trust

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3D printed eVTOL Hellaplanes
« on: January 09, 2024, 08:00:13 pm »
It's been more than 5 years now of designing and building various versions of our eVTOL designs, all using Librepilot to fly.
Since last summer, we've designed and 3D printed 8 different planes, all in PLA. ALthough not as resistant to damage as the carbon fiber and foam versions we've been building up to now, the 3D printed ones are surprisingly lighter and more agile. The wings are mostly 1 layer (0.4mm) thick skin, but in some places reinforced with a double layer in the leading edge. The flight power board has been updated to use 8 wire JST SH cables, which simplifies hookup and increases reliability. They all have two regulators, one for the rcvr and flight controller, the other for servos. Not all the planes are 3D printed, there are carbon fiber spars in the wings and fiberglass rods in the landing gear. One of the beauties of 3D printing is the low cost (it runs less than $10 in PLA to print a plane - power for the printers is solar so its free), and although it takes about a printer-week to print one, replacing damaged parts is generally easy and quick. 3D printing changed my whole method of designing and building - now often I'll just print a part to test when new ideas come up. And when semi-major changes come - we just make a whole new plane! Also takes pressure off in test flying - if we break it, just print replacement parts or a new plane! PLA is not the best for this - a very hot day in the car will soften it, but as we dont usually get those kind of days here, and just taking a little care, its worth it for the low cost. We'll build some in PETG later.

trust

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Re: 3D printed eVTOL Hellaplanes
« Reply #1 on: January 09, 2024, 08:06:54 pm »
Some pix of Mini1 and MiniM24 - Mini1 is based on Chris Cornbill's versions of the Hellplane - these have spring based wing swing actuation, and can go from slightly negative to full horizontal mode. I have to admit these are the most fun versions to fly! Mini1 is not the most efficient, but can do some crazy aerobatics! MiniM24 uses the M24 version of wings, which are more efficient.
« Last Edit: January 09, 2024, 08:15:08 pm by trust »

trust

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Re: 3D printed eVTOL Hellaplanes
« Reply #2 on: January 09, 2024, 08:07:43 pm »
Flite board 2

trust

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Re: 3D printed eVTOL Hellaplanes
« Reply #3 on: January 09, 2024, 08:08:55 pm »
Racer 1 - the lightest and fastest of the 3D pritned Hellaplanes - fully retracting "landing gear".

trust

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Re: 3D printed eVTOL Hellaplanes
« Reply #4 on: January 09, 2024, 08:11:04 pm »
M24 - the design based on the best performing Hellaplane, in terms of flight hours.