable legs - the ones that have the metal fitting at the top seem to have been modified and no longer have that metal piece. I may buy the CF tubing and DIY the legs... dunno yet - homework to do...

[Opto-Mystic]

Looks like I am have a good chat to myself

I think I mah have tracked down a Tarot landing skid with the metal fittings on both ends of the leg - the new version has carbon fibre fittings and not suitable for conversion into retracts... I should know by tomorrow I they are still on the back of a shelf in a shop!