DIY design & build of a foldable 300 class quadcopter (9" props)

For sure a Nice build, congrats. Something I actually wanted to have for a long time.
BUT 30 mins flight time…no way.
Not with those motors and props.
You’ll get 18-20 mins max.
But seeing is believing.
When you get a chance, please post your best flights times and battery config.

I have to concur on that. 9 inch props. 20 mins seems more realistic. And honestly that is pretty good though. Be very happy with that.

Nice one Hugues! By the way, I’m on here now =)

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Hello! Very impressed by this design. Would be glad if you could share the list of components and some drawings.
Enjoy it!
Guillaume

Hello,
Sorry I did not answer questions sooner, I was gone on holidays.

There was a question about selling kits : I did not intend to sell kits. The design is so simple, people could copy it for very cheap : buy a 20x20 CF rectangular tube at hobbyking, 16mm CF tubes for the arms, and CF plates (or CF/balsa plates) for the four body plates, standard 16mm clamps.

There was a question about the motor/ESC/prop config : T motor MN2213 950Kv, Hobbyking Afro slim 20A ESCs, T-Motor 9x4.5 plastic props.

There was a question on why not using solid CF plates : they are two times heavier than balsa/CF sandwiches.

There was a question on endurance. I did not finish all field test measurements but here’s my current results:
-measured 33 min on Lipo 3S 5200 Mah, without a payload and without landing gear
-measured 21 min on LiPo 4S 6600 Mah with the gimbal attached and with a landing gear (full load). 4S is required on full load instead of 3S to be able to produce enough thrust per motor, due to weight increase.

I still have to test in the field a 4S3P LiIon battery pack that should theoritically give more than 30 minutes fully loaded (calculation based on the measured total current consumption when fully loaded), as confirmed theoritically by the following graph, with a 5A discharge current per parallel line of cells (15A total ship consumption to loiter):

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Hi Hugues,

nice build!!!

I fully support your flight time numbers. My new build with 9.5" props and with 200g payload has a flight time of 36min (auto survey mission) . However, I am wondering about your 3S and 4S comparison, because I was using a 4S LiPo for that flight time.
I am also wondering about the 15A total ship consumption you mention. My build draws about 8A to 10A in average and I thought your build should consume less. But, I calibrated the sensor a while back and I am normally working with larger hexa copter, so I have to double check.
What is the weight of your gimbal and the Gopro together? Also, what is the weight of your 4S3P LiIon battery pack?

Cheers,
Thorsten

Hello Thorsten,

Sorry for a late reply,
About my amps consumption, I might have to recalibrate MP for my sensor. It would be a good news if I over estimated by 5 amps !
The weight of the gimbal (ZTiny2) is about 200 grams. The weight of my YI 4K (Gopro clone) camera is same as a Gopro.
The weight of a 4S3P pack is about 600 grams (using the Panasonic 18650 GA cells)
Cheers

Hugues,

thanks for the reply!
I am still a little confused about your “21 min on LiPo 4S 6600 Mah”. It should be (much) more. The weight of your 4S3P is less compared to the LiPo I’m using, but heavier than I expected. So what the the weight of the quad including landing gear, but without battery, gimbal and camera?

Cheers,
Thorsten

Hi Thorsten

Weight of the quad , without gimbal, without battery is 850 grams (including landing gear)

I have to say my 4S 6600 battery is kind of old so maybe lost a bit its capacity maybe ?

I ordered fresh and new Sanyo 18650GA cells to assemble a 4S3P pack and see what is going to be the flight time. Still waiting for delivery…

Cheers,
Hugues

Hi,
can you please provide the motor to motor dimensions of this build? I would like to make one !

Motor to motor is a 300 mm square

Hello dear friend
I built a handheld radio control with Telemetry…
I got into trouble now.
can you help me ?
Thanks for you help me…

Please describe your problem ?

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My Speed controls for T Motors…
When I Calibrated speed controls with handheld radio control , After that time When I get the Quad copper battery or turn off the radio control The calibration that I got it will be ruined…
Where do you think the problem is?
Thanks for your attention…

Is this your home build radio TX ?
How do you calibrate your ESCs (describe your procedure step by step) ?

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Yes that’s right…
I made it at home…Sorry how

:grinning:

Sorry,I got the film calibrated…
it is possible,Send for you calibration movie… In your opinion ,The movie is no better explanation?
I tried everything ,I could not send the movie here
Sorry,it is possible send me email or ID telegram for sending movie?

:grinning::pray::pray::pray: