My first build log on RCindia  
I was looking forward to build a pentarotor(Don't know if it would be correct to call it like that  ) but could never proceed with it because of the time not favouring it, exams and stuff. But as now I am free i can concentrate on building the beast!

Planing to build something like this:



Things that I am going to use for this build:
1) D2836 Turnigy Aerodrive 1100 KV motor
2) F-30A ESC w/t SimonK(For flashing the ESCs please see http://www.rcindia.org/self-designed-diy-and-college-projects/flashing-esc-with-arduino/)
3) KK 2.1.5 or a DIY MultiWii Board(with Baro, Mag, Accl and Gyro)
4) Gens Ace 3300 mAh 25C battery
5) Futaba S3003 Servo(for tilt)



DAY 1:
Decided to go with the tilt mechanism build





 

Testing the tilt mechanism! Successful!

first image belongs to Flitetest!!
Btw nice built

Yes it does! It was a image to show ppl what i was aiming at! 

Nice Images.
Regards,
Aman.

DAY2:
Decided to build the FC...if i get time I'll try to write my own FC code using complementary filter
Here are few pics of the DIY FC

Cool! It is awesome that you are building your own flight controller! Perhaps you could could start another thread on building it and setting it up. I would certainly be interested since I am planning to build my own FCB too. BTW, which sensors are you using?

Very good 

Thank you SK and anilntny!
@SK: I am using MPU-6050(Gyro+Accl), BMP 085(altitude sensor) and HMC 5883L(Magnetometer) on the board. For now it is going to run on the MultiWii Firmware.  

But multiwii firmware doesn't have a 5 rotor option
Has Y6 and Y4
Can you tell which are you going to flash with?

Darshan did you read the heading? Tricopter on Steroids 
The MultiWii is going to be in the tricopter mode only the signal wires to the escs will be shared by the two motors. The FC knows there are only 3 motors to care about but its unaware of the signals being Y'ed to the other two motors.
Advantages of this setup will be greater lifting capacity(near about a Hexacopter) more aggressive Rudder control and greater redundancy of the copter compared to the normal Tricopter. if one or two of the front motors fail the copter will still fly but yes if the tail motor stops then CRASH is inevitable!
How this answers your query!

Sub'd 

Clever. .. nice. I am  following

DAY3: couldn't proceed much with the build and heavy rain delaying my consignment . Did some testing of the tilt mechanism and started writing a code to control the RGB leds depending on the inputs from the Tx.

DAY4:
Bought aluminium for the booms


All motors zip-tied


Mocking up the setup



A pic of the RGB light setup for the copter. The RGB lights react to the changes in the stick inputs..Like when the throttle is idle Green colour is lit and as the throttle increases the colour slowly undergoes a transition from Green to purple to Red. More update coming up on the lighting part!


The center plate is being made from FRC copper clad board. However there would be some delay in making the center plate as I broke all my cutting disc   ! However Arun Sir and asupan Sir have been kind enough to offer me few cutting discs for free! Thank you very much for the kind gesture! Few other people (ahmed,RCNeil and sandeepm Sir) have also tried to help me by telling me the location from where i could procure those in Mumbai. Thank you so much! But the heavy rains are just not permitting!

DAY5:
Was happy to find one Cutting Disc lying unattended.
The center plate was cut down from FRC sheet. Was quite lucky as the Disc broke as soon as I made the last cut for the center plate!
Test fitted the tail boom onto the center plate!
Here are some pics 
Stay tuned for more updates!

DAY6: Drilled holes in the FC plate and Aluminium booms
The Tricopter config:


After giving it steroids!

Nice build. Are the two front props overlapping each other. If they are, may cause problems (last picture above)

Thank you very much Ashok Sir!
Sir the last photo was just a mock setup of the configuration. I am going to mount the side motor upside down and even make a landing gear so that the props are well clear of the ground!  

Great going  Why not paint them matte black ,just a suggestion

DAY7:
Designed the FC on Eagle CAD. Here are some pics
The FC is based on the MultiWii Design. If anyone needs the Eagle Files please feel free to pm me for it  

Also added the electronics and used a double-sided copper clad board for the power distribution.


The Copter now weighs 1.3kg with the motors, ESCs and Battery.

Great going
... By the way what's the material used for the center plate? FRC ... ?

Yes its FRC