Ycopter Quad. Part 2 - Materials

by ycopter | February 24, 2013 | (8) Posted in Projects

Part 2 - Materials


CAD Plans

The Ycopter Quad was designed using SketchUp.  Download a free copy here.

These plans are free to use for DIY construction.  Not for commerial use.

Lower frame 2 off
Upper frame 1 off
Camera mount1 off
Landing gear 4 off

28mm Motor mounts 8 off
35mm Motor Mounts 8 off 

Frame, landing gear and motor mount material

1.6mm thick Glass Reinforced Plastic or G10 sheet.  The lower frame could be constructed from 1mm thick material to save weight.


Wood

Front motor arms - 20 x 12mm machined wood, 272mm long - 2 off
Rear motor arms - 20 x 12mm machined wood, 287mm long - 2 off
Lower frame ribs - 12 x 12mm machined wood, 300mm long - 2 off
Lower frame ribs - 12 x 12mm machined wood, 96mm long - 2 off
Top frame ribs - 10 x 10mm machined wood, 378mm long - 2 off
Antenna mount - 10 x 7mm machined wood, 70mm long - 1 off


Bolts

M2 x 15mm long - 26 off
M2.5 x 20mm long - 30 off
M3 x 20mm long - 16 off


Nuts

M2 - 26 off (plain)
M2.5 - 34 off (locking)
M3 - 16 -off (locking)


Washers

M2 - 30 off
M2.5 - 44 off
M3 - 32 off


Miscellaneous

Matt black wood paint
Silicone fuel tubing - 6mm outside diameter / 3mm internal diameter - 200mm length
Red silicone tube for vibration mounts - 16mm outside diameter / 10mm internal diameter - 4 x 10mm long pieces -  See this article for details.
2.5 x 100mm long cable ties
Strong self adhesive Velcro


Recommended Power System

Standard Set-up
Motors - NTM Prop Drive 28-36 750KV / 265W - 4 off
Propellers - Genuine APC 10 x 4.7
Prop Mounts - NTM Prop Drive 28 Series Accessory Pack - 4 off

High Power Set-up
Motors - NTM Prop Drive Series 35-30 1100kv / 380w
Propellers - Graupner e-prop 10 x 5
Prop Mounts - NTM Prop Drive 35 Series Accessory Pack - 4 off

Both the above set-ups use 4S batteries between 3000mah and 5000mah. 

Speed Controllers - Hobbyking 30A ESC 3A UBEC (flashed with Simon K) - 4 off
12 AWG silicone wire for battery connection - 150mm long red and black
18 AWG silicone wire - 3.6M long
3.5mm female bullet connectors - 12 off


Recommended Flight Controller

Hobbyking KK2 or Openpilot CC3D

 

In 'Part 3' I will explain the build process including how to cut the frames and assemble them.

 

- Find this article & others like it at www.FliteTest.com -

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COMMENTS

zev on February 24, 2013
wow, awesome stuff!
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ycopter on February 25, 2013
Thanks
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Adib Vahedi on February 25, 2013
Wow thanks for the build!!!!

Keep up the great work!!!!!!!!!!! ;)
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ycopter on February 25, 2013
Thanks for taking the time to post a comment.
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Kotze101 on February 25, 2013
I see the upper frame is split into two sections, however if I look at the pics from part 1 it actually looks like three sections with a little plate over the control board. Is this correct?
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ycopter on February 25, 2013
Andre, yes there is a small plywood plate over the control board to give it a little protection, but this is optional and not essential at all.
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Kotze101 on February 25, 2013
In the images it shows the upper rear frame as being to separate pieces, one for the battery and then one for the control board, but on the plans it is one solid piece. Am I looking at it the right way? Are you also able to give me a parts count for all the frame pieces? Thanks,
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ycopter on February 25, 2013
Ah yes, a design modification after I built the prototype. The battery plate and control board support is now one item instead of two. So the upper frame is now made up of two parts and not three. My original design was hard to assemble as it was difficult to line up three parts when drilling through the wood. There was one other minor alteration made, in the photos you will see a central support where two additional vibration supports could be mounted, I found that this was not necessary as mounts provided adequate support for the top frame.
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ycopter on February 25, 2013
Frame parts count now added to the article. Part 3 build tips coming next.
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Kotze101 on February 25, 2013
Thanks, can't wait!! :-D
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Cyberdactyl on February 25, 2013
Thanks for providing such a comprehensive layout and detailed skps for everyone to follow.

