Total time: 28h

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June 13th: Started researching

Started reading through Drone Nodes's how to build a drone page and researching what components to use.

Total time spent: 2h

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June 13th pt2: Picked the main specifications (start of the frame)

This took way to much searching around but i think i've decided on the parts to use. (may be tweaked slightly)

• Class: 3.5-inch
• Frame size: 160mm
• Stack: 60$ - SpeedyBee F405 Mini BLS 35A 20x20 Stack
• VTX + Camera: 31.3$ - Eachine TX06 700TVL
• VTX Antenna: 15.94$ -Speedy Bee 5.8 GHz Antenna V2
• Motors: 26.5$ - Sparkhobby 1507 2700KV Brushless Motor
• ELRS Receiver: 10$ - ELRS Nano Receiver
• Props: 8$ Gemfan 3525

Total: 151.74$

Also made the overall CAD layout for the frame :D

Total time spent: 6h

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June 14th: Alot more CAD, repicked some stuff

After researching more turns out the other part wouldn't work so I picked something else.

• Camera: 16$ - CADDXFPV Ant Lite Analog Camera
• VTX: 35$ - HappyModel OVX303

Total: 154,5$

Also did more work on the frame:

Total time spent: 2h

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June 14th pt2: Middle and top part

Remade the middle sketch because i used the wrong origin and it was off by about 0.01mm D:

Started working on the top part mounts.

Needed standoffs and switched to the camera version with actual mount spots D:

• Standoffs: 2.8$ - 20 mm Aluminum standoffs
• Camera: 18$ - CADDXFPV Ant Analog Camera

Total: 159,3$

Also made the near final version of the main body and made a WIP top part.

Total time spent: 5-6h

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June 14th pt3: 3D model + finished top

Finished the top by adding all of the standoff and velcro holes.

Found some placeholder models for the camera and motors + props.

Also thinking about a lolipop antenna:

• VTX Antenna: 5$ - Mini RHCP 5,8G Lollipop 4 antenna (Purple UFL Upgrade)

Total: 159,3$ - 164,3$

Added some space for the VTX antenna:

Total time spent: 2h

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June 15th: Finishing touches

Random list of stuff I might/will need so i don't forget it:

• Heat‑shrink
• 4S Battery pack
• Battery strap
• Threadlocker
• Buzzer
• Zip-ties

Made some TPU softmounts and corners and added some space at the front for the camera. Also smoothed out some rought corners and edges.

Total time spent: 2-3h

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June 16th: Changed some stuff again

Found a cheaper and better VTX for the quad (along with a bunch of better parts for slightly more)

• VTX: 24$ - HGLRC Zeus nano VTX (just better and cheaper)
• Camera: 27.3$ - Caddx Ratel 2 V2 (it's alot better but maybe slightly overkill)
• Motors: 30.6$ - YSIDO 1505 2650KV (the other motors were for 6S, not 4S and i somehow missed that)
• ELRS Receiver: 12.14$ - BETAFPV ELRS Nano (same receiver, saves money on shipping)
• VTX Antenna: 5.64$ - Mini RHCP 5,8G Lollipop 4 antenna (Purple UFL Upgrade) (wrong website)

Total: 170.48$

Total time spent: 2h

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June 17th: Checking fabrication prices

TIFO carbon fiber CNC is REALLY EXPENSIVE and would be over 50% of all other parts combined.

Checked the prices on PCBWay for carbon fiber and polycarbonate and I'm now waiting for the order review to know the actual price.

This is how the rendered version of the drone frame is looking now:

(also spent way too long trying to export as a DXF from Fusion 360 but that requires a subcription so i had to do it using FreeCAD just to then realise that PCBWay uses step files, not DXF)

Total time spent: 2h

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June 18th: Sh!t, it's expensive

Just got the quotes and turns out getting it machined/3D printed won't be possible sadly :pensive-wobble: its wayyy outside of the 150$ budget :(

Will most likely have to try to get the frame/softmounts/corners from printing legion (as i don't own a 3D printer)

TODO: get the BOM under 150$ to fit in the 6 point middle tier (current BOM: 170.48$)

_{The current setup would need me to get the battery, battery straps and heatshrink myself, will see what i can do}

Total time spent: 1h

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June 20th: The end (maybe)

IT'S UNDER 150$!!!

Rechecked the price on everything and changed the camera back to the old one (much worse low ligth performance but the only way to fit the budget) and it's now under 150$ :yay: (excluding the frame :sob:)

• Props: 3.31$ - 2 Pairs HQProp 3525
• Camera: 13.98$ - CADDXFPV Baby Ratel2 Analog Camera

Also double checked all the parts and they all currently have free shipping :p

Total time spent: 2h