SexieHexie (Hexacopter With 8520 Motors)
by BobbyBalsa in Circuits > Remote Control
874 Views, 1 Favorites, 0 Comments
SexieHexie (Hexacopter With 8520 Motors)
![Plan_to_plane.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FDG/YTNP/KAFNG49V/FDGYTNPKAFNG49V.jpg&filename=Plan_to_plane.JPG)
This project is dedicated to the Belgian artist Panamarenco (link) who passed away december last year . He combined art with technics , especially flying objects . He will be missed ...
The supplies for this Hexa may look a bit strange but we're living special times , all model shops are closed due to the Covid-19 shit ... During the nineties I scratch-built many balsa R/C planes so there's still some WoodStock (:-) ) left . This brings us to the supplies :
Supplies
For the airframe :
- 2mm light aircraft plywood ( we need a 60 by 60mm part )
-3mm plywood or paint mixing sticks for the motor mounts
-Carbon fiber rods , 4.8mm or smaller ( but check for decent stiffness )
-scrap Depron , balsa for battery holder , canopy ...
-lots of imagination and patience , work slowly and carefully :-)
Avionics :
Transmitter and receiver ( I use FlySky I6 and FS-RX2A Pro V1 receiver )
Flight controller board : F3 Evo brushed ( or any 6 motor board )
1S Lipo battery , approx 600mAh (25C or better )
6 8520 1S motors ( 3CW and 3 CCW ) with props (55mm)
Tools :
woodworking tools , dremel , drill , all you can get your hands on :-)
Draw Plans ( or Print Them )
First we need building plans , they will simplify your work as you can build the airframe on them .
I made several drawings as they got dirty during the job . They can be drawn in a couple of minutes , if you use millimetric paper it's much easier :-)
Downloads
Building the Motor Mounts
![voorboren.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FBU/EEP9/K8P70OBO/FBUEEP9K8P70OBO.jpg&filename=voorboren.JPG)
![motormount_af.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FKO/E5GV/K8P70O96/FKOE5GVK8P70O96.jpg&filename=motormount_af.JPG)
![Boren.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FJ1/F4IX/K8P70O6Y/FJ1F4IXK8P70O6Y.jpg&filename=Boren.JPG)
![Borenfull.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F1F/51PJ/K8P70O81/F1F51PJK8P70O81.jpg&filename=Borenfull.JPG)
![motormount16mm.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FU0/7P32/K8P70O8G/FU07P32K8P70O8G.jpg&filename=motormount16mm.JPG)
![motormountdetail.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FUV/6Q7I/K8P70O9W/FUV6Q7IK8P70O9W.jpg&filename=motormountdetail.JPG)
![maten.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FKA/4VPD/K8P70O8B/FKA4VPDK8P70O8B.jpg&filename=maten.JPG)
Mine are made of paint mixing sticks , appox 3mm thick ( and very cheap ) . We pick the best one out of the pack ( verify if it's staight , weight , quality ) and size it to 16mm with a Proxxon circular saw . Sand it , draw a nice line in the middle and mark the holes for drilling with a hand tool .Draw the external lines . Take your artwork to the drill stand , put a 8.5mm drill into the machine and drill all holes ( it's wise to make some extra motor mounts , some holes will be out of center even if you work carefully ).Cut the parts apart with the circular saw if you have one ( borrow one , it'll save you lots of time ) . Sand all parts , carefully try if the motors fit ( they won't , so sand the hole very carefully until the motors fit snugly) .
Et voila , motor mounts : Check !
Building the Baseplate , Mark CF Rod Positions
![BasePlate.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FRL/H10Y/K8P70O65/FRLH10YK8P70O65.jpg&filename=BasePlate.JPG)
Very easy ! Start by cutting a 60 by 60mm plate from 2mm aircraft plywood , cut off the corners (see drawings ) , sand , and put it on top of the building plan . Draw the lines for the CF rods using the lines on the building plan ( I used 4.8mm rods so adjust to the size of your stuff ) and it's done !
Assemble the Frame
![CF_motormounts.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FLB/MHNM/K8P70O84/FLBMHNMK8P70O84.jpg&filename=CF_motormounts.JPG)
![FrameReady.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F44/RG14/K8P70O85/F44RG14K8P70O85.jpg&filename=FrameReady.JPG)
![CF_Baseplate.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FZH/JSSB/K8P70O82/FZHJSSBK8P70O82.jpg&filename=CF_Baseplate.JPG)
![AUW16g.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FFR/8211/K8T2169L/FFR8211K8T2169L.jpg&filename=AUW16g.JPG)
![gewicht.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FAW/OK06/K8T2169M/FAWOK06K8T2169M.jpg&filename=gewicht.JPG)
![versteviging.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F8W/54CX/K8T2169S/F8W54CXK8T2169S.jpg&filename=versteviging.JPG)
Make sure your working surface is completely flat and equal , use a fuselage builder jig or balsa building plank if possible . If you're working on the kitchen table cover it because we'll use glue and we will spill :-)
Put two motor holders on the plan and cut a CF rod . Use Cyano glue ( superglue ) and glue the motor holders to the rod . Put the baseplate on the plan ( put some scrap balsa under it if the motor mounts are 4mm) and line the whole thing up with the plan , glue with Cyano .