My only comment would be the legs. Vertical posts like in the design will almost certainly come under severe stress on the first lateral landing in short grass or rough asphalt, possibly flipping the quad.

One modification I would suggest would be plastic mushroom inserts into the bottom of the shaft. If you cannot locate any, and you have some InstaMorph available, you could fab them with that.
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ycopter on February 25, 2013
Hi Cyberdactyl, try it and let me know how your idea works, that's the beauty of this design, you can build it to suit your needs. I have been using this "post" design for 18 months, and in that time the quad has not come close to flipping on landing. Very occasionally on a hard landing the cable ties break which is what they are designed to do. I choose the slim post as it keeps drag to a minimum.
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pi3.14 on July 1, 2013
Thank you ycopter, for taking the time to write this; as a newbie, this article has inspired me to go out, get stuck-in and have a go myself - and I have plunged straight it, ordered some parts and am awaiting their arrival to begin my adventure!!

Rightly or wrongly (and as a beginner) not really knowing what I'm doing, I took some of your recommendations and am awaiting the motors, prop mounts and propellors that you recommended in the high power setup and also the speed controllers (flashed with SimonK). Please would you advise me on what battery would be an appropriate choice?

Thanks again for a great article!
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ycopter on July 1, 2013
Hello pi3.14. I'm pleased you are having a go at building a quad. If you are building the YQ2 as in this article, and you want to carry a GoPro in its case and FPV gear them you will need a 5000mah 4S 25C lipo. I use the standard Turnigy packs.
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pi3.14 on July 1, 2013
Thanks so much for your fast and helpful reply - I am indeed having a go - although I'll be adding the extras a bit at a time - and I fear that you've made it look a lot easier than it is - I'm sure I'll be tripping myself up soon and it's reassuring to know that there are people like you out there that are kind enough to give up their time and knowledge to help others.

Thanks again.
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austntexan on October 4, 2013
Having difficulty outputting the plans at 1:1 in sketchup. Any chance you could create full size templates in PDF and upload? I've searched and found directions on printing 1:1 but for some reason, it's still not outputting correctly.
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austntexan on October 4, 2013
NM. Figured it out. For OSX users->

Parallel Projection and the appropriate Standard View needs to be selected.

Then, File/Document Setup. . .

Uncheck "Fit View to Page", then, under Print Scale, enter "1" in "In Drawing" box, and "1" in "In Model" box. Click OK.
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ycopter on October 4, 2013
Hi, pleased you were able to work out how to print at full scale. If you have any other problems with the build please do get in touch again.
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rcflyer729 on March 9, 2014
do u have pdf plans I would really like them thanks
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godonholiday on March 14, 2014
Thanks for all detailed explanations to go along with your builds.. knowing why you are doing something is really important.

Great work thanks again

Now i just need to source the body material in the UK
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ycopter on March 20, 2014
Search for 1.6mm GRP on ebay UK.
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godonholiday on March 22, 2014
Thanks! One more request, the props are the only items you dont link too. Do you mind telling us where you get yours?

Would you recommend larger than 10s? Or even wood? Asthetically I like the wood ones..... but not sure about the quality in flights

Thanks
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jaspercohen on March 19, 2014
What kind of battery is optimal for this system. 4 cell, 3 cell? 2200 mAh? more?
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ycopter on March 20, 2014
4S 5000 mah, 25C or above.
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gmyers2112 on July 1, 2014
does anybody make an esc that doesn't need to be flashed with Simon K's update software?
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ycopter on July 2, 2014
Yes quite a few manufacturers now supply their ESCs pre-flashed with a version of Simon K firmware. I have never used any of these ESC so can't recommend a particular brand. The Afro range of ESCs from Hobbyking have the updated firmware.
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Ycopter Quad. Part 2 - Materials