Heat bent PVC parts

PVC plastic from plumbing pipes is a cheap and very versatile material

It's heat setting which means you can heat it up, bend into shape, and it will stay that way when it cools. That also means it's great for making lots of useful bits and pieces for RC flying.

The video and images below show how to make tthree very useful parts.

1. Brackets for a flight "selfie stick",

2. Mobius hat cam mount

3. Claw shaped tricopter landing gear.

MAKING A FLAT SHEET

First step is to cut off a short length of pipe. This one is 100mm long from a 75mm diameter pipe with 1.5mm wall thickness. I find a hack saw is the best for hand cutting PVC.

Then cut along the length to allow the tube to be opened out.

Using a paint-stripping heat gun, or even a decent hair dryer, heat the PVC until it softens enough to become flexible.

BEWARE when using heat guns, they blow very hot air, hot enough to strip paint. Make sure you are working on a heat resistant work surface with nothing flammable nearby and maybe wear work gloves. The 1.5mm PVC only takes 20 seconds or so to soften.

After about 20 seconds open up and flatten out the PVC.

It may be too hot to handle with bare hands so use a piece of thin timber to hold it flat for about half a minute.

Now we have a very useful flat piece of PVC plastic ready for shaping and bending into whatever you need.

FLIGHT "SELFIE STICK"

Here's how to make a selfie stick to record your flights from a unique viewpoint

I'm using an 808 #16 camera on a Bixler 2.

Trace around the camera and add a 40mm leg at the front and a 20mm leg at the back

My selfie stick uses a 7.6mm carbon tube spar so I drilled 8mm holes in the legs to slide over the spar

I also used the drill to form the concave corners then cut out the bracket using a hacksaw and tin snips

Finish off the rough edges with sandpaper or a file.

To bend the legs down apply a short blast of heat, maybe 10 seconds, protecting the area that will not be bent. A block of timber or metal ruler is useful for this.

Blocks of timber are also useful for forming 90 degree bends

The bracket will grip the spar tighter if you bend the legs out a bit from 90 degrees 

The camera is just taped or rubber banded in place. The lower bracket is made in the same way but the "body" area is wider and shaped to conform to the underneath of the Bixler nose. It's just taped in place with strong cloth tape.

Here is the finished selfie stick on a 19" spar.

Here's a video showing the great angle of view it gives

MOBIUS HAT CAM MOUNT

This mount is super easy to make. It only requires a 120mm x 30mm piece of PVC

Apply heat and bend into a Z shape. You will need to adjust the angle to suit your hat, head posture and desired angle of view.

It just clips on to the brim of your favourite flying cap with the Mobius rubber banded on.

CLAW SHAPED TRICOPTER LANDING GEAR

Starting with a 15mm ring of 75mm diameter PVC. I made up this claw shaped mold from particle board to form the landing gear.

Place it over your claw shaped mold and hold till cool.

There you have it. Just zip tie the landing gear onto your multicopter.

 The uses for this very versatile and cheap material are limitless. Just remember to be careful using the heat gun, clear your work area of any flamable materials and maybe wear heat resistant gloves to be safe.

As Knoptop would say..."Go make something"

All my building materials and RC gear - http://newtonairlines.blogspot.com.au/2015/03/materials-and-links.html

Newton Airlines blog (Plans) - http://newtonairlines.blogspot.com.au

Website - http://anewton.net