Right prop for quadcopter

Craftydan

Hostage Taker of Quads
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Lets start off with the CC/CCW, shall we?

Motors produce torque on the airframe. For rotorcraft, the motor axis is pointing up, so once it gets free of the ground, the airframe want's to spin around the motor shaft -- I know, basic physics. On helicopters they counter that torque typically with a tail rotor, but an interesting class of rotorcraft is the "coaxial" -- it has two counter rotating (spinning opposite directions) blades, both typically generating the same-but-opposite torque canceling out any spin from motor torque. What's interesting about this, is you can change the speed of one motor relative to the other and it will give you control in yaw -- the direction you're pointing.

Now let's double the number of blades (to 4 sets) and move them out from underneath each other -- we now have a quad copter. As long as the frame remains rigid, the torque doesn't have to be on top of each other, just parallel to each other. That means every other motor will need to have an opposite rotation to cancel their torque, and the control board will speed up/slow down the motors in pairs to change the motion in yaw.


Now for your purchased motor, a 2000g airframe might be asking a bit much. It will fly, but you'll probably be running higher on the throttle than you like -- keep in mind, it's that margin between hover throttle and WOT(Wide Open Throttle) that your control board uses to maintain stability.

The HK page recommends a 10x5 or 10x4.7 (not a tremendous difference between them), and gives a measured max thrust under 750g. That's low -- you really want to shoot for 1/2 AUW (All Up Weight) per motor, because in a hard yaw, quads *will* balance on the lift of two motors. Effectively, a set of those motors will loose altitude in yaw.

Can you just go with a bigger prop? Yes, but I wouldn't recommend it. First, it'll drive the WOT current up, for which the recommended prop is already up to the limit, and at the price of these motors, I wouldn't push limits. Second, Moving up from a 10x4.7 to a 10x5 you *loose* thrust -- the 10x4.7 is already at or beyond peak efficiency. I doubt moving further up or down in prop size will do any better. Third, normally I'd say quads don't spend much time at WOT so it's not that critical, but *even if* you got more thrust out of a bigger prop, this motor probably will run far too close to WOT with that load.

Would this work for a 2kg hex? absolutely. quad? barely, and you probably won't like it.

So you've already bought those motors -- what now?!? Loose weight. Don't have enough info to help you know how, but for that motor I'd recommend loosing *at least* 500g from your AUW. Otherwise, either buy a motor set with more thrust or buy another pair + booms and convert to a hex.


BTW, Welcome to the Forum!
 
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Justin

Senior Member
I'm no expert on this topic, but I really wanted to help. The specs on Hobby King (Data ;
Prop size: 10x5
RPM: 7100
Max Curr: 14.5A
Thrust: 710g (1.51lb)

Prop size: 10x4.7 SF
RPM: 6100
Max Curr: 14.5A
Thrust: 745g (1.64lb)
say you need a 10x4.7 prop or a 10x5 prop. Again, I'm not expert, but you can look at these specs until someone with experience replies. The thrust with the smaller pitched prop is 745g. With four you have 2,980. That converts to 2.98 kg. These motors might be too under powered because you generally need a 2:1 thrust to weight ratio. It would fall out of the sky when you use yaw. Again, don't take my word for it, I may be incorrect. I just wanted to give you something to chew on. And remember, make sure your ESCs and batteries are capable of running the prop.

P.S. you need 2 counter rotating props and 2 normal props.
 
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Craftydan

Hostage Taker of Quads
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Justin,

So was I. Happens all the time.

Don't sweat it (after all we agree ;) )
 

edenh

Junior Member
Thank you all for the rapid response!
Craftydan, I think losing weight is the right approach here, so I will go with that for now.
Justin, I need 4 counter props?
 

Craftydan

Hostage Taker of Quads
Staff member
Moderator
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edenh,

Need more details about you're quad to help you know where you can trim the fat -- a description of what you used and how it's put together (pictures help tremendously) would be good.

On my V-tail quad, I'm running heavier motors and some slightly heavy materials and still coming in just over a kilo (and feels heavy to me at that!). Your motors would still lift my platform with ease.
 

Cyberdactyl

Misfit Multirotor Monkey
Crafty hit on the elephant in the room a couple times.

A quad with that motor and 10 inch props is going to struggle severely with 2000g.

Why is it so heavy? Can we see a pic?
 

edenh

Junior Member
no, you need 2 counter and two normal; sorry for the misconception :)
Thanks!
edenh,

Need more details about you're quad to help you know where you can trim the fat -- a description of what you used and how it's put together (pictures help tremendously) would be good.

On my V-tail quad, I'm running heavier motors and some slightly heavy materials and still coming in just over a kilo (and feels heavy to me at that!). Your motors would still lift my platform with ease.

It will be a problem for me to take some pictures because it's not here yet. I ordered several things that I can show you:
1. 4 motors http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/s...idProduct=5354
2. CRIUS ALL IN ONE PRO v1.0
3. frame - http://www.ebay.com/itm/281210266949?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
4. 2200mah turnigy battery
5. 20A ESC
5. GOPRO
That's all for now, if you got any advice I would love to hear!
 

edenh

Junior Member
Crafty hit on the elephant in the room a couple times.

A quad with that motor and 10 inch props is going to struggle severely with 2000g.

Why is it so heavy? Can we see a pic?

I was mistaken, it was 1.7KG but I just decreased the stuff on it so now I think it would be 1.2KG
 

xuzme720

Dedicated foam bender
Mentor
Are you basing overall weight on the shipping weights? I only ask because if you don't have the parts, how are you weighing them? And shipping weight is going to include packaging so everything should actually be lighter than that.
 

edenh

Junior Member
Are you basing overall weight on the shipping weights? I only ask because if you don't have the parts, how are you weighing them? And shipping weight is going to include packaging so everything should actually be lighter than that.

I have some of the parts, I don't have the frame motors and ESC's
 

Cyberdactyl

Misfit Multirotor Monkey
That's right. GOOD News!

What I see from your order it's ~950-1100g. . . roughly half of your estimate.
 

Kogashuko

Senior Member
That's right. GOOD News!

What I see from your order it's ~950-1100g. . . roughly half of your estimate.

I did notice that they were 1100kv motors. I am using some XPs on my quad and noticed a lot of vibration in them with the 10inch props I was using. Maybe it was the mounting method, maybe it was the cheap props, but I tried some 8 inch props last night and it seemed to take the vibration out. Will be interested to hear how the thing works out.

Also, I am using crius v2 boards on all my quads. If your v1 is pretty much the same you will love it. It has some learning curves when you put megapirate on but it is great once you get it running. I have been saved a few times with the RTL option.
 

Cyberdactyl

Misfit Multirotor Monkey
I forgot to factor in the GoPro, so you're right, probably up around 1300g.

Your components look good. I've never used a CRIUS AIO PRO, but read they work well.