Tune Your Muti-rotor Part 2

by ycopter | March 9, 2014 | (20) Posted in Tips

This is Part 2 of "Tune Your Multi-rotor".  In this video I explain the benefits of using higher propeller speed and fast ESC firmware, plus an overview of the Ycopter Quadcopter design and an update on some of my recent projects.

Please leave your tips, questions and comments below, that way we can all learn more about producing professional quality aerial video on a DIY budget.

COMMENTS

rifted on March 15, 2014
After looking at and reading the comments, congrats and thanks so much for sharing your knowledge so people can built properly and grasp new ideas, tips and keeping innovation at its best. Keep the great work coming! thumbs up!
Ed
Log In to reply
ycopter on March 18, 2014
Thanks
Log In to reply
Ziegmont on March 10, 2014
Very well done. I'm still learning about this R/C stuff, and the info is fantastic. It's videos like this, others from the FliteTest family that I find very useful. Thanks to 'Y', David, and Josh & Josh for all your efforts at helping the hobby. : )
Log In to reply
ycopter on March 10, 2014
Zeigmont, thanks and comments like yours make all of the effort in sharing information worthwhile, I am sure it won't be long before you are able to help others.
Log In to reply
kenc3dan on March 11, 2014
Love the swapability and the standardized connectors! What sort of connectors are those? How many pins and what do you have assigned to the pins. Presumably 12V, ground, video, audio and some other stuff?
Log In to reply
ycopter on March 14, 2014
Hello and thanks, the connectors are known as Multiplex and have 6 pins. On the gimbal I have positive and negative from the main flight battery and two connections for adjusting pitch and roll. On the FPV module I have positive and negative from the flight battery and two wires connecting the GPS module which is at the back of the machine. Both modules are self contained with step up and step down adjustable power modules, the FPV module also has an OSD board. The FPV module is very compact which means all of the wiring is short and neat, this aids reliability and reduces the possibility of interference.
Log In to reply
s367828 on March 11, 2014
Thanks for a great video. Thoroughly enjoyed the content, your presentation and your footage. I'd be really interested in more information on your modular connectors and also your fabrication process. How do you mark and cut out your fibreglass sheeting. Your mini quad design looks very promising. Thanks again.
Log In to reply
ycopter on March 14, 2014
Thanks. See the comment above to "kenc3dan" for details of the connectors. I print out the CAD drawings at 1-1 scale, then I use thin self adhesive to secure the printed plan to the fiberglass sheet. I normally cut two sheets at a time, again by using the thin self-adhesive tape to fasten two layers of material together. I cut it with a "rod saw" held in a Scroll Saw and finish with round and flat files. I lightly centre punch each hole and then drill initially with a 1mm drill. I use a small pillar drill to ensure all holes are accurate.
Log In to reply
Cyberdactyl on March 11, 2014
Another great video.
Log In to reply
ycopter on March 14, 2014
Thanks again.
Log In to reply
Sirglider on March 9, 2014
As usual not a useless video. Thank you for sharing your experience!
Log In to reply
ycopter on March 10, 2014
I'm pleased you have found my videos useful, thanks for taking the time to post a comment.
Log In to reply
Babinator on March 11, 2014
Great work! This was full of practical information. Presentation was awesome. I'll be watching it again and taking some notes. This kind of knowledge is usually hard earned. Thank you for sharing your experiences!
Log In to reply
ycopter on March 14, 2014
Thanks for your kind words, I'm pleased you found the video useful.
Log In to reply
xtrmtrk on March 10, 2014
I love the idea of using the GoPro mount for the gimbal as well - swappability like that is very cool.
Log In to reply
ycopter on March 10, 2014
Yes the GoPro gimbal mount works well, really quick and convenient to change from fixed to stabilised camera.
Log In to reply
wga22 on March 10, 2014
Well done
Log In to reply
ycopter on March 10, 2014
Thanks
Log In to reply
thomasbaxter5 on March 18, 2014
Great video. I am a big fan of your quad designs. Could you give me some more details on your Mini Quad shown in the video? Does it use the same prop size and motors as the larger quad? If possible it would be nice to see some plans like you had for the larger quad - maybe a link? I have 4x the NTM 35s as on your larger quad but would like to utilise them on a smaller platform for easier transportability.
Thanks again for posting these videos and sharing your experiences, it really does help us novices out there.
Log In to reply
ycopter on March 24, 2014
Hello Thomas, thanks for your feedback. The mini quad uses NTM 2226 1100kv motors with APC 8 x 3.8 slow fly props with 4S 2200 mah lipo. It has a very high power to weight ratio! This design would probably work with the larger 3530 1100kv NTM motors even though the extra capacity (weight) of the larger motors would not be required. The mini quad is still a prototype, I will publish the design when I have finalised it.
Log In to reply
Gopherdave on June 30, 2014
Hello Ycopter.
I shire would like to build your mini copter, got all the stuff. Great tip in your other post about cutting PCB with a tile saw, that stuff is tough.
Dave
Log In to reply
Shufty on March 26, 2014
Wow, that's some pretty excellent engineering skills you have there! Are you an engineer by trade?
Log In to reply
ycopter on March 28, 2014
Thanks, I was trained as an engineer but now have nothing to do with engineering in my day job.
Log In to reply
MawiPR on March 23, 2014
Big fan of youre quad very nice set up!!!! Can we get an item list of the things we need to buy or build as a list Thank you, all the way to Puerto Rico :)
Log In to reply
ycopter on March 24, 2014
Thanks and yes, there is a list of materials in the article linked above named "Materials".
Log In to reply
Gopherdave on July 2, 2014
Hey Ycopter!
Thanks for the reply! I've been wondering about your mini quad and could not find a proven 350 size, which I would prefer over a 250 size. So if you follow the work of Black out the drunk (he he:)) and the Blackout 250, you could do that too. I built an batbone from G-10 and it took me a month and $20.00 of scroll saw blades. If you will sell the 350 frames I would shure like at least one. I would like to support your work as I'm sure others would too. I wish this site had a pm function.

Dave.
Log In to reply
ycopter on July 2, 2014
Hi Dave, yes all of the available mini quads are too small for me, the slightly larger size makes the resulting video much smoother but still great fun to fly. You are right cutting the G10 is not fun! It would be good to be able to PM you, you might be able to send a PM to my YouTube channel if you can work out how Google+ works!
Log In to reply
Gopherdave on June 20, 2014
Nice work! Well done! I've been looking for a new multi rotor project and you mini quad design is eagerly anticipated!

Thank you!
Log In to reply
ycopter on July 2, 2014
Hi and thanks for the feedback. The mini quad is flying fantastically well, I'm really pleased with it, but it is a prototype and there are things I want to change before publishing the design. I am investigating having the frames CNC cut in black G10 material. I will post on FliteTest as and when they become available.
Log In to reply

You need to log-in to comment on articles.


Tune Your Muti-rotor Part 2