Drone Accesories

[zorba]

Hi ya all.
Well I haven't been posted here for awhile.
I've been kind of busy you know.
I've been doing some R&D on the drone sector.
I am building the mamoth of drones and doing some gimbal modofications.
I love looking at pictures and sometimes my eye catches something that I like or I think is cool so I build it.
I did a new kind of camera gimbal and a Antivibration mount for a heavy lifter.

When I get back from running some erans I'll post the photos, so stay tuned.

Cheers

[zorba]

Well I'm back.
The projects are: A camera gimbal for heavy cameras and a Antivibration mount for that gimbal.

Now those items are available on the net but the prices are sky rocketing.
For a few dollars and alot of labor they are done. Thay are not like the originals but will do. I use the wire rop method, is been used in the industry for years on electronic equipment to eliminate any vibrations.

The gimbal tilt or nick has a poti on one end with a 360 servo. For the roll I used a direct drive no reduction with a pull pull rods.

The servo is the DS620 from Align so is pretty quick that way it eliminates the zitters.

Here are a couple of pics to get an idea what I am talking about.

As for the "Mamoth copter" I am still waiting for the motors to arrive from Slovekia.

Cheers

[zorba]

Here's the gimbal:


enjoy
Bill

[Kevin Rochon]

Nice Billy to get an ideal of the size you should put it next to a regular one.

[Andrew Fernie]

First class work as usual Bill.

I hope I get to see it one of these days.

Andrew

[nitrouspete]

Billy,

You shall be called an engineer.

Very nice work.

Peter D.

[zorba]

Thanks guys I just wish I had the proper tools so the end result would be much nicer.
Cutting carbon and fiberglass with wood working tools just don't cut it..get it? don't cut it..:D;)

[beto9]

How does the anti-vibration system works? There are posts connecting both surfaces. Keep taking and posting photos, specially when you get to the flying platform.

[zorba]

I'll try to explain it to you.
There are four plates.
The very bottom one (solid round) is attached to the gimbal.
The very top one (X) is attached to the copter.
The (X) plate is connected to the second from the bottom plate.
The (round) plate is connected to the second from the top plate.
And the wire rope keep the tension even.
Now I have attached 12 wire rope to the system.
If is too stiff I can remove 4. If is too soft I can add 4.
So is very flexible and depends how heavy/light of a camera you are using.

[zorba]

Same idea here
http://www.isolator.com/

[beto9]

Very clever. I think you already did that for Nick DB copter....
Thank you for the explanation...

[zorba]

Thanks Albert.
No I didn't do that for Nick. He has no isolators on his machine. He doesn't know about it yet.
He'll flip when he sees it LOL
He's waiting for the BIG copter I am building.
AUW will be about 22lbs.including camera and FPV gear.
Anyway I'll keep you posted.
He has this one.

Bill

[zorba]

Nice Billy to get an ideal of the size you should put it next to a regular one.

Here you go Kevin. Three different sizes.
The one on the right is aluminum tubing, in the middle is Carbon Fiber and on the Left is G10/FR4.
I have more but they are tucked away.


Bill

[Kevin Rochon]

Just got back from the Xmas party, ok now that's big!

Now got to go to sleep so I can check out my plane tomorr...euh... today:rolleyes:

[zorba]

How can you sleep when you got that big box sitting there?:D

[Kevin Rochon]

Like I said Billy I did look at it at work but last night after beer wine and crème de menthe which is a lot more that I'm used to well I had to sleep.

Pictures coming soon.

[zorba]

Well some parts came today from overseas.
The "MAMOTH" is getting built.
Yesterday I worked on the motor mounts and getting the motors ready for assembly.

As you can see I braided all the motor wires and shrinked wraped the ends.
They say that when the wires are braided like this it eliminates interference.
will see.
I cut the motor mounts froma 2mm G10/FR4 black stock and mounted the motors on the booms.
The motors are huge. Very well made with Japanese bearings.
Here's the info on the motors:

Technical Info
•Lithium cell count: 5-6s
•Continous current: 20A
•Maximum load current. (180 sec): 30A, 50A for 15 sec
•No-load speed: 500 rpm / V
•Recommended Propeller Size: 14" .. 16"
•Mechanical power: 700-750W
•Thrust max.: 3000 - 3300 g
•Wire length: about 70cm
•Total weight (without cable): approx 187g
Now with that kind of thrust I'm sure I can lift a heavy cam.

Now waiting to put it all together.
I will be using the DJI WKM system for now to see how she performs.
The WKM is made for 6S and any kind of ESC or motor you want to use. On the other han the MK system you are limited to 5S and the BL'ctrl that come with it.
You can use different kind of motors but with smaller props.
Heat is the killer here..


Anyway here are some photos.

Cheers

[beto9]

If you continue like that by the end of next year I predict you will build a manned copter.

[zorba]

Hehehehe. You never know. I am off from 24/12/12 till 03/01/13.

Too much time on my hands.
She will be ready for the maiden before Christmas.

I have some more photos but I'll wait to post.

Cheers

[Andrew Fernie]

Bill,

Braiding the wires is particularly important on the power leads from the battery to the speed controls if you want to minimize interference to the magnetometer (compass). The power leads generate a magnetic field, but if you braid them the fields from the positive and negative wires should cancel. Not sure if it is as big a deal with the three phase drive to the motors as the current is being switched continuously between wire pairs. Anyway, it can't hurt!.

Andrew

[zorba]

Maybe Andrew, but everyone does that including the people that build the Cinestar, especially when the wires are long and I don't want to cut them because I have to resolder all the connectors.

I will be using the WKM so the compass and accelerometer are far away from the source.
The esc wires are very short and the mounted on a distibution board.
The GPS is sitting pretty high so I should be ok.

Cheers

[zorba]

Well it happened.
As of today 5pm EST Probex Building Supplies closed its doors.

What a blow that was.
Anyway I don't think there will be any new projects but the ones I have started will continue till completed with the supplies I have on hand.

I have plenty of time now so I will keep busy.
Cheers to you all
Bill

PS anyone interestd on a P-51??

[Kevin Rochon]

Sorry to ear that Billy, will you be looking for something else in the same field with your experience you should be OK.

[beto9]

I regret your news, Billy.

[zorba]

Is been long due. After a couple of months of sub-zero weather we had a break and is was above freezing.

We decided to give it a try/ The weather was rainny and alot of fog start to move in.
But what ta heck we are here now so we gave it a go.
The bird is heavy or it felt heavy but she hovered at 50% throttle.
Originally when I built the machine I used the Hitec Aurora Tx and Rx.

But the guy I build it for, he uses the DX-8.
So off comes the Aurora and installed the DX-8.
Now I had to go into the assistant and start all over again.
And that's where she's at right now.
In the video you will hear the motor ticking that's because the motors and esc's are not in sync.
Now I have to take everything off again and do the esc throttle calibration.

we didn't use the gps function as we wanted to try it in Atti mode.
She flew well and steady.
He is happy. Next video will be on board camera and esc calibration.

Cheers

Bill
maiden flight of the Osprey - YouTube

I think he was scared more than I was LOL