the wasp stings!

[barneyg]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100A-Multicopter-Power-Distribution-Hub-Quadcopter-Hexcopter-BEC-/321312835286?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item4acfbcc6d6
and
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dual-Output-Board-5V-12V-Adjustable-Voltage-12-volt-BEC-UK-based-seller-/251568193586?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item3a92a20032

and these too but I don';t actually believe it is in the UK given the estimated delivery dates :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5V-12V-Adjustable-Voltage-BEC-Output-Board-ESC-Distribution-Connection-Board-/251557090501?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item3a91f894c5

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5V-12V-ESC-Connection-Board-with-3-20V-Adjustable-Voltage-and-Dual-BEC-Output-/131251417262?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item1e8f31b0ae

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FPV-Quadcopter-ESC-Connection-Board-3-20V-Adjustable-Voltage-Dual-BEC-Output-/261555385754?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item3ce5ea759a

[flybywire]

There you go!  Even cheaper!

[Hands0n]

Ha ha    Thank you @barneyg - you are now my official eBay finder    I thought I was good at finding stuff on there but ... *doffs cap* you da man

So, as I need a few I have ordered one of the Quanum boards from the eBay seller. And I have also ordered a £5.60 HJ clone from the Portsmouth location. Lets see who turns up first and what they';re like f';real.

I';m particularly interested in what the 12v outputs from a 3S source supply!

[barneyg]

Ha ha    Thank you @barneyg - you are now my official eBay finder    I thought I was good at finding stuff on there but ... *doffs cap* you da man

So, as I need a few I have ordered one of the Quanum boards from the eBay seller. And I have also ordered a £5.60 HJ clone from the Portsmouth location. Lets see who turns up first and what they';re like f';real.

I';m particularly interested in what the 12v outputs from a 3S source supply!

If it is anything like most of their ilk it should be about 0.5v below battery voltage when the battery voltage is below 12.5 volts.

[Hands0n]

If it is anything like most of their ilk it should be about 0.5v below battery voltage when the battery voltage is below 12.5 volts.

Yeah, thats what I am anticipating.  What we really need is something with a Flux Capacitor that gives a constant 12v output regardless of the input.  #jokealert

[barneyg]

Ha ha    Thank you @barneyg - you are now my official eBay finder    I thought I was good at finding stuff on there but ... *doffs cap* you da man

Are you sure about that after my alloy spacer search fail  ::)

Yeah, thats what I am anticipating.  What we really need is something with a Flux Capacitor that gives a constant 12v output regardless of the input.  #jokealert

This might work :

http://www.pololu.com/product/2572

Output Voltage : 4 V – 12 V
Output Current : 2 A
Input Voltage : 2.9 V – 32 V
Efficiency : 80% – 90%
Size : 21mm × 43mm

or this if you want an output of 9 - 30 V
http://www.pololu.com/product/2573

other ones available too :
http://www.pololu.com/category/133/step-up-step-down-voltage-regulators

[Hands0n]

Oooooohhh .... Flux Capacitors .... 

[Hands0n]

Well the first one turned up today, from the UK seller at £5.60 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5V-12V-Adjustable-Voltage-BEC-Output-Board-ESC-Distribution-Connection-Board-/251557090501?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item3a91f894c5).

A bit pants is that the board is not marked up with +ve and -ve, so be careful with that.  It isn';t intuitive, although there are hints on the board if you look at the low-voltage points.  And the seller has kindly supplied a sheet of paper that details which rail is which.  As does the EBay sale, so worth keeping a copy of the image somewhere safe for future reference





So now I';m waiting to receive the other board, £5.78 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5V-12V-ESC-Connection-Board-with-3-20V-Adjustable-Voltage-and-Dual-BEC-Output-/131251417262?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item1e8f31b0ae) supposedly from Portsmouth and made by HJ (that mob who make the clone DJI 450 rotor arms).   

