3d Printed Frame for Micro Drone

The idea was to make a small and cheap drone. I encountered a problem: available for sale carbon frames were expensive and plastic frames were heavy. So I decided to make my own frame, which will be light, durable and cheap.

ELECTRONICS:

1. Motors. Because the main goal was to make a small and light drone, I chose the coreless 8520 motors. It can be any 8520 form factor motors, i used black version of this:
https://www.banggood.com/4X-Racerstar-8520-8_5x20...

2. Flight Controller. You can use any flight controller corresponding for these motors.

3. Receiver. It is depend of compatibility with yours RF System. I had got FlySky FS-A8S.

4. FPV system. Smallest video TX and cam which you could fined. Or 3in1 camera, for example, https://www.banggood.com/Eachine-TX06-700TVL-FOV-1...

5. Battery. 1s 500 mAh .

6. In addition, you will need compatible Radio transmitter and Fpv Goggles.

TOOLS:

3d printer,

All for soldering (soldering iron, solder, flux, etc)

rasp,

Hot glue,

Little rubber bands,

tweezers,

cable tie.

For print this frame I used PETg plastic, you can use another plastic, like carbon filled nylon, except PLA, because some parts of drone could heat and melt frame. You can use any print settings except infill, it must be 100%.

Here my tinkercad design

The holes for motors has slightly lower diameter than the motors. I did this to hold the motors at any print settings and different plastics without glue, just push motors in holes and it done.
Because holes slightly smaller use a rasp to increase their diameter. The holes must be of such a diameter that the motor enters tightly and doesn't fall out.
You can also use glue to hold motors, but it can damage their paint.

WARNING

Тhe frame is printed upside down. So you will need overturn it to get flat surface for attaching electronics.

Ectronics can be assembled by many tools. I used litle rubber bands to hold battery, fc and receiver. Other electronics holds on hot glue, except video transmitter because it very hot, I hold it by litle piece of copper wire, you can use cable tie.

Flashing your flight controller needs additional instructions, so I think you will find in internet how to flash and configure flight controller which you will use on firmware which you want. Here link how to flash betaflight: https://oscarliang.com/flash-update-betaflight/ . I use INAV firmware and attached to this page a file with all the settings I used.

So, if configuring done, you can enjoying flight.

Hope, you enjoy my instructable and it was a bit helpful for you. bye!

Frame has low weight (5g) and extremely low price. Its endure few crashes. Maybe my frame is not as strong as a carbon frame but you can always print new one.The drone fly quite good. I think this drone is good choice for newbies which want try FPV flying and have 3d printer.

Hope, you enjoy my instructable and it was a bit helpful for you. bye!