FPV Quadcopter basic parts list (JABcopter)

[JAB1a]

Hi all,

 

After a few requests I have put together the basics of a quadcopter that will give you the scope and spec to upgrade and modify on the cheap.

 

With these parts you can get up in the air with a flying weight of about 1Kg and then you can add (maximum) another 500g/1KG payload for camera's/FPV gear etc. The added bonus of this list is that it uses generic parts that if broken it can be brought at any good RC shop/ebay at a fraction of the cost of others.

 

4 X Hobbywing Skywalker 20A Electronic Brushless Motor Speed Controller

4x Hobbywing Skywalker 20A Electronic Brushless Motor Speed Controller ESC New | eBay

£20~

 

4PCS 2212 13T 1000KV Outrunner Brushless Motor for RC Multicopter Xcopter NEW

4PCS 2212 13T 1000KV Outrunner Brushless Motor for RC Multicopter Xcopter NEW | eBay

£20~

 

2 X Counter Rotating Props 9 x 4.5 Pair CCW CW Multicopter Various Colours (MP)

Counter Rotating Props 9 x 4.5 Pair CCW CW Multicopter Various Colours (MP) | eBay

£6~

 

Fiberglass & Aluminum 4-axial/Quadcopter X525 v3 Frame for KK MK Multiwii

Red/Balck X525 V3 QuadCopter Folding Frame Friber Glass MultiCoptor | eBay X525 V3 QuadCopter Folding Frame Friber Glass MultiCoptor | eBay

£15~

 

iMAX B6 Li-Polymer Li-po NiMh Battery Balance Charger

Digital iMAX B6 RC Lipo NiMh Battery Balance Charger UK | eBay iMAX B6 RC Lipo NiMh Battery Balance Charger UK | eBay

£23~

 

Power/ESC speed controller Board For KK Airplane Quadcopter Hexacopter

KK MK MultiCopter Power / ESC Board V3 for up to 8 Speed Controllers | eBay

£5~

 

Rabbit Flight Controller Board Quad Multicopter W/Care Free directional Upgrade

Aliexpress.com : Buy Group3B:Rabbit Flight Controller & additional board(High precision barometer) & Ultrasonic from Reliable Rabbit suppliers on love Flight

£80~

 

Turnigy 9X 9Ch Transmitter w/ Module & 8ch Receiver (Mode 2) (v2 Firmware)

Turnigy 9X 9Ch Transmitter w/ Module & 8ch Receiver (Mode 2) (v2 Firmware) > Radio & Transmitters > Main Page > Pyramid Models

£125~

 

Turnigy 2200mAh 3S1P 11.1v 20C 30C Lipo Battery x 2 XT60 UK

Turnigy LiPo 2200mAh 3S 11.1v 20C 30C Brst UK SALE *X2* | eBay

£25~

 

XT60 Connectors 10 Pairs With HeatShrink 10Male 10 Female

XT60 Connectors Lipo Battery Deans Replacement 10 Pairs | eBay

£9~

 

=£323~

 

This is the basics, I would research each part of you build just to make sure its right for your needs. I like tinkering so the frame was perfect for me but there are a huge list you can get.

 

You will need things like velcro straps and duct tape for holding batteries and balencing props and the greatest tool Zip Ties etc and some batteries for the transmitter, the main lipo's will charge from a car battery or a home power supply (max 5A).

 

Maybe call it a JABcopter lol

 

Check out the end section of this video to see the beast flying in some VERY strong winds

 

 

Most of these videos have been made with this setup

jab1a - YouTube

Edited December 11, 2012 by JAB1a
added Zip Ties :)

[LosOjos]

Tried to add rep but I have to spread it around like a common wh*re first apparently... not sure the missus will be happy.

[ChrisH]

Great stuff thanks for the list I will be giving this a go in the new year. I am also interested in some of the ardupilot stuff as well for some drone action just seeing the mission planner got my interest.

[LosOjos]

So what kind of flight time do you get on a single charge? I'm giving this some serious consideration, not least the photo opportunities...

