14 DAY TRIAL // Flying drones seem to be one of the most fashionable things right now, with them being used for everything from entertainment and photography to surveillance and TV broadcasting. What we have for you today is a new method of making these things.
Admittedly, the method itself isn't a new thing. Instead, what is new is that the technology was finally used for quadcopters for the very first time.
The critter you see in the attached photo gallery is something called a 3D printed, folding, FPV racing quadcopter. Meaning that it's supposed to be used in competitions.
The team of designers that invented the thing has posted a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter, but their design is already final.
In fact, they even got 2014 New Zealand F3C Model Helicopter Aerobatics National Champion, Wayne Ratcliffe, to test it out during its maiden flight.
The 3D printed quadcopter
Called the 3D printed FPV Quad Racer on Kickstarter, it not only has the honor of being the first 3D printed quadcopter, but it can also fold.
More specifically, the motor arms can fold, which allows them to be easily carried and also provides them with a better than average chance at surviving crashes.
Let's face it, no matter how good the remote controlling pilot is, moving craft always are in danger of collisions, especially those intended for races, as is the case here.
The designers used Autodesk Inventor to design the copter, then a Flashforge Creator to 3D print it from PLA plastic, material that is strong and light enough while not posing a risk to the environment (it's biodegradable).
They also made sure that the quadcopter’s parts were interchangeable, not only with replacement printed parts but also with components from other quadcopters. 250 racing class multicopter motors are supported, for example. It will let you customize the drone for different specifications, depending on your piloting skills (more maneuverability, greater speeds, etc.).
The team behind the quadcopter
The one who came up with the idea was aerial photographer and self-proclaimed quadcopter enthusiast Sam Thurtle. Hai Tran is another name you might know, since he is the founder of the largest remote aerial cinematography company in Australia. He contributed the Autodesk Inventor expertise.
The next plan on the list of the designers is an octocopter. Of course, if the Kickstarter campaign doesn't raise enough cash, they might not reach the stage where they can invest time and money into the concept, but $6,000 AUD / $5,242 USD / €4,134 isn't such a big goal. The cheapest kit goes for $40 AUD / $35 USD / €27.55.
