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Viewing 15 posts - 16 through 30 (of 464 total)
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  • in reply to: LitterBug's RCExplorer BiCopter build thread #59171
    LitterBug
    Participant

    Did some flight testing today… Not so good. No damage, but seems to behave exactly like my EZbiCopters did with swinging oscillations on the pitch axis. Played a bit with P/I on the pitch axis, but didn’t really seem to be getting anywhere.

    SO… Today I crossed over to the dark side and have put BetaFlight on EZBi #1 with a DTFc FC and am attempting to get that to fly. Looks like everything is configured right and everything moves correctly. Things behave slightly different with the leveling strength being much higher, and there appears to be some back pitch mixed in as you add throttle in the BetaFlight leveling modes too. All ready to test fly it in the back yard, lift off, and the motors stop about a foot off the ground…. Every time…. <sigh> WT#… It’s like it disarms for no reason at all. <sigh> Time for a break… and a bicycle ride….

    in reply to: LitterBug's RCExplorer BiCopter build thread #59168
    LitterBug
    Participant

    Interesting… Thought I had reset my flight modes, but was in acro for pitch rather than leveling. Guess I should have rechecked that before starting. Will also drop P before giving it another test later when the grass has dried out. Too much dew out there this morning.

    in reply to: BiCopter + F3FC + Betaflight #59164
    LitterBug
    Participant

    Thanks @jihlein !!!! That was quick! The Bi mixer is there AND it works with my linux box too. 😀

    Since I wired 1<>2 and 3<>4, I’ll fix that in the resource mapping.

    Cheers!
    LitterBug

    Edit: Then again… EZBi #1 has everything plugged in. Just reversed the plugs… 😀

    in reply to: BiCopter + F3FC + Betaflight #59160
    LitterBug
    Participant

    Arrrrrghhhhh… Bicopter mix is missing from the DTFc on 3.5 as well. I was going to throw it on EZbi #1 for some testing. 3.1.7 keeps going in to DFU mode for some reason. Guess I’ll try my old W7 laptop to see if it does the same thing. If I remember right, it handled BetaFlight better.

    LB

    EDIT: My W7 Laptop DOES work better with BetaFlight 3.1.7 than Linux. Not sure why, but for 3.1.7, the DTFc keeps dropping in to DFU mode on linux.

    in reply to: LitterBug's RCExplorer BiCopter build thread #59157
    LitterBug
    Participant

    Did some quick validation flights in the back yard this morning. Everything moves the correct way when controlled by the sticks and reacts the correct way to outside movements. Lifted off for a brief flight and had Pitch oscillations like I was with the EZ bi. So Need to look at the tune and flight mode config before giving it another go. I may also switch over to BetaFlight today for comparison.
    RCE build Field Test Time!

    Cheers!
    LitterBug

    in reply to: LitterBug's RCExplorer BiCopter build thread #59150
    LitterBug
    Participant

    Well, Good thing I did a bench test first. Had the servos hooked up to the wrong PWMs. Could fix it in the MIX, but would rather do it with the soldering iron. Need to switch PWM 3<>4.

    @Kevin_Erik, I’ll drop you an email with my address. Thank you for the offer for sending test parts!

    On another note, I have to give @david a big thanks on doing a great job designing and sourcing the F3FC Racing and Baby PDBs. The ones I’m using on my RCE BiCopter have been through several lives now and still working great even with some really bad heat soaks while soldering and some pretty nasty crashes and spills. Never had an issue with the solder pads or operation. Build list (Lives) for these two boards:
    1) 2016 HobbyKing Trifecta (frame was weak and couldn’t take any abuse)
    2) 2016 RCE Baby Tri #1 (complete rebuilt Baby Tri #1 in 2017 with all new electronics)
    3) 2017 Misc bench testing
    4) 2018 EzBi
    5) 2018 RCE BiCopter

    Cheers!
    LitterBug

    in reply to: LitterBug's RCExplorer BiCopter build thread #59148
    LitterBug
    Participant

    @Kevin_Eric,
    I may take you up on that eventually. Really need to get my big printer put back together and then would be able to print them myself. It’s been torn apart far too long…. Just need to drill three holes, bolt it all together, and re-calibrate it.

    I’ve got the RCE bi all soldered up and did some quick bench sanity checks. Need to shrink wrap and mount the RX, put the top plates in, and get a piece of HD velcro on the bottom for the battery then it’s maiden time!