Let dry , even superglue needs some time . Now you can assemble all the motor mounts , CF rods to the baseplate with Cyano . Take your time and work precisely , you'll have to adjust the CF rods (cut with a certain angle) to have a good fit .
Six motors will produce a fair amount of vibrations so we need to reinforce the CF-motor mount connection point . This is done by soft balsa strips (3mm thick) glued with white wood glue next to the CF rods . It will add some weight but losing a motor in flight is much worse !
At this point , the AUW ( All Up Weight ) is about 14 grams , quite acceptable .
Congrats , you have made yourself a nice airframe !
Installing the Motors
![motors_installed.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FTE/NUED/KA8Y36Q6/FTENUEDKA8Y36Q6.jpg&filename=motors_installed.JPG)
![triangle.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F8N/0S9A/KA8Y36Q8/F8N0S9AKA8Y36Q8.jpg&filename=triangle.JPG)
![50gram.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F7B/2KZX/KA8Y36Q5/F7B2KZXKA8Y36Q5.jpg&filename=50gram.JPG)
![WrongMotors!.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FCI/CKLL/K8P70ODJ/FCICKLLK8P70ODJ.jpg&filename=WrongMotors!.JPG)
This is an easy job . Because the motor mounts are ( or should be ) almost straight in all axes just put in the motors ( it's a good idea to test them first ) . Make sure to put the motors ( (CW and CCW) in the correct positions . I used a triangular tool to verify my job . If it's all OK fix the motors with a tiny drop of Superglue .
All up weight is now about 50 grams .
Installing Avionics
![Ontvanger.jpeg](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FE8/HFG3/K8P70ODI/FE8HFG3K8P70ODI.jpg&filename=Ontvanger.jpeg)
![Sexie Hexie engine tests](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F15/UPOB/KACI2PE7/F15UPOBKACI2PE7.jpg&filename=Sexie Hexie engine tests)
I had to repair my Flight controller , the step-up converter was dead .
I removed/replaced this part : MT3608 booster
Found lots of info here :-)
Fix your Rx and flight controller to the baseplate with double tape or the sticky things that fix your GoPro to your motorcycle helmet ( I used these 3M things , they are great because they also absorb shocks to the flight controller ) . Make sure the FC is placed in the right direction ( arrow marking on the pcb ) .Take the drawing and F3_EVOmanual and solder the motor wires to the correct motor outputs .
The CW motors are on the left , the CCW on the right if the flight controller is facing forwards .
Take your time and check , check and doublecheck :-) . A short motor connection may ruin the FC ...
If you wish you can also install a buzzer for low batt warnings etc ...
Now it is time for a few tests . I assume the Rx is already bound to the transmitter and the FC has Betaflight 3.1.0 or more recent on board . Here's how I configured my flight controller :Speedy Bee configurator
Configure for X-hexacopter . When configuration is done check motor rotation direction , NO PROPS YET !
Downloads
Prepare for a Test Flight
![BatFix.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FVV/7XOJ/KACI2PL3/FVV7XOJKACI2PL3.jpg&filename=BatFix.JPG)
![DepronLG.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FSJ/20ZT/KACI2PLQ/FSJ20ZTKACI2PLQ.jpg&filename=DepronLG.JPG)
![ReadyForTest.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FR6/0O52/KACI2PLT/FR60O52KACI2PLT.jpg&filename=ReadyForTest.JPG)
Use rubber bands and a few pieces of wire to fix the battery . I made a "testing landing gear" with 6mm depron fixed to the motor mounts . Use UHU POR or the Depron will melt !
Almost done :-)
Here We Go !
![Sexie Hexie airborne !](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/F5H/KGGH/KACI2PH5/F5HKGGHKACI2PH5.jpg&filename=Sexie Hexie airborne !)
Make all necessary preflight checks , install a fresh charged battery and take off ! She flies like a quad but because of the 2 extra motors you should ease on the throttle :-)
When your hands are no longer trembling go for another battery and another battery and ...
Have lots of fun !
If any questions drop me a line , always at your service !
Bob
Modifications , Corrections Etc ...
![LandinGear.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FCF/S5W9/KAFNG49T/FCFS5W9KAFNG49T.jpg&filename=LandinGear.JPG)
![Modif.JPG](/proxy/?url=https://content.instructables.com/FUD/LAFL/KAFNG49U/FUDLAFLKAFNG49U.jpg&filename=Modif.JPG)
Despite the correct diameter of the holes in the motor mounts the CCW motors came loose , seems they are a little thinner than the red CW motors . Solution : reposition the motors , take som wire or wool or whatever and glue it at the underside of the motor mounts with cyano . Replace the depron test LG by one in medium 2,5mm balsa . She made several flights after these mod's , no problems so far !
Stay safe , and most of all : have great Fun !