What would a RCExplorer mini tricopter look like?

[Terje]

I keep wondering what a RCExplorer mini tricopter would look like? How short can the arms be made, and how does a considerably smaller wheel base influence flight characteristics and radio and PFV reception? Would it still use the battery tray, what size props, motors and lipos would make sense etc? Would all part have to be redesigned or can some parts be reused? Will it be able to carry a GoPro, and would you want to? I made a little mock-up today (150mm booms) as the weather is terrible and is going to stay that way for at least another week. Tell me what you think 🙂

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[coolblaze19]

im thinking to have about the same thrust as a 250 size quad you probablt have to have around 330 size motors with like 6×5 props mabye?

Honestly id like it to have a better base then the current model the shape is just to small to fit anything beside a flight controller and receiver, id like to have room for osd and rth

[Terje]

Rather than going off topic. See post about getting more room for equipment.

[Terje]

Just to prove my point 🙂
(180mm booms)

3D printers are also used for rapid prototyping you know 😉

Now I only have to wait 4-6 weeks for items in stock in the Hobbyking european warehouse when I ordered them, to get back in stock. Then I will be able to get on with the build…

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[danno242000]

that mini tricopter looks great, excited to see how it turns out after you finished it…
i found your tricopter gimbal design, which i liked very much,
in fact i just ordered a 2nd tricopter kit to build a gimbal version based on your designs. how are you doing with it? the first videos on youtube looked very promising…
how about a new topic on that, would like to read more about that.
anyway, thumbs up for all your good input in this forum!

[danno242000]

ahh and hobbyking just released a mini tri, but i’m not quite sure about the quality of this 29 euro plastic frame, rather wait on the design david comes up with. i’m sure quality wise it’ll be much nicer…:-)

[RCExplorer – David]

Awesome design Terje 😀 This is why I love the forums!

What motors are you planning on using?

I have some emax 2204 -2300kv Motors and 6×3 props I’m itching like mad to try out 😀 I have to finish some other things first though. Urghh! I wish I could make the days contains a few more hours, that would be great 😀

[Terje]

Hi David! I was planning on using the Multistar V2 2206-2150KV “Baby Beast” (V2) motors. They are unfortunately only available in the international warehouse so I ended up ordering the Multistar Elite 2204-2300KV from Hobbyking instead. I know they are a bit on the weak side, on the other hand that will force me to build light 🙂 I will be running with gemfan 6×3″ props and Afro 20A slim ESCs (because I had them laying around). Using only one 5v BEC I will be forced to use my Flip32+ board. Needless to say, I am really looking forward to your Naze32/Flip32 instructional video 😀

I tried out a 3 ball vibration mount for the GoPro and a battery strap holder instead of your battery tray, but it ended up being as heavy as the tray, and didn’t work as well. So by empirical evidence: Your vibration dampening battery tray rocks 🙂

I could really use some technical insights into the geometry of the frame and optimal CG as well as the tolerances of placement of the IMU on the different flight controllers? Once the day has more hours, I hope you will share your technical expertise with the community 😉

[coolblaze19]

Well i think we’re all missing the point…

When will David design a cover for the mini and the normal versions, or if he will at all.

I personally think that the cover makes it look a ton better and probably would give better aerodynamics to slice through the air better.

And if we are gonna make a mini i think the next logical step would be A RIDICULOUSLY OVER POWERED GINORMOUS ONE.

[coolblaze19]

also i was wondering how one would go about cutting the arm, id don’t see how you could get a clean cut without LOTS of sanding.

[Robert C]

A cover will probably not come anytime soon, for a number of reasons;

-Aerodynamically it will not make that much difference,
-Takes a lot of time to print,
-limits the space, so it may not work with all the different receivers etc.

[Terje]

Well the solution might be to vacuum form the canopy it self and printing and gluing the fasteners into place. Could be held in place with 3 3mm pins (would require 3 3mm holes for guides in the frame though) and simple velcro. You could make the canopy slightly larger than the with of the frame as it would not show but still fit snugly between the screws for the arms, provided you used hex screws which have narrower screw heads. Heck you could print small brackets to take advantage of those screw heads front and back 🙂

[Terje]

Through the wonders of space age technology we now have new and exciting tools at our disposal. Enter the coping saw! Add metal blades and you are ready to go 🙂 (Actually a great tool, I use it to cut prototype frames from 3mm plywood and all sorts of stuff)

[Terje]

Just waiting for Hobbyking to realize that some parts that were in stock when I ordered them now are out of stock, and remove those items from the order and send the remaining items… I go through this procedure every time I order from Hobbyking it seems. Anybody else have the same experience?

The setup will be:
RCExplorer Tricopter inspired frame, arms, tilt mechanism and battery tray. Custom legs, motor mounts, canopy, FC enclosure, XT60 holder etc…
3x Afro 20A slim ESCs
5v/3A BEC
3x Multistar Elite 2204-2300KV motors
Gemfan 6×3″ composite propellers
X8R FrSky receiver
Flip32+ Flight controller
Turnigy nano-tech 1400mah 3S 40~80C Lipo Pack
TGY-210DMH servo
18AWG wiring
Some lightweight LED lights

Maybe FPV if I can find a place to put the Tx?!?

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[Chris7485]

Hi Terje,

had the same problem once. But hobbyking never realized that one part was on backorder and so I had to wait 30 days till the order was shipped.

Back to topic. Your mini tricopter looks very promising. I´m working on a mini tricopter myself and will upload some CAD pictures when I am at this point. For now its just some drawings and some foam pieces glued together.
Did you use the original sized tricopter V3 body plates?
I´d like to go a little bigger, maybe about 110 – 120% and not that curvy but still no coffin design. My goal is to make the body hollow to put the ESCs down there. Also a normal KK Board should fit above the ESCs without crossing the screws for the arms. Transmitter and FPV Tx are planed to go in the cover.
The next couple of days I will be distracted because of the arrival of the family own CNC Cutter but at the end of next week I should have a printed prototyp.

[Author]

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