[JAB1a]

Thats a very hard question to answer as its depends on so many factors....battery condition, flight weight, weather conditions, proper CG setup, prop condition, flying style etc

 

If I fly full FPV then I land after about 5:30mins. If i fly without camera or FPV then I land at about 7:30mins. If I am hovering around then at least 7mins but if you fly aggressive it can be less than 6mins. You can double up the 2200mAh Lipo and get about 12mins flight but the quad will be very lumbersome in the air and momentom will be your enemy.

 

Average time is about 5~7mins. Without the camera on this setup I would say you will be looking around the 8minute mark.

 

Just to put your worries at bay. I sat down with a friend the other night and he brought the exact same setup I added here part from he is making a Hexacopter so we brought 6x motors and 6x ESC and a different frame.

[FragglePete]

Heck! Look what I've just gone and done. Ordered the frame! Gotta start somewhere...! Going to buy bits over time as I look into and learn stuff.

 

Found this interesting,

- which gives a good overview of stuff.

 

Pete

[JAB1a]

@FragglePete brilliant did you go for the frame listed above? its a great cheap frame and solidly built with room to expand and modify as much as you like. It would be cool if you could find someone with a CNC to make parts for this frame like a isolation frame to place on the top of frame for the battery and camera can rest on and counter balence eachother but be completly isolated from vibrations, there is a frame called the SpiderX which has the added bit like I am trying to explane...

Spidex Quatricoptero

[pcstru]

@JAB1a, as it happens I do have a CNC rig. If someone wants something cut, I'd be happy to do it for the cost of materials + post.

 

I notice the frame today is listed at £114! Probably the cost of that new fangled friber glass.

[FragglePete]

Keeping it basic for now, building up the parts slowly as I look into it, but the basics will be based on what you've posted. I just thought if I start getting stuff in then it will spur me on. I think it might worth me buying the radio gear sooner rather than later and look at simulation software to have a practice at flying these things, otherwise the initial crashes could prove expensive. Cash is a big issue here, so if I spread things over time; I'll aim for maiden flight around late spring.

 

I think the Flight Controller could be an intersting one; the rabbit looks good but reading alot about the new KK2 LCD as well and for the money, it seems great value. I do like the look of the Naza stuff, especially the Return to Home and Fail Safes but obviously so much more money. FPV will be the ulimate goal, I've been wasting so much time just watching FPV videos on YouTube.

 

Pete

[FragglePete]

I notice the frame today is listed at £114! Probably the cost of that new fangled friber glass.

 

That's gotta be a mistake! I've got one on its way and I paid £14.02

 

Pete

[chazzy2501]

Groupon are doing a £40 quadcopter with a 2.4ghz transmitter. This is a very small and light one (no camera) if you want to just play.

 

I wonder if any parts could be modded for use with a bigger quad?

 

[plexer]

More friber glass

 

KK MK X525 V3 QuadCopter Folding Frame Friber Glass MultiCoptor Red/Balck ge | eBay

 

Ben

[JAB1a]

I have seen some stupid prices on Ebay for this frame, one was for 4hundered something pounds which has no justification. You should be looking at no more the 20quid for the frame.

I suggest a hubsan x4 micro quadcopter for practice, would give you more skills/experience than a simulator and is also SO much fun

@pcstru thats wicked to know, I am terrible at CAD but I might try and knock something together if I have the time for you to look at. Thanks for the offer

[plexer]

I'm torn between buying that frame or just buying some square alu tube and lasercutting some acrylic/ply/what have you

 

Ben

[FragglePete]

I did seriously look at buying a cheap Quad to see how I would get on but dismissed it; as I've found with these cheap little helicopters you can buy, once you crash it and damage a prop that's it, game over for it as you can't get spares. Also, did any of you see The Gadget Show a few weeks ago when the bald headed presenter was showing off a cheap quad? He went to take off and the thing just kept going and going with no control whatsoever; comical moment for TV as he handed the remote to a kid and scarpered but would be somewhat embarrasing if that happened to me.

 

Pete

[pcstru]

I'm torn between buying that frame or just buying some square alu tube and lasercutting some acrylic/ply/what have you

 

I'm amazed how cheap the frames on ebay are. I struggle to get the materials for the same cost! On the other hand, if you make your own you know exactly what you are dealing with and can easily mod as needed.

