3Drony v2.1 - home made 2-inch FPV drone!

prusaprinters

<p>This project was inspired by Jan Olejnik's blog post <a href="https://blog.prusa3d.com/how-to-build-a-3d-printed-micro-drone_29310/">How to build a cool &amp; cheap 3D printed micro drone</a>.</p><p>I decided to design my own frame from scratch because:</p><ul><li>The article was written in 2018 and some parts suggested in the shopping list are difficult/impossible to find today. Alternatives do not fit the 3d-printed frame properly.</li><li>I broke 5 motors before realizing I was using screws too long for the frame!!</li></ul><p>So, here is an alternate parts list:</p><ul><li>For the drone itself:<ul><li>Flight controller: <a href="http://www.happymodel.cn/index.php/2021/08/13/happymodel-elrs-x1-aio-2-4s-flight-controller-built-in-spi-2-4g-elrs-and-12a-esc-for-toothpick/">Happymodel ELRS X1 AIO</a> with onboard 12A ESCs and ELRS RX - <a href="https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005003749609028.html?spm=a2g0o.order_detail.0.0.178d7d56bvbfBD&amp;gatewayAdapt=glo2fra">62.81€ at aliexpress</a></li><li>Motors: 4x 1103 8000kv - I got <a href="https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/4000945850457.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.0.0.1017227e5Dnwph&amp;algo_pvid=2b47f430-9b08-450e-ab74-e871510e369e&amp;algo_exp_id=2b47f430-9b08-450e-ab74-e871510e369e-0&amp;pdp_ext_f=%7B%22sku_id%22%3A%2212000023127849377%22%7D&amp;pdp_npi=2%40dis%21EUR%21%2142.13%21%21%21%21%21%400b0a0ac216534913379022600e39a5%2112000023127849377%21sea">the racestar BR1103B 8000kv for 39.29€</a> but they are not in stock right now, I also tested <a href="https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005003271609275.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.20675e5bTmBlxi&amp;gatewayAdapt=glo2fra">the happymodel EX1103S for 39.14€</a></li><li>Props: <a href="https://www.gemfanhobby.com/show.aspx?id=163&amp;cid=44">Gemfan 2035</a> - <a href="https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/4000147979378.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.20675e5bTmBlxi&amp;gatewayAdapt=glo2fra">~5€ at aliexpress</a></li><li>Battery: Lipo 2S 450mAh Tattu 75C XT30 - <a href="https://www.drone-fpv-racer.com/batterie-lipo-tattu-2s-450mah-75c-xt30-3000.html">9€ at drone-fpv-racer</a>. Note: I don't recommand getting batteries from China, for some reason the delivery delay is much longer than for other components.</li><li>Some scratch tape to mount the battery: <a href="https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B091CNS1ZN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1">here for instance</a></li><li>4x M2x20mm screws + 4x M2 nuts</li></ul></li><li>Mandatory equipment:<ul><li>RC: Jumper T-Pro with integrated ELRS module - <a href="https://www.banggood.com/fr/JumperRC-T-Pro-2_4GHz-16CH-Hall-Sensor-Gimbals-1000mW-ELRS-or-CC2500-or-JP4IN1-Multi-protocol-Remote-Controller-OpenTX-Firmware-Mode2-Radio-Transmitter-for-RC-Drone-p-1920857.html?cur_warehouse=CN&amp;rmmds=search&amp;ID=6317911">94.43€ at banggood</a></li><li>Balance battery charger for 2S batteries</li></ul></li><li>Optional:<ul><li>Camera + VTX combo: <a href="https://www.eachine.com/Eachine-TX06-700TVL-FOV-130-Degree-5_8Ghz-40CH-Smart-Audio-Mini-FPV-Camera-AIO-Transmitter-For-RC-Dr-p-1418.html">Eachine TX06</a> - <a href="https://www.banggood.com/fr/Eachine-TX06-700TVL-FOV-120-Degree-5_8Ghz-48CH-Smart-Audio-Mini-FPV-Camera-Support-Pitmode-AIO-Transmitter-For-RC-Drone-Tiny-Whoop-p-1413572.html?rmmds=myorder&amp;cur_warehouse=CN&amp;ID=44070">14.59€ at banggood</a></li><li>Analog goggles: <a href="https://www.eachine.com/Eachine-EV800DM-Varifocal-5_8G-40CH-Diversity-FPV-Goggles-with-HD-DVR-3-Inch-900+600-Video-Headset-Build-in-2000mAh-Battery-p-1591.html">Eachine EV800DM</a> - <a href="https://www.banggood.com/fr/Eachine-EV800DM-Varifocal-5_8G-40CH-Diversity-FPV-Goggles-with-HD-DVR-3-Inch-900+600-Video-Headset-Build-in-2000mAh-Battery-p-1553838.html?rmmds=myorder&amp;cur_warehouse=CN">85.51€ at banggood</a></li><li>Some protective foam tape to place around the frame: <a href="https://www.amazon.fr/gp/product/B096LPNN32/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&amp;th=1">here</a></li><li>For longer flight time: battery <a href="https://www.drone-fpv-racer.com/batterie-lipo-tattu-2s-650mah-75c-jst-2237.html">2S 650mah XT30</a></li><li>For power mode! battery <a href="https://www.drone-fpv-racer.com/betafpv-lipo-3s-300mah-45c-version-s-2pcs-7065.html">3S 300mah</a> or <a href="https://www.drone-fpv-racer.com/batterie-lipo-tattu-r-line-3s-550mah-95c-xt30-6157.html">3S 550mah</a> + 3S battery charger</li></ul></li></ul><p>Notes about connecting the components together:</p><ul><li>The happymodel motors come with 5mm screws and JST SH 1.25 connectors which fits perfectly with the 3d-printed frame and the flight controller. If you go for the racestar motors, you'll have to solder the wires directly to the flight controller (or make your own JST SH 1.25mm 3-pin connectors: see <a href="https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/1005003137518807.html?spm=a2g0o.order_detail.0.0.7cbf7d56HGVSMr&amp;gatewayAdapt=glo2fra">here</a> and <a href="https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/4001079210189.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.20675e5bTmBlxi&amp;gatewayAdapt=glo2fra">here</a>).</li><li>Connecting the Eachine TX06 to the flight controller is not trivial, especially if you want the OSD (which is highly recommanded): you can either solder the wires to the surface pads of the FC, or you can make your own JST SH 1.0mm 5-pin connector (see <a href="https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/4000805400382.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.20675e5bTmBlxi&amp;gatewayAdapt=glo2fra">here</a> and <a href="https://fr.aliexpress.com/item/4001079210189.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.20675e5bTmBlxi&amp;gatewayAdapt=glo2fra">here</a>)…</li><li>Props work well without screws, but I did loose one once.. you can use M2x7mm screws.</li></ul><p>The drone weighs 86g with the 2S 450mah battery (58g without), and has a thrust of at least 200g according to my tests. With a 3S battery you can expect a much higher thrust.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O65fTE4XLJk">Here is a video</a> I made with the drone!</p><p>I am currently working on v3 of the drone with different (more expensive) gear.</p><p>If you are still reading this :) and you are seriously considering the experience and are new to the FPV world, I highly recommend reading content on <a href="https://oscarliang.com/fpv-drone-guide/">Oscar Liang's website</a></p>