RunRyder RC Helicopter Topic - Making custom main frames

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Main Discussion > Making custom main frames

AgentOrange
Veteran
Location: Jacksonville, Florida, Duval

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I just have a question for you guys. I have a vibe 50 and i want to make custom frames out carbon fiber for it. I know that i can order premade frame sets but i can order carbon sheet stock for half the price and i can get it thicker and stronger then the premade ones. I was planning on useing the stock frame set as a template. I just wanted to know if you think it would be worth it to try or not, I think that it would be cool to at least try.

Look its the rookie, everyone run and hide

06-23-2009 11:26 PM

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TaleGunner
Elite Veteran
Location: Deer Park WA

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Many people have done this for electric conversions and gasser conversions read through some of those threads and I'm sure you find some great info.

CRASH! GLUE! REPEAT!

06-23-2009 11:35 PM

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LONEWOLF2440
Elite Veteran
Location: MYRTLE BEACH S.C

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Id give it a try might turn out good

TREX 700 8717,S OUTRAGE 50 JR 9303 2.4

06-23-2009 11:43 PM

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AgentOrange
Veteran
Location: Jacksonville, Florida, Duval

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i am going to i just have to get the carbon sheets here.

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06-23-2009 11:53 PM

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LONEWOLF2440
Elite Veteran
Location: MYRTLE BEACH S.C

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Let me know how it turns out

TREX 700 8717,S OUTRAGE 50 JR 9303 2.4

06-24-2009 12:02 AM

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cgbole
Key Veteran
Location: tulsa ok

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I've done this several times.. Really cool to have a one of a kind...
check it out...

chuck

Magnito Chuck
ThunderPower
Esprit Model Flight Team
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E T-700

06-24-2009 12:26 AM

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AgentOrange
Veteran
Location: Jacksonville, Florida, Duval

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hey cgbole what did you use to cut it with? that frame you made looks sweet in going to do about the same thing. Im not worried about weight as i dont do alot of hard 3d im looking for more rigidity and strength as for some odd reason gravity loves my helis but they dont like it very much you know? what is the width that you used for the N9E frames.

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06-24-2009 01:02 AM

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cgbole
Key Veteran
Location: tulsa ok

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Hey thanks.. Those were cut out by a buddy of mine that works in a cabinet shop. Used a CNC Router.. Great big ole sucker that will handle a full 4' x 8' sheet of material.. The original ones i cut out, were cut on a drill press and by hand with a dremel tool...

Warning!!! Do not breathe the carbon dust!!!
chuck

Magnito Chuck
ThunderPower
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06-24-2009 01:18 AM

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AgentOrange
Veteran
Location: Jacksonville, Florida, Duval

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thanks for the warning. dont have a drill press so everything is going to be done by hand.

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06-24-2009 01:36 AM

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TheWoodCrafter
Senior Heliman
Location: Hesperia, Ca.

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Man oh man!! cutting by hand is going to be a JOB.
I would think it not worth the trouble but that is me and I have a CNC router.
See if you can find a hobbiest with a CNC near you that is looking for a challenge.

06-24-2009 03:52 AM

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cgbole
Key Veteran
Location: tulsa ok

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Yes it is and was a challenge.. Don't know if i'd do it again...
(cut it out by hand)
chuck

Magnito Chuck
ThunderPower
Esprit Model Flight Team
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06-24-2009 03:57 AM

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chopper_crazy
Elite Veteran
Location: Delphos, Ohio

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I always thought it would be neat to try and make a frame set. I am interested on what you guys think. Good luck

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06-24-2009 04:03 AM

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RappyTappy
rrProfessor
Location: Las Vegas, NV

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I've cut out G10 frames by hand before, I wouldn't attempt to make a carbon frame by hand though. I use a drill press to set the holes and then dremel to cut out. Once I got it down, I could cut a frame side in about 30 mins or less. When they only cost $5 a side versus $30+ a side, the work was worth it to me.

Frames I cut. The Rex 500 frames were absolute cake and saved about $37 over G10 and a whopping $60 over carbon. The frames proved to be more durable than the Align G10 and carbon as well.

Chris
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06-24-2009 04:34 AM

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cgbole
Key Veteran
Location: tulsa ok

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So where do you get your G 10 at?
chuck

Magnito Chuck
ThunderPower
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06-24-2009 04:37 AM

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f penfold
Key Veteran
Location: uk

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you can use a laminate trimmer with a bearing straight cutter for all the out side edges and put a Colet on the trimmer for all the larger holes then a drill for all the small holes . or you could use a speed bit to get the larger holes. but like some one said don't breath the dust.You will have to make a template out of wood or mdf for this method to work but once done you can make as many as you want easy.

I know I used lock tight why did my head explode

06-24-2009 08:53 AM

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GMPheli
Key Veteran
Location: W. Bridgewater, MA USA

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If you are duplicating frames the way I have done it in the past is of course use the existing frame for a template for the holes, but then bolt the existing frame to your rough cut frame piece with some spacers. Put your cutting bit in the drill press, and set the height so the cutter will cut on the rough frame, but the shank of the bit (that won't cut) will hit the real frame. Now just cut away!!! It works real good.

06-24-2009 12:00 PM

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AgentOrange
Veteran
Location: Jacksonville, Florida, Duval

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I dont have a drill press at all. I have a dremel tool, and 90 degree die grinder hand held with sanding disks and an air powered drill and electric drill. going to see if thats going to work. im a metalsmith for real helicopters so im going to use that know how and apply it to this and see if it works out if not no big deal at least i tryed.

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06-24-2009 12:10 PM

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copperclad
Elite Veteran
Location: NY

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Hi
one thing you will find out is that high speed steel bits will not work on carbon fiber , you will need carbide drills and router bits , HTH

06-24-2009 12:28 PM

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laughingstill
Elite Veteran
Location: Gainesville, Fl, USA

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Anybody know of a good place to buy the CF sheets? I would like to do my Vibe in CF but I don't know what thickness to go with

Any ideas? Thanks.......Ron

Esprit Model Flight Team, Logo 600 VBAR Xera 4030, Logo 500 Mini-VBAR Xera 4020, 3DMP-E VBAR soon!

06-24-2009 12:54 PM

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heli_madken
Senior Heliman
Location: Liverpool, England

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Ive made lots of frames myself using this system, although admittedly you will need a flatbed scanner and a CAD programme which you can generally get shareware -

1. Scan the frame at 100% and save as a JPG file
2. Import the JPG into the CAD programme
3. Take a baseline measurement of the original frame, eg distance between two mounting holes.
4. Scale the imported JPG drawing to the same dimension
5. Draw over the frame plus circles for mounting points
6. Change the design of the frame if you wish
7. Print out full scale
8. Use 3M Spray Mount to fix the paper copy to your carbon sheet
9. Cut out with dremel and heavy duty cut off wheels (its worth buying a flexible drive, makes it easier) use a vacuum cleaner nozzle held close to cutting to avoid any of the quite nasty dust getting everywhere including your lungs!
10. Tape frames together to drill out mounting points using a carbide tipped drill (this way the holes will be accurate from frame to frame)
11. Trim edges with files
12. Remove paper from carbon and clean using turps or similar.

Using this method I have drawn the original frames of a Trex 600E -

Then altered for a tandem project I am working on -

You can see lots of frames I have made in my gallery

06-24-2009 01:01 PM

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