Printing a Tricopter/Flying Machine
So, ever since a colleage got an original Parrot AR.Drone back in 2010 (and it flew away on its own due to a software error, never to be heard from again - gutted), I have been wanting to build a tricopter of my own. However, with limited resources, this sort of thing does tend to take a while.
In terms of RC planes, as those if you in the know may know already, there are many varieties, ranging from anywhere from a single rotor up to eight individual rotors, and sometimes even more. As far as these go, quadrocopters are generally the most popular.
However, I wanted something unique and interesting. I toyed for a long time on a twin-rotor thrust vectored design, but eventually settled on the idea of a tricopter. However, back in 2010 I did not have the tools required to build one from scratch, and buying one kind of ruins the fun, so the project stopped there.
Plus, I couldn't figure out how to mount the swivelling tail motor.
In any case, 2 years pass, and enter the RepRap Mendel!
The design is an original, though not particularly well thought-out as it is intended to be refined over time (read: fixed when it crashes and breaks).
Here's a video of the first flight (I'm behind the camera - it's being flown by the same colleague who lost his AR.drone):
Pretty awesome! Another video of a more random flight:
Apparently, its power-to-mass ratio is far too high, and it requires significant throttle mapping to make it easier to control...
In any event, here are the parts used:
In terms of RC planes, as those if you in the know may know already, there are many varieties, ranging from anywhere from a single rotor up to eight individual rotors, and sometimes even more. As far as these go, quadrocopters are generally the most popular.
However, I wanted something unique and interesting. I toyed for a long time on a twin-rotor thrust vectored design, but eventually settled on the idea of a tricopter. However, back in 2010 I did not have the tools required to build one from scratch, and buying one kind of ruins the fun, so the project stopped there.
Plus, I couldn't figure out how to mount the swivelling tail motor.
In any case, 2 years pass, and enter the RepRap Mendel!
The design is an original, though not particularly well thought-out as it is intended to be refined over time (read: fixed when it crashes and breaks).
Here's a video of the first flight (I'm behind the camera - it's being flown by the same colleague who lost his AR.drone):
Pretty awesome! Another video of a more random flight:
Apparently, its power-to-mass ratio is far too high, and it requires significant throttle mapping to make it easier to control...
In any event, here are the parts used:
- 3x Dynam KA22-15M motors (1050KV, 18A, 1.3kg thrust)
- 3x Turnigy Basic 25A speed controllers
- 1x Turnigy 9X radio receiver/transmitter combo
- 1x standard battery alarm (that's what's beeping in the first video)
- 1x 624-ZZ bearing for the tail rotor swivel
- 1x Standard Servo (40x20mm face size)
- 1x OpenPilot CopterControl flight control board
- 2650mAh LiPo batteries
- Assorted M3 and M4 screws and nuts
The tail assembly, front arms and body print separately (the Mendel only has a 200x200 build plate size...), and attach using M4 screws. They have proven to withstand quite a beating.
Anyway, if you want the STL files to print your own, this tricopter is featured on Thingiverse. Woot!
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