[flybywire]

So, I';m liking these ';new'; waterproof strip lights.




I punched holes through the plate and soldered the wires, neat style.  Not quite QAV, but more QED perhaps!



getting a bit crowded now:

[flybywire]

Well the first one turned up today, from the UK seller at £5.60 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5V-12V-Adjustable-Voltage-BEC-Output-Board-ESC-Distribution-Connection-Board-/251557090501?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Other&hash=item3a91f894c5).

A bit pants is that the board is not marked up with +ve and -ve, so be careful with that.  It isn';t intuitive, although there are hints on the board if you look at the low-voltage points.  And the seller has kindly supplied a sheet of paper that details which rail is which.  As does the EBay sale, so worth keeping a copy of the image somewhere safe for future reference





So now I';m waiting to receive the other board, £5.78 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5V-12V-ESC-Connection-Board-with-3-20V-Adjustable-Voltage-and-Dual-BEC-Output-/131251417262?pt=UK_ToysGames_RadioControlled_JN&hash=item1e8f31b0ae) supposedly from Portsmouth and made by HJ (that mob who make the clone DJI 450 rotor arms).

Yeah, you have to consult the ';technical manual'; to avoid a unplanned fry-up.  Still, they do work a treat.  My latest config is 12v Vtx/5v camera, so I now have the two ';clean'; supplies, just got to wire it up!

BOOM!

[Hands0n]

So, I';m liking these ';new'; waterproof strip lights.







I punched holes through the plate and soldered the wires, neat style.  Not quite QAV, but more QED perhaps!

Ha ha ... thats what I';ve done to my Hammer 250 (makeitbuildit.co.uk - shameless plug ::) ).  I ran the wires along the bottom of the base plate, not as elegant as you, but I didn';t want to open up the chassis yet again!

It does look very, very cool in the dark ...

[flybywire]

I keep meaning to use lights more on my quads, it';s just getting round to it!  As you say, it';s a pain to open them up, just for lights, but they do make the little blighters easier to spot.

[Hands0n]

Yup. I didn';t see the point previously. But ever since rigging one up I';ve found it useful. Will probably do as standard now. Especially as I but it in 5 metre reels of the stuff ::)

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

[flybywire]

Yup. I didn';t see the point previously. But ever since rigging one up I';ve found it useful. Will probably do as standard now. Especially as I but it in 5 metre reels of the stuff ::)

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

5m!!!     I got0.5m

BTW, is yours flying with the CC3D now?

Andy

[Hands0n]

5m!!!     I got0.5m

BTW, is yours flying with the CC3D now?

Andy

Yes, I buy reels of the stuff from China for about £8 or £10 a reel (waterproof generally, altho the latest is not). Each reel is 5m. I saw the prices of shorter lengths, particularly UK sellers, and thought fudgit, I';ll bulk buy ::)

The Hammer 250 is running Naze32
The 250 Pro is running CC3D although it is minimally built, flies superbly, now need to fit the FPV gear in it. Waiting for some SMA pigtails to arrive from China to sort out the FPV properly (for a change).  I will light it up also ::)

[Hands0n]

Well, the HJ PDB arrived today, 6 days after the Quanum clone. I think I like the HK one better because of its layout and the on-board labelling is completely clear and unambiguous.

Cripes! I';d better get to build something with one of these in it.

Thinking of reinvigorating the Wickes special Scratch Build (WSB hereafter). I';ve enough scratch bits in the build box to get it airborne again. i want to get the old KK2 updated with Steveis software as I read all manner of good things about it.  And the WSB could do with an FC that is as in-field flexible as a KK2 board.

Anyroadup, I think I can recommend either PDB if you want on-board power regulation.  Great if you';re burning 4S and above (I';m using 3S which is okay also).  And at these eBay prices, cheaper than completely passive PDBs and with two UBECs to boot.  Can';t be bad, that.

