Quadcopter - South Africa

[AdmiralDV]

Hi Guys

I live in South Africa and got inspired by the Anycopter & Knuckle H-quad from the shop. Okay first things first, I first got interested in Quad-copters with the DJI Phantom, but its VERY expensive especially with the exchange rate... So had a chat to one of the guys in office flying planes with FPV, and he mentioned "why don't I build my own" then I started thinking and researching, and came across the Flite Test website and Youtube channel.

And there I realized I will be able to build my own: So the next thing was to source all the necessary electronics etc. but first I check whats available locally electronics and build materials. Like Josh Bixler, I'm cheap and don't want to 'cant afford to spend an arm and a leg.

I'm a Architectural Technologist, so I downloaded the plans of the Anycopter & Knuckles and had it laser cut (out of 3mm superwood) but with a bit of a clean up of the Anycopter hub. There is no 12mmx12mm square dowels in SA, so the next best thing was Aluminium (this is how we spell it here in SA ) So I got a 2.5m 12x12x1.3 aluminium rod locally here in Bloemfontein (where I live).

So It got down that the 'frame' will work out the cheapest. now for the electronics etc. $$$$

A side note: I have no prior RC 'air' experience. So spoke to a buddy of mine who manage RC Hobby Shop http://rchobbyshop.co.za/ and he mailed me a cheap RTF Quad (Foda UFO)
Net the best but cheap and durable.

Then research into the electronics; everything local is so expensive, probably because everything is imported...
But it got down to a KK2 board for about R550 = $52 (according to Google) where you (USA) get it for R343 = $32 and its the same for the ESC, motors etc. not talking about the Radio.

So a bit more research came across: http://www.aliexpress.com/ who does free shipping :applause: (depending)
Where they had some lekker (Cool) Deals: Like this for $67.73


Also ordered the KK blackboard

From Aliexpress.

But decided to buy the Radio Locally, so if there is any problems I can send it back for repairs, exchange or whatever. went for the FLYSKY TH9x, Best buy for Buck... R1800 - $169


So now I'm waiting for the shipment to get here. All has been paid for and shipped, now to see how long it wil take to get here from China, Possitive that all will be in order and in working condition, but luckely there is a customer protection from Aliexpress to send things back etc.

Will probably get the Radio next week, so also exited for that. But here is the project progress up-till now:

So next thing is to buy a LiPo Battery and Charger, Charger maybe from Aliexpress but as I understand it, LiPo's cant be shipped or something so will get that also then locally.

Will try to keep this up to date, and how its going with the build and the KK programming.

If there is any tricks or tips, that anybody can give, it will be much appreciated.

Regards
Derik

 

[DDSFlyer]

Welcome to the forums! It seems like you are going about this in the right way...decided what you wanted, picked a method (building your own), learned to fly first on an inexpensive smaller quad (very important!), and sourced all of your materials after diligent research. Good luck on your build. I don't have a lot of knowledge on the parts that you sourced/acquired but if I can help I'll try and chime in. Look forward to your progress. Quick question...does HobbyKing ship to you? They still may be a great source of parts, just slow.

 

[Tritium]

The Flight Controller you chose has only gyros in 3 axis's. No accelerometer or other sensors so your flying will not be assisted anywhere near the level of a KK2.X, Naze32 or any other recent manufactured flight controller.

Thurmond

 

[nilsen]

Hey Derik,

I'm also South African, but live in Switzerland... anyway, cool!

I also entered into the DIY space not long ago and purchased my stuff from www.buildyourowndrone.co.uk as they also had a kit (motor, esc, props and pdb) and now I am upgrading as I just don't trust the cheap stuff.

You'll realise that you will put a lot of effort into your first and all subsequent multirotors and you wouldn't want all your blood, sweat, tears and money falling to the ground because you skimped and something failed, remember there is no glide, it will fall and fail, normally catastrophically

IMHO spend a little more and get a cheap but well known and tested product for the motors and ESC, they are your weakest link and the ones which take the most beating.

Good luck!

Cheers

 

[AdmiralDV]

Hi Guys thanks for the reply's and advise and welcome.

@Thurmond, Thanks for the Welcome, It looks like HobbyKing ships to South Africa I'm not sure, how much the shipping cost tough, but will look into to it, not sure why I didn't researched that

@Tritium, I'm aware of the lack of sensors, I've also order a Flip 1.5 with extra baro and compass from Ready to fly Quads but it will take a while to get here, because i was not willing to pay $23 shipping for a $15 board, so it will be delivered to friends of mine in South Carolina, and they might now of someone coming to SA soon other wise I know of somebody in October coming to SA.

@nilsen, my mom always said that "goed koop koop is duur koop" = buying cheap, is buying expensive, or something like that. But I will let you know how the cheaper things work out, saw some emax motors as well, ang thought of maybe getting the q-brain ESC 4 in 1

Cheers
Derik

 

[AdmiralDV]

So about 2 weeks ago I got the Transmitter & receiver, but was surprised about the module, if was not the FLYSKY 'stock' module and receiver but the frsky with telemetry.


And on Friday I received the Motors, Props & Esc. On Saturday I went and bought a Lipo to test if all works, then also bought some bullet connector and did some soldering.

All that came with the 1st package.


All that was included in the 'motor package'


Props on prop adapters, fittings.


