Hi all,
I started on the new frame today. This is my progress so far:
I've used 1.5mm carbon fiber weave sheets for the top and bottom plates. I've used 10mmx10mm square CF tubes for the arms (they are 37.5cm long and have a hollowed section to feed my wires through). I've cut a battery tray out of 1mm CF, i've also got various bits of 1.5mm and 1mm small bits to fix the tray to the frame.
On a plus the temp was only in the mid 20's so a good day to be donned up in a P2 mask.
I'm a bit annoyed at myself, I have some play in the tail boom due to a maths stuff up..... I added .5mm to each side, when I should have added half of that to each side...... Oh well I'll put in a CF brace to fix it up tomorrow.
It's feeling much lighter than my plywood frame, overall I'm pretty happy with it. I've got a hole for the Pixhawk safety switch and holes for the GPS mount.
Tomorrow I will do my last couple of dremel cuts, and do the required bits in FR4 (mount for FPV Tx and Telemetry Radio). I'm thinking of still using my wooden posts for the landing gear, they just seem to work and they are easy to replace if I break any. I'll paint them black though. I'd like to also get all the electronics and motors, etc mounted tomorrow. That way I can hopefully do a maiden flight on the new frame and pixhawk on Wednesday or Thursday.
Its not that much harder to work with when you use tungsten carbide bits. Most of the cutting was done with the jigsaw and my drill press did a great job with the drilling.
Chris