Custom Folding H-Quadcopter

by MaxPower | June 15, 2014 | (8) Posted in Projects

This the build log of my folding H-Copter.  Like my other copters I really love folding multirotors.  Warning there are alot of photos :)

I designed this quadcopter from scratch and on the fly, I kinda just started with a rough idea what I wanted and then started sketching on paper.  I sketch the body in 1/2 sections so I could keep things symmetrical. I mocked it up with props and wooden dowels.

I started with 1/2" wooden booms then switched to 1/2" hollow aluminum tubes from Hobby King once I was happy with the performance. 

It has a hacked and rebuilt RCTimer camera gimbal and vibration dampening camera tray like David Windeståls.  The FPV system is 5.8ghz with a sony board camera which I fly through seperate from the GoPro which is on the gimbal.

The Specs:
Flight Controller: DJI Naza-M V2
Motors: SunnySky 2216-11 900kv
ESC: Hobby King 20A Reflashed with simonk
Propellers: 10"x4.5
Frame and Arm Material: Lexan, wood and aluminum
RC Timer Camera Gimbal (hacked)
Battery: Turnigy 3000mah Lipo

Check out the video for an overview of the H-Copter and a flight at the end of the video.

 

The pictures and build log:

 Mocking up the size and where the props will be

Lexan with template

Lexan/polycarbonate body template

 

Testing the folding arms

#6 bolts

The 4 arms in place with the Lexan body

Test fold

Adding the wooden body spars for strength

Adding the top plate

Landing gear and hobby king 20A ESCs

Cutting out holes to run the wires to the ESCs

Holes drilled

ESCs positioned

Wiring for the power distribution

Power distribution

Finished power distribution

Wire run through the body to the arms

ESCs wired up with 3.5mm bullet connections

3.5mm connectors

JST connector for other accessories like FPV

Landing gear mounted and leveled using my phone level app

Leveling from another view

Checking how the length of wire will affect folding the arms

All of the electronics and parts

DJI Naza-M V2 flight controller

Sunnysky 2216-11 900kv with 10"x4.5 props, Hobbyking 20A ESC flashed with simonk

Zip ties to mount everything, they are the best invention ever!  Also a ziptie gun.

Running the ESC leads, also had to use some extensions

Mounting the GPS module on the rear top plate

Test flight

 

The H-Copter all folded into a nice compact form factor

This is an updated pic with aluminum arms

The arms were kicked out a few degrees to add some stability when the camera gimbal is mounted

View of the sony camera used for FPV and the 5.8ghz transmitter

Motors mounted with zip ties

Vibration dampening camera and battery tray, this works awesome to get jello free video

Hacked RCTimer camera gimbal

 

This is a DC to DC voltage regulator, I used it to drop the voltage down from the 4s copter battery so it could be used on the 12v FPV gear.

Camera gimbal and Gopro3+ mounted

The camera gimbal was mounted on foam and zipties, this works really well for quick removal or installation

Lipo mounted, I get around 8 minutes of flight with a 3000mah fulled loaded (1700-1800grams), this bird is heavy!  With a 5000mah, I estimate around 12 minutes of flight time.

 The H-copter folded and in it's storage area when not in use.

My website: http://eclectic-workshop.weebly.com

 

COMMENTS

PaladinDG on July 9, 2014
That is a nice looking build... I appreciate all the pictures you posted. I tried to use lexan to scratch build a tricopter plates. It turned out well, but I found Lexan to be too brittle and it didn't last very long. Hope you have better success
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MaxPower on July 9, 2014
Thanks, I haven't had any problems with lexan on my tricopter but I haven't crashed them yet :)

Could you be using acrylic sheet instead of polycarbonate?
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PKM_UK on July 14, 2014
Acrylic is even more brittle than polycarbonate- ply, fibreglass or carbon would probably be the best choices for this if you don't use polycarbonate.
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rcflyer729 on July 9, 2014
nice quad
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MaxPower on July 9, 2014
Thank!
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ezromao on July 9, 2014
Great project!
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MaxPower on July 10, 2014
Thanks!
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JACKFIRE on July 10, 2014
Great Dude!!


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MaxPower on July 10, 2014
Thanks!
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saitek93 on July 24, 2014
Nice build! I built one similar to that, but I used copper clad FR4 board instead. It's a lot stronger, and I can design the circuits in the actual frame itself. I too love having a folding quadcopter, and just finished my latest one that fits inside a case with everything I need to fly. Makes transporting from place to place way easier! Check it out and let me know what you think.
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MaxPower on July 24, 2014
Thanks for the comment! Do you have a link to your build? I have always wanted to try PCB board type of frames but never knew what the material was called.
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saitek93 on July 26, 2014
http://flitetest.com/articles/folding-circuit-board-quadcopter
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Custom Folding H-Quadcopter