[JAB1a]

@plexer If you have the skill then definutly make your own. I must say this frame is bullet proof, so make sure you use a very strong material for the center plates. If you have access to a CNC like PCStru then you can get plently of CAD designs for basic quad frames.

@FragglePete The hudsan is a great little quad with some advanced features. there are spares avalible a plenty and even quite a few FPV projects popping up with them. As they come out the box they can lift 20g extra weight, some of the sub-nano cameras and 200Mw Tx's weight about 4g I want one for when the weather is too bad outside so I can still get me 'fix'.

 

I did not see the gadget show sorry. Im sure he was just doing something wrong! lol

@pcstru I would make a copy of the above quadframe but add more surface area top and bottom for mounting things, even if the bottom plate was extended in all directions that would be an improvment

[FragglePete]

Must admit, am tempted.....

Hubsan X4 Mini RC Quad Copter - 2.4Ghz - RTF | eBay

 

Pete

[JAB1a]

Must admit, am tempted.....

Hubsan X4 Mini RC Quad Copter - 2.4Ghz - RTF | eBay

 

Pete

 

That is VERY tempting, I would also buy more than one battery and some spare props to extend your play otherwise you are just going to have to wait for parts

 

Someone else using the X525 frame....

RC X525 FOLDING QUAD QUADCOPTER FPV MULTICOPTER HELI | eBay

[pcstru]

I would make a copy of the above quadframe but add more surface area top and bottom for mounting things, even if the bottom plate was extended in all directions that would be an improvment

 

If you can scan (preferable) or take a picture (need focal plane and plate to be parrallell) of the plate and supply a couple of accurate dimensions then mark how you want it modded, I can probably CAD it quite quickly.

 

Do you have any links for open source drawings for frames?

[JAB1a]

@pcstru

Most downloaded models tagged with quadcopter - GrabCAD

here is a good place, but not being into CAD I have just ignored most sites like this but I have seen many different CAD designs for many different quads. I do remember somewhere seeing extra parts etc being designed for the x525 frame, I think it was a battery holder on the bottom, I will have a good search. I also know there are alot of files out there for 3d printers and quads, can those files be modified to be used on a CNC (if the part is made of flat sections?)

 

I am stripping down my frame soon so will get some shots of the plates and add the modifications I think would be good and send them to you, wont be until the weekend I think thanks again for the offer of help

[JAB1a]

wow ok I have just found the parts right under my nose on the same site as the radio TX

 

Spare Parts - Quadcopter X525 Fibre Glass Plate D > Hardware > DIY & Spare Parts > MULTICOPTERS > Main Page > Pyramid Models

 

"Extra CNC cut Fibre Glass Hardware Plate" would make all the difference for mounting battery and camera too but the top plate needs similar but coming out the sides not front/back.

[pcstru]

@JAB1a, 3d print files can (sometimes) be pressed into service but it's not necessarily straightforward, especially if they are complex. There are also things you can do on a 3d printer that you simply can't do on a 2.5D CNC mill/router. Unfortunately my 3d printer is in need of a new hot end which is in turn waiting for my man cave build to complete so I can unpack and set up my lathe. I did spend many hours painting the new workshop at the weekend so it is all getting tantalisingly close.

[plexer]

Sounds fun I can't currently get in my man cave to work as it's been taken over with all the tut from the storage shed that I'm rebuilding but once that's done I'll be able to make a start.

 

Ben

[FragglePete]

wow ok I have just found the parts right under my nose on the same site as the radio TX

 

Spare Parts - Quadcopter X525 Fibre Glass Plate D > Hardware > DIY & Spare Parts > MULTICOPTERS > Main Page > Pyramid Models

 

"Extra CNC cut Fibre Glass Hardware Plate" would make all the difference for mounting battery and camera too but the top plate needs similar but coming out the sides not front/back.

 

Yeah, but did you notice this bit: This item is only to be supplied to our customers who have already purchasedeither the X525 Kit or Deluxe version from us, and want to upgrade to the PRO Version.