[flybywire]

Anyroadup, I think I can recommend either PDB if you want on-board power regulation.  Great if you';re burning 4S and above (I';m using 3S which is okay also).  And at these eBay prices, cheaper than completely passive PDBs and with two UBECs to boot.  Can';t be bad, that.

Yup! no brainer really.

[flybywire]

Anyways, of late, I';ve had a rest from 250 flying, preferring the relative solace of a verdant hillside and the 550 hexa.  I think Christmas may afford me further japes with the little beast, and weather permitting I may record said japes herein.
If you';d like to cut your own Wasp frame, I';d be happy to let you have the dxf file (or whatever format) as it would be cool to see how others find her to fly.  It';s well capable of putting the fear of god into a hedgerow or rugby post near you too!
Just PM me, Merry Christmas!

[flybywire]

Just an update really...

I';ve had a little time away from flying, due to weather, lethargy etc, so have had some reflection time with my mini quad design.  Seeing other designs around, one makes some mental notes for improvement to ones own attempts, coupled with ones own observations and cogitations.  So I suppose the most prominent mod is the now integral bottom plates/arms.  In an ideal world, where money/machinery were no object, I would have them pressure moulded from CF, but hey that ain';t goin'; to happen!  Joking apart, I';m forcing myself to be more self sufficient in terms of production, so this leaves me with Delrin as my material of choice, simply because it';s cheap, tough and flexible, with the benefit of being eminently cut-able by laser!

Next up, I have done away with notions of ';clean & dirty'; in favour of ';mean & flirty';.  In other words, perhaps ironically, I got 0 jello by just slapping the camera on the top plate, without any bother & fuss (as did Bruce RCmodel reviews!).  So, this being the case, I have cut the top plate short, and have re-positioned the gopro on the ';integral'; plate at the front.  The AR 6100e Rx sits behind the GoPro style camera, the VTx at the rear of the top plate.  I';m keeping the lipo in its original position, as this gives very good results balance wise.



(thanks to Richard for the 3D render';s, they';re only rough, just to give an idea).

One of the side benefits of Delrin, is that it is threadable, so I may be able to further reduce the parts list, by screwing the now metal standoffs into the threaded holes in the bottom arm plates. 



I';ve made a few changes since Richard kindly rendered those dxf files:



I still need to insert some fixings for the fpv board cam that will now sit on the top frame.

Other mods have been minor adjustments to cable access & routing holes etc, oh, and engraving my phone number on the top plate as well, you never know! 

Nearly forgot!  I have a spare Acro Naze  lying about, so I plan to use the inward pointing pin header ';dodge';, which may allow me to mount it on the underside of the top plate, as I';d originally envisaged the CC3D (but couldn';t due to the awkward headers).  Oh, and 4 more 12a Afro';s and 4 plastic emax motors on the way from HK!   

[hoverfly]

SOME TOPIC!!!!!There went my dinner hour.

[flybywire]

SOME TOPIC!!!!!There went my dinner hour.

Well, you know what it';s like, once you start a project like this, you never really finish it..

[flybywire]

Just had this come through my inbox: http://www.radioc.co.uk/Diatone-Silver-Blade-Glass-Fiber-250-Frame-p/1030.htm

Sometimes I wonder why I bother to design stuff myself, and then I remember the massive grin you get when you design/build something yourself and see it fly.   
But it is a wonder how they make anything on these frames (though they do look a little rough in parts tho!  ). 

I';ve priced up my Wasp frames, (now it';s an integral design), in Delrin, and I reckon the material alone will cost about £10 per quad.  Standoff';s aren';t exactly cheap either, although I am liking Chris'; (Teslahed) idea of fuel tubing between top & bottom plates.   

[kilby]

I can vouch for the fuel tube method, you also get vibe reduction thrown in for free.

My mobius footage from Sunday didn';t have a hint of jello and the camera was rap strapped directly to the top deck

[flybywire]

Talking of inspiration, we all draw ours from different places...









That guy was ';on it';.

