My first Quadcopter build

I do intend to change my props and would like to get some 10x4.7 GWS, EP, RD slow flyer props but they are proving elusive.

I am not sure what was causing the start stop issues with my motors but after calibrating the ESC's via the throttle up plug quad battery in, wait for beeps, throttle down, wait for three beeps ( for 3 cell battery I am using) they seemed to work just fine, all together. I was having a few problems with prop slip but after changing the way I mounted my props to the shafts that seems to have been eliminated. Also I was experiencing prop slip when attempting any kind of manouver that was more than gentle. I have been flying my model with dual rates on all the time but remembered reading about setting stick travel limits so reduced my settings so that my stick movements where reduced to 60%ish except throttle which is set to minimum throttle 100% and max throttle 80%. These adjustments seemed to work well and I have no issues now. As for flying in wind my model comes in at 1.4Kg with my 5000mAh battery and I think the weight really helps. I haven't flown a full flight yet so I can't say what my flight time is as it's been a bit windy here lately. My suspension system works very well though and the people that have seen me fly it think it's a cool idea, it's very forgiving, lol.   

Edited by B1RDY - 03/Aug/2011 at 6:03pm

I thought I would post a picture showing how the suspension works. I have used elastic bands but you could try O rings. The most important measurement is the distance between the two bolts holding the brackets to the arms and the bolt holding the suspension leg, this has to be equal to the radius of whatever size ball you decide to place on the end of your legs plus half the width of your arms. The size of your brackets will depend on the size of the tubing you use for your frame.
It's surprising how much suspension you get with just elastic bands, each leg needs 1kg of pressure to close it, that's 4kg in total.
The Yellow box uses elastic (rubber) bands but you could use O rings.
The green box shows how a compression spring could be used.


Edited by B1RDY - 04/Aug/2011 at 11:19pm

This was my first attempt at building a quadcopter and thought it would be a good idea to make the frame a decent size putting the motors as far away as possible making it more stable but taking into account certain factors. The first thing I considered was that some people incorporate some kind prop protection at the end of the arms, be it a carbon rod with some kind of ball or a hoop or foam bumper. My idea was to use what was already there, i.e. an arm and extend it out to the furthest point which the prop reaches. This meant that my quad could come into landing at a really step angle and the props would still be safe. Next I considered the suspension I made which needed to act in a lever principle i.e. a small movement at one end (near to the base)and a large movement at the business end. I could have put a stopper of some sort and made the arm shorter but that didn't occur to me.
Here is picture showing another option of moving the brackets closer to the center of the quad and place the motors at the end of the now shorter arms. I will probably build this design when I am more confident in my flying abilities.
At the moment my quad size is roughly 66cm (660mm) end to end but this new design will be a bit smaller. I thought that having motors closer together made the quadcopter a bit more unstable but I could be wrong. I also wondered about putting the battery above the arms, level with the motors with the gyros and Rx above that, this would give me even more ground clearance, what do you think?


Edited by B1RDY - 09/Aug/2011 at 9:15pm

Telescopic is something I hadn't considered but wouldn't that be a source of vibration in the arms?