Catalyst Machineworks SlamNasty HD
By Jayembee67 on Oct 14, 2019
This is all @M490fpv 's fault. So I decided to see whether I too could get a DJI FPV System Air Unit into the SlamNasty 5" frame. And, after a good deal of time in TinkerCAD, and printing a not insignificant number of versions of things, I have indeed got a hovering, HD-transmitting quad squeezed into the SlamNasty. I'll have to wait until next weekend to see if it really flies though, but early signs are positive.
It was an interesting challenge that seems to have worked out quite well. It's a compact little ball of potential energy, and definitely a good looking frame, even though it is now oddly bloated with HD kit. I have hopes...
UPDATE 2019-10-17
I got to sneak out first thing before work and put a couple of packs through this build. And apparently it flies fairly well, although I was still tired, and this is an unfamiliar machine, so I wasn't trying too hard. But all the same, I am pretty sure this is working out just fine.
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I'm almost done with my SlamNasty build and wonder about the top plate. The stock screws are 8mm, the top plate is 2.5mm thick, and the stock 19mm standoffs are recessed 2.45mm down from the top of the 3D printed parts ... did you use longer standoffs or upgrade to longer screws?
I used longer standoffs; you want the solid connection between the top and bottom plates, so the standoffs need to touch both with the bolts cranked down. I used 25mm M3 straight standoffs, that will give you enough height for the TPU Air Unit caddy and leave some space from the top of the stack. You really don't want stuff pressing on the top of the flight controller as that will transmit more vibration and add gyro-noise making the flight less smooth. You can get these sorts of standoffs from Amazon, so it's not a big issue.
I see you use the JST connectors rather than soldering ... have you had any issues? I read some people do not like them and not sure if they come out when you hit things or people are overly paranoid?
Yes, ultimately I am lazy, and my hands aren't as steady as they were, so the JST connectors are absolutely great in that regard - so much less soldering. Plus it keeps things tidier in the stack, and reduces the likelihood of cables trailing across the top of the FC and touching the gyro and such. I am sure that they might be a point of weakness for racing rigs that are slamming into gates on a regular basis, but I'm just a genteel freestyle pilot doing slow, wobbly circles, and I have not had issues with my JST connections. :-)
Really nice work on the design and thanks for sharing. I'll now be building one myself, thanks to you. :)
This thing rips! I think it is faster than my skill level LOL! It's nice to be able to see super clear :)
Full build specs and pics here. https://rotorbuilds.com/build/23425
Oh! Most excellent! I am very flattered. :-D And this looks great, so clean. Please post more photos and the full Bill of Materials! So how do you like it? I absolutely love mine, it's my favourite acro build; I can really throw it around and it takes it all in its stride, and yet it's fast and stable in the straights. The frame geometry is great.
Now that you've had it a good while. Any tweaks/changes you would make? I'm getting the same frame with dji and was going to run the brother hobby avenger 2806.5 1300kv
So no, not really, this is perhaps the best of the HD builds I have done, it flies really well and with an agressive precision. I did print new rear standoff covers that have little lugs that keep the Air Unit MMCX connectors pressed in (see the last photo), which was a good idea, but othere than that, this has worked out really well.
As for 2806 motors, I think those might be a little bit too much, although I have only recently graduated from 4S to 5S so maybe these would be OK with 6S? But usually motors that big are intended for 6" or 7" props on mid-to-long range machines, not 5" racers. Personally I would stick to 2306 or thereabouts, but as I say, I'm not a 6S flyer so I may not know what I am talking about here (which is very often the case).
And as for the various TPU bits and pieces, I posted them to Thingiverse, you can find them here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3919933, If nothing else, you can use them as a basis for your own parts!
this is awesome, great pics. thanks for sharing, ill be doing a similar build with a Floss 2.1
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How are you recording audio?
It's funny, you are not the first person to ask me that; I guess this is not being advertised by DJI very well. But Air Units have a built in microphone and so record both video and audio to the on-board SD card. In some ways they record better audio that top-mounted HD cameras as there is reduced wind noise inside the frame.
I see ... it seems you cannot stream the audio during flight but can record and playback after. ;( ... maybe they're will be an update for this in the future ...
Yes, this is already a fairly loud request from the community, I believe. Personally I have no interest in hearing the shriek of my machine in one ear, but some folks do like it as you can tell if your motors are fluttering or whatever. But you can tell that from the ground too. Still, I'm sure it will come in a f/w release at some stage.
For me it would be handy if I was to fly in the winter while inside my house ... not sure how well crossfire and the DJI video transmit through a house but if they do then the audio could help if you hit something to know if anything is damaged??