Not sure what he was thinking here tho...?


I';ve now done away with the reinforcer plate, and gone for a simple ';3 piece'; frame.  THe bottom ';integral'; plate will be cut from 5mm Delrin, tough as old boots, and the middle and top from 2mm.


The material is on it';s way from the bay, and I';m raring to go!  So far I';ve flown my mini quads like I owned them (well I do) but from now on, this frame will be thrashed silly, if it breaks, it';s noooo good to me.
5" props are king, well I would say that I bought a shop load!

Wait a minute...

';One';? ';One';?? Surely not? One plate?  Is it possible?
     



I think one plate may be asking a tad too much, but two plates would certainly be worth considering.  THe esc';s/PDB can be mounted on the underside for easy access, gopro, lipo would sit on the other side, then FC board cam & vtx on top deck as before.  I like it.

[hoverfly]

Plastic supplies, ive used this company for years. Their tec support is superb.

http://www.directplasticsonline.co.uk/Acetal_Sheet.html

[flybywire]

Thanks HF, noted.  I did look at those guys, but bought from these folk:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ACETAL-Sheet-NATURAL-Copolymer-WHITE-POM-C-DELRIN-PLATE-Engineering-Plastics-/161315078656?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item258f20c200
The prices are like your supplier but without the vat, and with free postage.  I';ll let you know how it pans out!   

[richardg6paj]

Plastic supplies, ive used this company for years. Their tec support is superb.

http://www.directplasticsonline.co.uk/Acetal_Sheet.html

I don';t think they sell anything below 6mm.

Richard

[hoverfly]

Thanks HF, noted.  I did look at those guys, but bought from these folk:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ACETAL-Sheet-NATURAL-Copolymer-WHITE-POM-C-DELRIN-PLATE-Engineering-Plastics-/161315078656?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item258f20c200
The prices are like your supplier but without the vat, and with free postage.  I';ll let you know how it pans out!   

No vat !! free postage!! winner.

[flybywire]

Well, our laser has been pretty tied up of late, so I had a very short window to get the latest incarnation of my Wasp, now v5, (well, I've sort of lost count really) cut, with bottom now 'integral' plate from 5mm Delrin, and both middle & top from 2mm.
After attempting to cut the 5mm, without success, we ran the program again, and managed to get most of the way through, but the laser is now feeling it's age, and I'm told needs refilling with the gas it needs to produce the most power.  To add insult to injury, half way through the 2mm cut, I think the software decided to play up, and caused it to cut twice, but staggered fractionally. 
We persevered, and managed to get a couple of sets of middle & top, but I ran out of time for the bottom plate/arms, which will need to have a couple of passes.
This is the top plate, shorter, to accommodate the go pro on the bottom plate for better balance/aerodynamics etc.




I also added some etching, well, why not?  It';s multirotor ';ink';.   
Next up, staying on a plastic theme, I took the liberty of ordering some more goodies from HK, namely 4 emax plastic fantastic motors (and another 4 Afro 12a';s for company).  The motors look great, strange, but great, and a steal at £8 a pair, which they come in by the way, with nice black and red spinners for id.






Btw hoverfly, those guys are a decent outfit, the plates arrived in a few days and was all as advertised, but i';m kind of wishing i got the 4mm Delrin rather than the 5mm!

I';ve been thinking about other stuff too, Like using white heatshrink to attach the esc';s to the arms, like i did on my xugong, this would make it feasable to do away with the middle plate altogether, it also aids cooling and moves the esc';s away from the vtx etc.

[hoverfly]

The etching looks the part. If you got it flaunt it.
Was there any reason for not using fibreglass sheet  for the frame.?
I get mine from a chap near Ely, he does all different thickness';s  and it comes return of post , brilliant service.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-6mm-Fibreglass-GRP-sheet-12-X-6-for-Quadcopter-or-Mardave-stock-car-saloon-/291367567928?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43d6dc4238