3D Printed Quadcopter
For this project, I wanted to design and print a quadcopter with features that couldn't be manufactured by any method other than 3d printing.
Electronics Mock Up.
The first step was to mock up the electronics. I used a piece of lexan to lay out the wiring and assemble all of the electronic components that would be used on this build.
Fuselage Design and Engineering.
After I laid out the electronics, I made 3d models of all of the components and began arranging them out in a rough 3d model of a quadcopter. I gradually added all of the components and modified the quadcopter as needed to get them to fit.
Test Fitting Components.
I created several partial prints to verify component fit up without spending g too much time printing the whole quadcopter. As I found fitment issues, I revised the model and reprinted.
Final Prints.
Once all the electronics were fitted in small partial prints, I began printing g the full components. There were 7 pieces total, 4 motor arms, the fuselage, lid, and camera gimbal.
Final Assembly.
After the prints were sanded smooth, I assembled all of the electronics in the fuselage. Once the electronics were assembled, I configured the flight controller, added propellers, and it was ready for a test flight.
Ready for Flight.
The last step is to charge you batteries and go outside for a flight. Depending on the flight behavior, your quadcopter's flight controller may need to be adjusted according to the user manual.