Designing my own frame

[tupoar]

Ok, so I have no design skills. By none, I mean that I could use a spirit level, laser guide and have the holes drilled for me and still put a shelf up wonky. However, I';ve had several ideas flying round my head since I built my FPV250 and I have one in mind that just wont quit. So, I';m going to give it a go. Probably won';t be any good but at least I would have tried.

Can anyone recommend any good CAD programs that can get me started? And is there anyone willing to take me under their wing and show me the ropes?

[dockman]

I use Designspark myself and find it easy to use.  Plus it is free which is a bonus.

They also have some tutorials on their website that can be helpful for those new to this type of software.

[richardg6paj]

If you haven';t used cad software before you will find it a very steep learning curve. So steep you will lose the will to live and your creative skills will fall by the wayside.
I suggest you start with Inkscape a free desktop publishing type program which is quite capable of doing cad drawings and is quite easy to learn.

Richard

[barneyg]

if you want to produce a 3d model then look at the free version of Sketchup.

[teslahed]

Inkscape is great to get a taste of things and if you follow Stef';s advice;

http://www.multi-rotor.co.uk/index.php?topic=9467.msg79315#msg79315

You can work around the limitations involved with producing ';proper'; CAD files.

It';s a lot easier than some of these programs can be and you can pick the basics up in a day or two which is enough to start producing very simple designs. After a week or two you';ll be fine.

That said if you feel like investing a little more time and effort learning a proper CAD program that produces native dxf files of a high enough quality to send straight to the cutters it might be better in the long run and proper CAD programs are better from an engineering point of view.

I can';t criticise - i';m still using inkscape myself


(one of mine designed on inkscape)

[tupoar]

Thanks guys.

i think I';m going to start with Inkscape. The only issue is that my idea will mean most of the bits will be fully enclosed. Will that be a problem?

[flybywire]

I look forward to seeing your first multi Tupoar.  Remember, if you want a wood or perspex prototype for testing, let me know.  (as long as it';s no bigger than A3 that is!)

Cheers

Andy

P.S I think most decent design software should export in dxf format?

[tupoar]

Cheers flyby, might be a little while though.

[flybywire]

Cheers flyby, might be a little while though.

Maybe, but i think you';ll find you';ll get stuck into it sharpish once you';ve got your head around the basics!

[davejavu123]

Ok, so I have no design skills. By none, I mean that I could use a spirit level, laser guide and have the holes drilled for me and still put a shelf up wonky. However, I';ve had several ideas flying round my head since I built my FPV250 and I have one in mind that just wont quit. So, I';m going to give it a go. Probably won';t be any good but at least I would have tried.

Can anyone recommend any good CAD programs that can get me started? And is there anyone willing to take me under their wing and show me the ropes?

solidworks!!! expensive but fanstastic!

[tupoar]

I';ve started with Sketchup. I';ll see how I get on though it may all end up as a nice little dream!

[rotorx]

Just to give you some ideas, I use Cut 2d for design, which also generates the toolpaths for machining on my 4 axis cnc  which is driven by Mach3

I don';t know how far you want to go down this road, but like a lot of things multirotor it becomes infectious! you may need never buy anything for frames again!

If you get in to designing, you will want to produce it too!

I design and produce anything I need from frames to gimbal parts/mounts etc. 

Google Cut 2d which is more than just 2d as you will see and I believe they have a trial version you can try,( to buy it is around £110  Also look at Mach3 you can download free to try also    These 2 programmes compliment each other perfectly.

Personally I would choose CNC machining over 3d printing for the following reasons,

With CNC you select the material of choice Metal, plastic, wood, anything which is the right choice for the job and you have a world of choice, for example engineering plastics, Acetal and the higher temperature materials peek etc or fibreglass plus of course Carbon fibre - (Grossly overused in my opinion)

With 3d printing, you use liquid plastic which may not be the right material and limits structural strength and has severe operational temperature limits (before it turns back to liquid again) and you have a limited applications, Great for non functional parts not under stress or load.

I hope that gives you a overview.

rotorx

[richardg6paj]

I can Vouch for Cut2d by Vectric, I think it';s £95, there may be vat on that. Worth every penny. Nothing to touch it, apart from it';s big brothers VCUT and Aspire which is over a Grand. And used with MOI (MOMENT OF INSPIRATION) you can assemble your 2D files to let you see if it all fits together.
I use a bundled version of Vcarve which came with my Roland EGX600 Cutter, it drives the machine directly.

It';s all good fun Tupoar, if you can get past the steep learning curve you will enjoy.

Richard

[rotorx]

tupoar,

If the link works, check out the video tutorials on the site, glad to see Richard is using these brilliant user friendly CAD programmes, I also understand they are a British company too. One other point, they are available by phone and provide great customer support.

http://www.vectric.com/products/cut2d.html

rotorx

[tupoar]

Oh guys, this is one path that is a path too far for me! I love flying, and just want to be the best flyer I can be. I don';t have a mind technical enough for getting into the nuts and bolts of designing. I had an idea for a quad that would be nice to try and lay down. I know it';s possible as it';s based on a 3D printed quad I saw but translating that into something more than scribbles on an A4 sheet of paper and trying to to get google sketchup to even do something similar to what Im trying to do is already stretching me to the limit of my skills.

Thank you for all the advice, but I will keep plugging away in my own time.

[Chippercheese]

Funnily enough I';ve been thinking about designing my own frame (3d printed, possibly hex)

[flybywire]

Tupoar, if you';re into flying multi';s, or anything for that matter, the satisfaction of putting your own frames into the air just can';t be beaten.  Once you';ve started, there';s no end to it, you';ll always be looking for ways to better yout designs. 
Also, with the attendant machinery becoming more readily afordable these days the design and production aspect just broadens the hobby itself.

I';ve just thought of a way to ';borrow'; David ';rcexplorer';s battery/camera cradle idea to adapt for my ';big hexa';. (It';s not really that big, just bigger than all my other stuff!).
I';ve a sheet of delrin ready to be laser cut at work, just need a few 30mm rubber standoffs to support it which will replace the arm mounting bolts.

Just love improvin'; stuff!   

[tupoar]

Right now putting together a frame that flies is an achievement for me! I couldn';t solder up until a few months ago!! I have a frame coming which I';m going to mod slightly then after that, who knows???

Maybe I need to sit down with someone slightly more technically gifted and see if they can translate it into something flyable.

[richardg6paj]

I know it';s possible as it';s based on a 3D printed quad I saw

Care to share! I may be able to tell you if it';s possible.
Good luck with Sketchup. I had Sketchup pro and spent 5 minutes with it and gave up.
Probably gave up too early, but I prefer what I have. But needed to try.

Richard

[tupoar]

Richard, I';ll share a PM with you in the morning mate 

[atomiclama]

Been following this thread with interest. Cheers all.

Throw into the mix FreeCAD only just started using it and a complete noob so not going to comment on what it';s like yet.

Will also give design spark ago.

Does cut 2D do stuff for 3D printing?

[tupoar]

Ok, so things have moved on a bit. I';m now in the process of designing my own 330 based frame. So far i have a couple of bottom plate designs but am just waiting on some F330 plates to arrive to I can get my measurements right...