build blog of a 3 axis gimbal and multi rotor

[biggles uk]

Hi Guys and Girls
just thought I would share my latest build with you the blog is here http://www.copter-cam.co.uk/multirotor-build-blog.php but I will be posting pics on here to. I am building the gimbal first then I will be doing the hex/oct afterwards. I am designing machining all the parts myself, this is what I've got so far. For more info visit the blog
View attachment 13817View attachment 13813View attachment 13814View attachment 13815View attachment 13816View attachment 13818View attachment 13819View attachment 13820

 

[biggles uk]

got the roll arm cut drilled and assembled, its a little bigger than I need in case I want to use a bigger camera in the future
View attachment 13842View attachment 13843View attachment 13844

 

[biggles uk]

Me again, got the pitch craddle cut and assembled and mounted with the camera balanced for more info click on the link in the first post
View attachment 13870View attachment 13871View attachment 13872
For those who aren't up to scratch with these gimbals, here's a brief explanation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOGUA3KvzNw

 

[biggles uk]

finally got my motors so I've assembled the frame, click here for more pics
View attachment 14090

 

[crazyhorse21]

thank you

very informative

CH

 

[biggles uk]

A quick test vid for the pitch and roll axes, Click on the link in the first post for more info
<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">

 

[biggles uk]

Finally got it done and I'm quite pleased with the results, have a look and see for yourself. For more info click on the link in the first post. Right, now for the octocopter

 

[RyanMcCrae]

Looks like its working really well for you. Did you apply any post stabilisation or have a lens with stabilisation for that video?

 

[biggles uk]

Looks like its working really well for you. Did you apply any post stabilisation or have a lens with stabilisation for that video?

nope no post stabilisation and the lens is the standard 18-55mm lens that comes with the Sony nex 5 r so I'm not entirely sure but I don't think so

 

[biggles uk]

After doing alot of number crunching with prop, motor, and weight combinations, it seems after you add the extra weight and current draw of 2 motors and arms into the calculation, 6 motors are more efficient than 8 at least with the motor, prop combo I have chosen. The next decision to make was whether to go with 22mm carbon fiber tube or 19mm box section aluminium arms.
Now you would think it would be a no brainer with the CF tube weighing 40g and the drilled out aluminium 75g, but after you consider the CF arm needs 4 clips, 8 nuts and bolts and a CF motor mount and the aluminium only needs a ply motor mount and 3 nuts and bolts, there's only a 6g advantage to CF. If you then add in cost and possible radio interference issues of CF, then I think aluminium is the way to go
View attachment 14335View attachment 14336

 

[bensid54]

Very nice work a lot of skill and care went into that build.

 

[biggles uk]

some pics of the frame click here for more info
View attachment 14472View attachment 14473View attachment 14474

 

[bensid54]

How do you like those wood blades?

 

[djw43]

That is fantastic work!
Let me know when you are ready to sell them

 

[biggles uk]

landing legs are done. I have made them from 15mm carbon fibre tube and servoless retracts. The whole system weighs 302g, they sit perfectly underneath the arm and out of the thrust of the props so no lift is lost. They also poke just beyond the motors which means I can colour code them for orientation. I've fixed the retracts using 2 hockey stick shaped pieces of CF which creates 2 lugs for the legs to fold down and lock into so I'm not just relying on the hinged joint for stability
click here for more info
<font color="#000000"><span style="font-family: arial">

 

[biggles uk]

maiden flight

 

[biggles uk]

I've done around a dozen or so 10 minute flights now and each time I recharge the batteries I am putting around 6100 - 6300 mah back in to a 10000mah battery pack so that is an average of 620mah / minute. If I then extrapolate that to the maximum 80% battery capacity, that gives me a theoretical flight time of 12min 54secs which would leave me the reccomended 20% of the batteries capacity. So after predicting a 12min flight time, I'm feeling quite smug!
I'll set my timer to 10 mins as I don't like to thrash my batteries. The retracts work a treat too. I haven't attached the gimbal yet as I'm still tuning but when I have I will post a vid

 

[biggles uk]

tis finally finished