Wednesday, August 26, 2015

ShenDrone Tweaker 180 Build

This is my first iteration of the Tweaker 180



After see all the hype over the smaller 150-180mm sized frames I started doing my research as I felt I "needed" one. After doing a fair bit of googling and forum surfing I decided on a ShenDrone 180mm Tweaker.

I reached out to Andy Shen and asked about international shipping. Andy was really good and got me a good deal and the purchase was made.

Thank Andy for going the extra mile with the customer service, considering how popular and busy you must have been.

So this is the current plan.

Tweaker 180 frame (4mm for future proofing)
DragonFly 1306 3100kv motors / DYS1306 3100kvs
GM4045 - 4045BM
1000-1500 3s lipos

FPV
RCTimer ELGAE 32Channel VTX Camera combo
http://www.rctimer.com/product-1317.html

Thats pretty straight forward, And should be a heap of fun considering I am still a learner FPV flyer.

The next part was what to use for ESCs, I didn't really have any "spare" small ESCs, So I reluctantly decide to strip my Raven 234mm acro frame and use the ESC and Naze32 combo from there.

Raven Build here http://www.bluefish.net.nz/2015/08/freebirdrc-raven-234-update.html

I wanted to rebuild and use different ESCs on that acro frame anyway .... I will keep telling myself that anyway.

This first build will also have DYS1806s as I had them spare until I get my 1306s, I really could not wait and wanted to get it airborne.

As you can see the frame is small even against the 234mm Raven acro frame. I was wondering how I was going to fit everything in.

First stage was to strip down the Raven


 All parts extracted



I test fitted the 4-1ESC and the Naze32 Deluxe.



I used blue standoffs ... just to be different from the gold, I test fitted some of the spare 1806s


The compact nature of the ESC and the stackable 3D printed plates makes for a very low profile. But that even looks big in the 180.




All 4 motors on and a test fit with 4045s


Next I designed a rear XT60 and light bumper that slides over the standoffs, and printed it off in ABS.


The XT60 snaps in and then I will just hot glue it in place.


Next up was the Camera mount and cables, I also designed a 20degree camera mount for the RCTimer camera from the cheap combo that I got (refer parts list above). I then made a custom cable so I could easily swap the camera if required. I just used a servo extender cable and cut it to length and solder on the camera plug.


Already to go. The camera mount uses a rubber band just to hold the camera in a crash. Its a snug fit in the case, so just a secondary precaution. 


Next was the other half of the cable from the VTX to the camera and power. Same process, the other half of the servo cable was used and soldered up.


Here is the VTV & camera all mounted. I wanted it all to be part of the top plate so it was easy to remove all and do maintenance if required. And I swap this around a lot so like everything modular.



Next up was so re-solder the XT60 on with some additional power leads, One for the VTX and the other for the rear LEDs that go on the light-bar.





Top plate all finished including the JST for power. The ET200 was covered in heat shrink and I used a  right angle RP-SMA connector up through the top plate to help protect the VTX in crashes. The VTX was zip tied in place.



All wired up ready to go





Look how big the Clover leaf antenna looks compared to the frame.



I also printed up some feet to protect the frame as I fly over tarmac a lot and want to protect this beautiful frame.


Next Steps

Flying and tuning, but Im not going to get to carried away until I have my 1306s

3D Files.

Here is the link to the 3D file for the rear bumper and the camera mount.