    Cheers!
    LitterBug

    in reply to: LitterBug's RCExplorer BiCopter build thread #59144
    LitterBug
    Participant

    Well nuts, the short extensions I have are USB-Micro instead of USB-Mini. D’OH! Fortunately I have a cable that fits perfectly through the back over the upper feather standoff. I’m still updating the posts above as progress is made. I’ll try my hand at getting it going with BetaFlight after getting my initial dRonin flight tests done. Will post my config for that above too. Hope to have it in the air in the next day.

    Cheers!
    LitterBug

    in reply to: LitterBug's RCExplorer BiCopter build thread #59134
    LitterBug
    Participant

    I have a short USB extension cable that could be used if the cable can’t easily be plugged in through the back. Can remove the upper wings when making changes. I’ve thought about mounting the FC normal and cutting a hole in the right plate. There are some new USB/Bluetooth config adapters https://www.readymaderc.com/products/details/speedy-bee-usb-adapter or even UART-> USB telemetry modems. There are options. 😀

    in reply to: Bicopter + dRonin #59131
    LitterBug
    Participant

    If the Sparky2 is an F4 based FC like I think it is, it should be an AWESOME FC to use. I’ve only been using the F3 based DTFc and F3FC Racing FCs on my test EZ Bicopters

    Cheers!
    LitterBug

    in reply to: LitterBug's RCExplorer BiCopter build thread #59130
    LitterBug
    Participant

    Thank you @david for the compliment, a great frame, and for a challenging craft to tune/fly!

    Cheers!
    LitterBug

    in reply to: LitterBug's RCExplorer BiCopter build thread #59121
    LitterBug
    Participant

    Build Specs:
    Frame: RCExplorer Bicopter https://rcexplorer.se/product/bicopter-kit/
    Tilts: RCExplorer
    FC: RCExplorer F3FC Racing https://rcexplorer.se/product/f3fc-racing/
    PDB: RCExplorer Baby PDB https://rcexplorer.se/product/babypdb/
    RX: FrSky R-XSR
    Servos: Turnigy TGY-212DMH
    ESCs: 30A V-Good Firefly (pre BLH_32 but with all the features)
    Motors: SunnySky x2204 kv2300 II
    Props: Strix Talon 5x4x3 ice

    FC Port Wiring:
    UART1: RX SBus
    UART3: RX S.PORT telemetry
    PWM1: Right Motor
    PWM2: Left Motor
    PWM3: Right Servo
    PWM4: Left Servo

    dRonin Firmware config:
    dRonin Hardware
    dRonin Mixer
    dRonin Outputs

    Cheers!
    LitterBug

    in reply to: LitterBug's RCExplorer BiCopter build thread #59120
    LitterBug
    Participant

    reserved 3

    in reply to: LitterBug's RCExplorer BiCopter build thread #59119
    LitterBug
    Participant

    Created a 5mm PDB riser and published it here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3078708. This gives plenty of room for the battery strap below the PDB, and enough room for the wiring and components between the frame panels, cross standoffs, etc. Would probably work a bit shorter too, so I pushed the OpenSCAD file with the .stl if you want to make mods to it. Here’s a picture of a quick test fitting
    RCE build PDB Riser

    Have all my parts transferred over from the EZbicopter at this point. Just need to rewire the servos and ESCs then button it up.
    RCE build PDB Riser

    All the tail feathers are in place, the wires are routed through the side plates, and am ready to solder the ESCs and servos up.
    RCE build Solder-Ready

    Time to bench test time with a smoke-stopper.
    RCE build Bench Test Time!

    Glad I did the bench test. PWM 3<>4 were reversed. D’OH

    Time for some outdoor testing
    RCE build Field Test Time!

    Cheers!
    LitterBug

    in reply to: LitterBug's RCExplorer BiCopter build thread #59118
    LitterBug
    Participant

    The first steps are to get the FC mount prepared with standoffs and the four long screws pointed up through the main plate and around the main tube. The nut end of the screws need to be on this side so they don’t point down and interfere with the lipo mounted below. I’m using rubber bobbins to soft mount the FC much like all my other builds.
    FC mount Detail

    Make sure to center the frame plate on the motor tube before snugging down the hardware (do not overtighten and crush the tube) You now have a nice flat stanley looking man:
    Main Framing

    Before going any further, I’m working on designing and 3D printing a PDB mount so the front battery strap can be mounted below the PDB and not pull on the wires and PDB components. This will also get the PDB up off the conductive carbon plate if someone uses one other than the RCE Baby Pdb that may have conductive traces on the bottom.

    Cheers!
    LitterBug

Viewing 15 posts - 16 through 30 (of 464 total)