Cal's 450 build

[Calomile]

Hi guys,

I';ve been flying a blade mQX for a while now and I feel it';s time to move onto something a bit bigger with more features, so I';ve decided to build off the 450 rctimer platform to have a quad that can do the following:

• GPS Loiter and Waypoints
• Altitude Hold
• FPV using a GoPro Hero 2 (eventually upgraded to a hero 3 black)

I already have a Spektrum DX8 with telemetry and rx which I can use, but other than that I don';t have any other kit so it';s probably going to be a long shopping list. I';ve taken some inspiration from rokit5';s build thread, so without further ado, begin long list...

• Frame: RCTimer.com SK30A + SM450 v2 Kit - $115
• Flight Controller: RCTimer.com Arduflyer 433mhz GPS kit - $137
• Video OSD: RCTimer MAVLink-OSD V1.0 - $24.99
• Video TX: Boscam 5.8G 400mW 8 Channel - $69.99
• Video RX: 5.8GHz 8CH Diversity Receiver - $99.99
• Alternate video solution: Fat Shark Attitude SD Video Goggles (w/ TX/RX bundled) - £295
• Batteries: Turnigy 4000mAh 3S 20C Lipo (x4) - $100
• Battery charger: Turnigy Accucel-6 50W 6A Balancer/Charger (UK Plug) - $26.38
• Prop Balancer: Du-Bro Tru-Spin prop balancer - $30.99

$610 USD w/o FatSharks, $895 with FatSharks and removing dedicated TX/RX

Have also factored in £30 for a new soldering iron and solder as my previous iron probably isn';t up to the job of soldering the APM board pins. If anyone can recommend a really decent one that';ll last that';ll be appreciated.

Also looking at LEDs for the arms of the quad to know what direction it';s facing in, again if anyone can recommend anything? Also some decent cheap props (I don';t wanna be going through the RCTimer CF props while starting out...)?

My plan going forward with this build is to recycle a lot of the components such as the FPV system and FC into either a TBS discovery or a larger hex, to be replaced with a KK2.0 board.

Thank you for reading, hopefully this will be updated with a build log before time!

Cheers,

Cal

[Balders]

Giant cod cheapy plastic props are pretty good, especially for the price.  I have also used loads of 10" hobbyking SF counter rotating props and they are good too.

LED';s, I use the sticky 12V giantcod ones (sorry, giant shark). I use red on the back two arms and green on the front two.  Red for danger and all that.

[Gaza07]

Nice list Cal push the button   

[nub]

wow nice upgrade, do it!

[Calomile]

Got a PILE of kit coming with all the little extras ordered. Went for a way overkill charger set up, will probably be a couple weeks before it';s all here and then I';ll post some pics! Stay tuned...

[nub]

gah now the worst part, the waiting

[Britishguy]

isnt 433mhz illegal in the uk and used by ham holders?

[Calomile]

From everything I';ve read, it';s not illegal if configured properly, and it';s certainly less illegal than 900mhz which is reserved for GSM phone signals.

[nub]

hmmm dodgy low frequencies

[Britishguy]

fair enough, i noticed that ezuhf have a uk version that runs on 459mhz

so thats why i asked. Cheers

[DarrenG]

isnt 433mhz illegal in the uk and used by ham holders?

Yes they operate in the licensed Ham bands but they';re allowed under legislation that permits low power radios to operate between 433.05 and 434.79 MHz at 10mW output power.

Ofcom IR2030 (Short Range Devices) covers this.

[DarrenG]

fair enough, i noticed that ezuhf have a uk version that runs on 459mhz

That is a valid R/C channel, unique to the UK.
http://www.rcmf.co.uk/4um/index.php?topic=90517.0

[Calomile]

And now the daunting task begins...

[Calomile]

Bullets soldered onto the ESCs, just contemplating my next step. I think I';ll get the +-';s soldered onto the pcb.

[Calomile]

Nerve wracking stuff, but APM board soldered up. Time to mount the motors and calibrate some ESCs!

[Gaza07]

Looking good Cal well done   

[Hands0n]

Thats a lovely bit of soldering on the APM board - I';ll send you mine when it arrives 

[Calomile]

Haha, I was shaking like a s****ng dog while doing the APM board. I';ll have to kindly refuse your wonderful offer!

Anyway, after a long day I finally got it maidened in my garden at about 10pm. Here is the result:



The collet on the green prop failed mid flight and it promptly went sideways into the grass snapping the two orange props. This is why you buy spares!

Lots still to do, including cutting down the prop shafts to use new and improved prop adapters (I should have just done this today and not binned a set of props but que serrar...) construct an actual board for the APM to sit on (at the moment it';s just held down by zip ties  ) shorten the ESC wires and mount the 3DR.

Big shout out to Gaz and Craig on the chat for helping me with various little bits of worries!

C

[Hands0n]

Ouch!

I';m still using those friction prop mounts. I tried a set of prop savers, but they cost me two perfectly good props (fortunately no frame damage) as the rubber o-rings spontaneously snapped.  I';m back to these for now.  The ultimate plan is to get new prop mounts that fix to the shaft with a grub screw.

Meanwhile. for your entertainment, below is yesterday';s outcome - arm number four. 

[Calomile]

I ordered a spare pair of arms with my rctimer order but only one turned up!  Turns out they must be pretty easy to snap!

These are the prop adapters I';m talking about btw. They';re still screw thread tops, but at least there';s no pesky collet to come flying off 

[nub]

ouch thought u had snapped your motor shaft there

that';s repairable and useable Hand0ns with some insulating tape and CA/superglue

[Hands0n]

@nub - Do you really think so? I had considered a repair, it is a very clean break. But for the sake of a few (!) quid I';m more  worried about dropping the entire craft out of the sky as I get braver and higher ::)

[FlyinMarty]

Nerve wracking stuff, but APM board soldered up. Time to mount the motors and calibrate some ESCs!

Wow really good job there. I';m looking at pre-solder myself as the FC would end encased in a shroud of solder

[Calomile]

As promised, here';s a maiden flight video with me looking proper gimpy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBpIHPfdOLg#ws

[barneyg]

Please tell me you have years of helicopter flying experiance
Edit  ... Ignore me I see you';ve been flying a blade :)

[Hands0n]

A rather nice bit of flying there Cal

[Gaza07]

Looking good Cal   

[Calomile]

Throttle has no rates set in the video hence the dropping up and down, was quite tricky to find hovering while it was self levelling in the wind! Took it out again out onto the cricket pitch over the road and that was much better to have some space to really put it through its paces. Battery life is about 8 or 9 minutes with some full throttle climbs.

Have to get an FTDI board to program the GPS which gaz is kindly lending me! Got one on order also, but it';s coming by barge from china. Gonna try tackle tuning pids later in the week to see if I can make it a bit more stable and pray that my prop balancer turns up to stop some of the nasty shaking on the front right and rear left motors. Still lots to do!