started a new project...its called a tri-copter. some fella named signguy over on the e-zone in the aerial photography section has a build log...its a very good read, if you can get past some of the bickering in ther anyhow i started to mangle up some .250in. birch plywood last nite. the wood is really slippery, and i had it not skew, but skid on me....i took a sheet of fanfold and used some 3-m spray on it. sometime today i will run the mangler on it. i will report back with the results. oh yea, my vacuum cabinet dont cut the mustard on cutting wood. with the mangler, and small cuts, i need to blow or vacuum from the top. i will have to make up something , so i don't have to stand ther and attend. randy.
if anyone cares, here is the link...http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1142429

 

Randy this is going to be an awesome project for sure!.
I really love the way this thing flys and the fact that it is portable is unreal!
Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out
Mark
p.s. Randy moved this here so you have room to grow

 

That's cool.
I like how it folds up.
Looks pretty stable, but I'm sure it would be easy to lose orientation.

 

That's cool. The red arm motor must rotate. Flys like a Fp heli.

 

yea kwok, i had to review the thread a few times, lols. i have center frame cut. i am working on the yaw motor mount now wile i wait on the hardware from Hong Kong....some of the fellas in the e-zone say it takes forever to get thru customs...that will give me leisure time with the rest of the frame. its really kinda simple, not much to them besides the hardware. randy.

 

center section cut from 1/4in. birch ply...with bears mangler...

 

tim i got everything i need, and i have the rest...

SKU Description Qty STATUS
SK-2830-750 TGY AerodriveXp SK Series 28-30 75 3 Reserved
GR302-AD Telebee Head Lock & Standard Gyro 3 Reserved
HK-SS30A-HW Hobbyking SS Series 25-30A ESC (ca 3 Reserved
TR_PC TURNIGY BESC Programming Card 1 Reserved


Shipment International (Registered) Air Mail 501-750g $14.99
Taxes $0.00
Total $169.18


i really should have not spent the money right now....but sometimes i lack self control, lols. randy.

 

kwok, i think it would work, but im not positive. the reason for the telebees gyro's, i guess ther the only ones that will work thru a speed control rite. i have a futaba 401 im gonna use as the yaw gyro, as i already have one. actually i have two...i will give a deal on the spare if needed by anyone. the fella that started the copter post on the e-zone seems like a real nice guy. i would ask him technical questions. randy.

 

Hey Randy! This is really a cool craft...I'll be watching this one for sure.. My ideas as for using foam is that the foam would need a "stringer" or have the foam sandwhiched with some lite ply or using bi-direction / cross grained foam laminated just to add some support.
Just an idea, geeeee I feel like building one..hummmm, do I have parts..
AL

 

The inexpensive gyro is fine for that project. They work well up to a point and that point is way beyond what the project can do IMHO. Unless you plan on flying backwards circuits at 40mph The good the about the cheap gyros is the light weight.

 

the cost of the servos dont have nothin to do with the tri-copter....although people like inexpensive items....i have read two huge threads, and its simple that some gyros, auto-pilot devices will only control servos...and not speed controllers. be warned this is a huge thread...
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=959593

 

got the arms today at lowes...the fella "signguy" in his build thread he used poplar wood ripped on his table saw...as its freezing here in mi, i decited to buy some. i got 5/8 sq poplar strips at lowes for $6 bucks. randy.

 

kwok, i got 3 of these motors...they were a few bucks more. but the specs looked better and they are the same kv. yea that fella and the signguy dude dis a lot of work and testing on the tri-coptor. randy.
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7707&Product_Name=TGY_AerodriveXp_SK_Series_28-30_750Kv_/_245W

 

kwok, i wont know til i get them in my hands. as of now i am planning on cuttin more ply on the phlatty....firewall mounts, and some other ideas....i have a long time to spring....i plan on taking to Toledo if mark and Trish set-up a booth. i have to give them ther sample wing, and i can bring the tri-copter to show off the wood cutting capabilities of the phlatty. randy.

 

i started to install my yaw motor mount.....i used some small dabs of epoxy, and used two zip-ties to secure rather than tape... randy.

 

got the yaw servo on the tri-copter installed today....i have to wait on the motor mounts til i get the motors...next i will cut the 9mm depron top...i am going to cut the gyro pockets so i can get nice gyro axis alignments. also it will help allot on damping vibrations, and should help allot. man i cant believe ther is only one servo on this thing. mark had a excellent idea about making a foam body...that would be real cool. also i have the three into one gyro gain harness soldered up for the telebee's. randy.