DJI NAZA Build - Part 2 - Soldering Preparations

During the build of the hexa, soldering knowledge would come in handy. However for me I haven't done any soldering and this was the first time that I'm doing it, and I have to learn it because this is a DIY hexa. 

We'll seeing my dad when I was kid doing his electronics activities made me think that this is just a simple task we'll I was wrong. With some few trial and errors I already made my first solder. For the build there is a need to create a deans connection for the power connector to the LiPO, the cable we're already part of the kit. Below is my first ever solder.

Then now the second solder, please keep in mind to have a shrink tube available because this is needed to protect the electric cables from scratches. I have to solder the cable I made from above to the hexa body, as seen below. I think this is a good set-up instead of the other hexa kit where power distribution is through electric wires, so this limits the nasty spaghetti cables around the kit.

Don't forget RED is positive and BLACK is negative, you'll have to do this for the other cables from the ESC's.

So now the power is complete and the ESC's are already soldered to the body, so the next step is to prepare the Flight Controller or FC. I bought a NAZA, because I have seen alot of youtube videos that shows how stable the flight of a multi-rotor. Hopefully I can try-out their GPS upgrade and according to their website it's already available.

Below is the kit from NAZA, the main FC Red color and a USB link as well as cables to connect it to the controller. The black one (VSEN) is the one that you use to connect the FC to the computer via USB so that you can manipulate its settings. Also, this has an LED that can identify the status of the aircraft. This is really handy especially when I fly my hexa and the battery is low so I have to land it.

I'm using a JR XG8 transmitter and below is the RG831B receiver.

There's a need to attach the FC to the receiver shown below. Check the correct assignments via the users manual. The only problem that I encountered here is that the connection cables are a little bit bit in which I have to cut a smaller portion so that it can connect to the receiver.

Don't forget the orientation of the NAZA, the M1, M2... cable input should be facing forward. This should able be placed in the middle part of the hexa's body.

As a new RC hobbyist, I had a hard time understanding the binding process, but thank god for youtube I got to understand it. 

Binding is the process in which the transmitter will recognize / bind with the identified receiver. You have to plug in the binding plug as shown below on the BIND socket. I'll discuss the binding process on a separate blog because as a newbie, I didn't knew how will my transmitter talk to the receiver.

There are alot of things that should be prepared for the build and it's really quite interesting to know and understand the complexity of an aircraft. Follow me on my next blog as I try to discuss the other build process. 

DJI NAZA Build - Part 1 - Unboxing

Getting ready for the Hexa Build.

This is really a very meticulous build. As from what I have searched from the web it's going to take 24hours for the build, however as a newbie it might take more. So here's part 1 - unboxing the DJI F550.

Below is the box kit, that contains the F550 frame, 6 motors, 6 ESC's opto 30A, 8pcs 10inch rotors, 8pcs 8inch rotors, screws (a lot of them), and other things that you'll be using to connect everything.

The packaging is superb. All items are grouped together and are properly labeled. 

So before doing anything, first you have to download their user's manual. Take note that a CD nor any paper documentation came with the box. I think their lowering down the cost of production that's why these were not included. But for me, it's not a problem, the lower the price the better.

You can download the manual on their site: 

http://download.dji-innovations.com/downloads/flamewheel/en/f550_user_manual_v1.3_en.pdf

Once you have downloaded the manual, be sure to read it or at least browse through it to atleast give you an overview on how tedious the work will be (basing it on my own standards).

Go to the assembly page (page 6) of the manual and from there you can almost assemble everything.

As a pre-caution DO-NOT assemble the rotors to the motors. You can initially place a masking tape to check if the rotors are turning clockwise or counter-clockwise. Also, during calibration rotors should be removed. Only when you are ready to fly, that should be the time that the rotors be assembled.

Here I have attached the motor to each of the arms. Please remember that the RED arms will serve as the front of your aircraft.

That's it for now, will post the succeeding build process in my next blog. 

Unboxing the GoPro Hero 2 HD

Just got the GoPro Hero 2 HD last saturday at ROX BGC, quite excited to see how this little wonder of a camera works. Based on the blogs, sites and forums that I saw and a recommendation from a videographer friend of mine, this is one tiny gear that will unleash your creativity.

I'm doing this in preparation for the first outdoor flight of the hexa this weekend. We're heading of to the beach and preparations are underway for the my first aerial photo / video.

Unboxing this little wonder was a breeze. The box was really nice, and represents how much technology can really fit into a tiny package.

Once you open the box, the user's manual can be seen.

Then other gadgets follows. I got the motorsport edition so it is inclusive of a USB cable, battery, extra back open that is open, 3 gopro stickers, 5 camera mounts, 1 suction camera mount and 2 angled arms.

The presentation and components are really neat.

Hopefully I can calibrate and have a test flight of the hexa as soon as possible so that I can mount this cool gear to it. Can't wait for the aerial shots. Will post them on my next blog, including the hexa build.

NEWBIE Hexacopter Build

After weeks of review, research and more web search, I bought a DJI Flamewheel 550. It's a hexacopter that is almost ready to fly. We'll I'm currently preparing all the necessary items for the build and it seems that it is not literally "almost ready to fly". There are alot of things that needs to be purchased, and I'm very much thankful that most of the electrical stuff needed for the "build" are readily available in the nearby hardware stores such as wilcon depot and ace hardware.

As an RC newbie, (this is literally my first time to have an RC), I found out during my build process that there's no detailed procedural description on how to build the aircraft. So on my future blogs I'll post the step-by-step tasks for the hexacopter in my future blogs, but for now here's the run-down of the list of components that I have.

Frame: DJI F550 Hexacopter
Motor: DJI 2212 / 920KV
ESC: DJI ESC Opto 30A 3S-4S
Controller: DJI NAZA
TX: JR XG8 DMSS
RX: JR RG813B
Battery: Aplus 3S1P 3000mah 20C and Tiger 3S1P 11mah 25C
Charger: IMax B6 Balancer 1S to 6S
Camera Mount: Alware 3Axis FB V2
Servo: Align DS410M Digital Servo
Camera: GoPro Hero2 HD
AV TX & RX: FPVRT 1.2G 800mW

Other things needed for the build:
a. Soldering Iron
b. Shrink tube
c. Scissor, blade, screw driver etc.
d. a lot of Patience

Also, there are several jargons (acronyms) that are way beyond my comprehension during my first build so I'll be creating a short description on these in the future. I hope that my blogs can help "first time multi-rotor builders".