Backpack Folding Quadcopter

by MaxPower | January 2, 2015 | (0) Posted in Projects

I wanted to make another folding quadcopter that would fit in a backpack or toolbox.  I was searching around the web and came across a template for a folding copter on DYI Drones that looked very promising.

Here is the the posting:

http://diydrones.com/profiles/blogs/folding-quadcopter-for-the-holidays

What I like about this design is the frame can handle larger prop sizes but still fold up to be compact.  I designed mine to handle 10" props but the original design was using 15" props, I did this by shortening the frame.  Eventually I would like to go with larger props and lower KV motors so I can get some longer flight times and better effeciency.

What makes this design nice is the offset front and rear arms allowing the arms to fold nicely and the prop to fold side by side.

The plates are made from 1.5mm or 1.3mm G10 and the arms are 12mm hollow aluminum arms, the hardware is #6 bolts and nut.  Also a 1/8" drill bit is the perfect size for #6 bolts.

I got the G10 here:http://www.aliexpress.com/item/G10-500x400-1-5mm-thickness-glass-fiberplate-panel-sheet-board/632931719.html


The specs:
Motors: Sunnysky-V2216-11-900KV
ESC: Hobbyking 20amp ESC flashed with simonk
Flight Controller: DJI Naza M-V2
Battery: 4s 5000mah Turnigy Li-po 20C
AUW with 5000mah, FPV, GoPro: 1950g
Copter Frame weight: 1240g

With a4s  5000mah battery I am getting around 15 minutes of flight time.

Here are some videos:

The Frame:

The Finished Quadcopter:

 

 Here are some pictures of the build:

I did not follow the plans exactly, I did not have the folding arms use the sliding "stops", I instead used a bolt as a stop for the arms when unfolded.

You can see in this picture the configuration I used for the bolts.  Only one bolt per arm whereas the original design has two, I found that to be too complicated for me to cut without a laser cutter.

I made a slight modification to the plans, the original plans had the front arms in a T configuration, I changed the position of the holes so the arms kicked out a few more degrees like the rear arms.

 12mm or 1/2" Aluminum arms from Hobby King, I prefer aluminum because it is strong and doesn't shatter if you get into a crash or a hard landing unlike some carbon fiber.  Landing gear is bent aluminum bar stock.

 JST power connectors for accessories

 Front plates, bolts and nuts are #6

 Power distribution with 3.5mm bullet connectors

 David Windestål's Camera Tray, I have been using his camera tray on all my builds and I love it but on this build I made a mistake and used wire that was too thin (I ran out of the thicker piano wire) and not rigid enough so it caused the tray to bounce up and down, making the video very bad, you can see it in the video.  I am working on a replacement tray once I get some more wire.

 Very nice form factor when folded!

 Folded view from the front.

 Camera setups

 Measures around 13" in length

 Measures 6 2/3" in height

 Unfolding arms

 Unfolded

24" motor to motor, so unfolds nicely to a larger size copter for stability

View of the motor mounting, love zipties but I think I will be changing this out when I get larger motors.

Skeleton mount for the GoPro

Flight controller DJI Naza M-V2 mounted on lexan body.

View of motor and ESC setup on 1/2" aluminum arms.

 Have to clean up the JST connectors, added extras in case I need them for more gear.

FPV pack, camera and 5.8ghz 200mw transmitter.

View of the rear bottom plate and bolts and nuts.

The belly of the beast!  Loaded with a 4s 5000mah battery.

COMMENTS

davefreyrc on January 6, 2015
Another great build and write up. I too have been using lexan and wanted to switch to G10, but am not sure how to work the material. How are you cutting your patterns out of the G10?
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MaxPower on January 6, 2015
Thanks! I use basically a jigsaw with a fine tooth blade. The exact saw is a Rockwell Bladerunner but any table top jigsaw would work. It works and sands really well, I use a file to clean up the edges or round corners. I find it easier to work with than Lexan actually.
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davefreyrc on January 12, 2015
is the dust and fiber produced from sawing similar to fiber glass sheets or carbon fiber? I'm in a small apartment, and wouldn't want to spew fibers everywhere and have the whole place itching.
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MaxPower on January 12, 2015
Yes it is very similar to fiberglass sheets, it's fiberglass and epoxy instead of fiberglass and polyester resin. I have a vacuum hooked up to the saw when I cut so I get very little dust and I wear a mask so I don't breath in the dust. Although I find the dust not nearly as itchy as fiberglass autobody filler dust. Regardless you wouldn't want it floating around your apartment.
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bmacw on January 24, 2015
From your pictures, it looks like you have changed the length of the arms (ratio) on top of the front arm angles to get a more symmetrical quad design compare to the original spider quad configure. Is that the case? Can you share the motor to motor distances and also the arm lengths you ended up with?

Thanks!
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MaxPower on January 24, 2015
Good eye, yes I did kick out the arms, I will post a pic of what I did and measure the arms. But motor to motor diagonally is 24".
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Benno3009 on March 14, 2016
Did you build David Windestål's Camera Tray yourself or did you order it? If you built it where did you get the plans?
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Backpack Folding Quadcopter