Soldering of bullet connectors, heat shrink done, and did a weave/plait


After all this I calibrated the ESC to the Transmitter, no problem there. And all was luckily in working order.
Next step is to make a power distribution of sorts, will go down to the hobby shop sometime this week and see what is the cheapest connectors I can get there, Dean plugs or bullets or something and then a bit more soldering.
For something like this:





Will probably go with something like this:


Now I'm just waiting for the control board, KK blackboard board might come sometime this week, or I hope so.
And a friend posted the Flip 1.5 to me last week the 29th, so will see witch one will get here first, cant wait for that and just to assemble everything, and go fly.

D

 

[Jnr Kuzi]

AdmiralDV welcome to The FT forum, Glad to see that More & More Africans are Joining, FT Has Gone Global. I am zambian who lives in Lusaka with relatives in Durban & Jo'Burg.

I Like your scratch built Anycopter style frame.

I Have a Tip for you.

Aluminium is Not Very good at filtering Vibrations & its quite Heavy. I Recomend you Buy wooden Dowels, they dont need to be square, you can get away with anything aslong as it is 12mm high, width doesnt Matter, just be sure it fits Without affecting the Intergrity of the Frame.

Goodluck with your Builds.

Check out Bobshobbies.co.za, i bought a Hitec 2.4ghz Optic5 "Tx & Rx" for R850, which was about $83 at the Time, & K420zm.

The shipping is Reasonable.

 

[AdmiralDV]

Thanks Kuzi, Will have a look.

I also had a visit to a Electrical supply shop, and came across 'Push-in Wire connectors' and wondered why people are making such complicated power distribution if you van just push 5 wires into this little box and everything sorted? (1 In and 4 out)





Will check tonight if it works and quite inexpensive.

 

[Jnr Kuzi]

that seems Like a Great idea, but if you were as cheap i am, you'd Buy heatshrink tubing "10cm" & an Iron Nail, then solder everything to it.. It works Good too.lol

 

[AdmiralDV]

So this past weekend I used a lot of cable ties, fitting and re fitting ESC, receivers etc. But I think I got to a layout I like, but not 100% yet back en front props getting a bit close, need to squash the spider(or cat) a bit more and I need to tidy it up a bit...



Went for a spider Quad, similar to the Electro hub build but the front two arms are fordable (back to the back arms)
Didn't fly it yet, only thing(s) I'm waiting for is the programmer for the KK blackboard or for the Flip 1.5 to get here.......
"Patients little grass hopper" ........ ARGGG Well I have to wait, hopefully the coming weekend I'll be able to take it for the maiden, at least I know all 4 motors are working withe the Receiver & Transmitter + KK Black board (but thing its a copy and not original).. but if it works it works, we will see.

 

[AdmiralDV]

"IT FLIES"

After a bit of a struggle (because of firmware 4.7 did a reload to 2.9 on the KK 5.5 Blackboard) It worked better, Still got to set up the gains and trims a bit but at least it flies and crashes well At least just props and cable ties so far, the landing gear keeps popping of, but easy fix with cable ties.

Here is the sort of first flight:
With a bumpy landing

 

[AdmiralDV]

So After I disassembled the Quad to drill some holes in the Aluminium arms I discovered, that the crashes I had up till now, didn't brake just props but that the frame was broken at 2 places :black_eyed:, but it still flew... Bat any case. While I'm waiting for the laser cutting to get done for another (modified frame) I installed all into the Knuckle frame.



Flew nice but had to put smaller props on 8" and flight time now shorter, think frame is still to heavy. Next thing is to see if I can put 10" on put props then very close to each other. will see if there is enough space for it tough.

But I also, made some smaller motor mounts as shown on photo (similar to what is used on the electrohub build), and had to lift motors because of motor shaft sticking out at bottom of motor.

D

 

[DDSFlyer]

If you want bigger props on those motors maybe just extend the outer booms a couple of inches and see if it can handle it. I'm sure it can

 

[AdmiralDV]

IMPORTANT/CATION...

Don't use longer bolts than required to mount motors...
This is what happens:




I used a 25mm x 3mm bolt that was to long to mount the motor and it reached the coil copper wire en basically cut the wire, so when throttling up the motor would just twitch. I at first thought that its one of the bullet connectors, after a re solder still same problem.

So I opened the motor, and with a closer inspection saw that the wire have been cut/broken.

So now Ill be ordering a new motor but its now time to see if i'm able to fix it, YouTube helps
Found this:

Now I just need to go and search and purchase some copper wire.

Anybody done this before? Any tips?

D

 

[AdmiralDV]

So with the first try to fix the motor and having no luck + going to my parents this weekend and replacement motor not here yet, I've converted the Quad to an Tri Just need to go and get 'n Servo and get 'n place to fix it and maiden it. Will post photos soon on it.

D

 

[AdmiralDV]

So with me living in South Africa, we have been having a Postal Stike for almost a month now, so still waiting for the replacement motor, but made the best of the situation.

As mentiond previosly converted the Quad to a Tri, with some changes to the frame, afterwards made a proper frame for the tri & maybe when the replacement motor arrives i'll do a V-Tail.

The Tail boom was a bit crooked.


Sort of the Batbone design...


Looking at a alternative to the tail pivot, something like This:



Will be laser cut out of 3mm Wood.

 

[AdmiralDV]

Quadcopter -> Smaller Quadcopter -> Tricopter -> Batbone

This Multi-rotor of mine is changing luckily for the best. I think its where I want it to be, except for the flight controller, hopefully I will be able to upgrade it shortly. Somebody maybe got a spare laying around?

D