Droidworx VM Series, VM4, VM 8, VM 6, VMX3 Build Manual

- S e r i e S B u i l d M a n u a l

Droidworx l t d n e w Z e a l a n d

1

C o n t e n t S

3 Flight operation and safety 4 Operation and Safety 6 Pre-Flight Safety Check 7 Do’s and Dont’s 8 Assembly overview 9 Required Tools 10 Assembly Overview 15 Assembly Instructions 16 Part 1: Landing Gear Assembly 21 Part 2: Center Plate and Boom Assembly Instructions 22 VM(X)4 29 VM 6 32 VM 8 36 VMX3 39 Part 3: Engine Mount Assembly 43 Part 4: Crash Cage Assembly 47 Part 5: Dome Cover Assembly

2

F l i g h t o p e r a t i o n a n d S a F e t y

3

o p e r a t i o n a n d S a F e t y

This is a quick guide for those new to Multi-Rotor craft oering

some basic safety and operational procedures...and are

recommended standard operating procedures for those piloting

Droidworx or any multi-rotor craft.

Please read the instructions for the relevant Flight Control

electronics before proceeding. Go to the web site of your ight

control system and make yourself well acquainted with the correct

procedure for the electronics installation and software operation.

Caution: never connect and start the engines for the rst time with

the propellers attached....and always balance your propellers;

unbalanced propellers can cause excessive vibration which may

lead to material fatigue.

Note: check the orientation of the ight controller you are using

(which way is front) and also the engine assignment conguration;

for instance which is engine 1,2,3 etc. and check also that your

propellers, clockwise and counter clockwise, are also installed

correctly before your rst ight.

Before the rst ight hand test your craft – arm and calibrate your

electronics, hold the craft with both hands by the landing gear

skids above your head with the front facing away from, and to

the front of you, make sure you are well clear of obstructions and

other people. You may need the assistance of another person

for this test. Raise the throttle to around 25% and gently move

the craft around the axis’ roll (tipping the craft left and right) and

feel for a steady and smooth resistance to your movements, do

the same for pitch (tipping the craft forward and backward) and

also yaw, rotating the craft clockwise and anti-clockwise whilst

keeping it horizontal. If the craft oers smooth resistance to your

movements it will y correctly.

Your rst test ight should be in an open eld in low or zero wind.

A sports eld (not currently in use) is a good option; choose a site

with short or mown grass. Do not takeo from dry dusty sites.

Make sure any onlookers or spectators do not gather about you…

if so ask them to move away from you in a perimeter not less than

50m (150 feet) diameter around you.

Make sure that you have fully charged your transmitter and

onboard battery packs. Make sure that the antenna of your Radio

(TX) is up and correctly positioned; make sure the receiver (RX) for

your craft is well positioned within the craft and secured and that

the antenna is facing downward and to the back of your craft and

not touching any part of the craft.

Place the craft on level ground and turn on your transmitter –

check that you have the correct model selected on your TX.

4

Set the transmitter timer to about 80% of the known ight duration.

ask them to stand well clear of you until you have landed.

Connect the battery to your crafts FC inputs and wait for the

engine controller beeps to stop.

Stand about 4m away from your craft and behind the craft with the

craft facing directly away from you.

Check the 50m ight safety perimeter you have established, also

checking behind you for children running in to see what you are

doing.

Survey the area; look for obstacles that you might not have seen

previously, like power-lines and overhead wires.

Never y your craft near a controlled aerodrome or in controlled

airspace.

Check the weather conditions, the wind speed and direction. Do not

y in gusty strong wind at any time. Always try and y the craft with

the wind at your back so the craft will drift directly away from you.

Always keep your eyes on the craft when in ight – if people approach

you inside your safety perimeter to talk to you or to ask questions

whilst you are ying the craft do not engage in the conversation and

Re-check your perimeter and raise the throttle slowly and check to

see if the craft wants to tilt to one direction or another; sometimes

you may need to adjust the trim on your TX to get a level ight,

however most times the craft will y perfectly rst time if you have

installed the electronics and the software has been set correctly—

check with the Flight Control manufacturer for standard or beginner

settings for the craft.

Take os are sometimes easier with a short burst of power to lift the

craft o the ground.

Hold the craft in a controlled hover directly in front of you about 2-3m

o the ground away from “ground eect” prop wash. When you have

mastered this hover position you can then move on to rolling the craft

gently from side to side and forward and backward. Make sure that

you always stand behind the craft, this makes for easy orientation of

the ight controls.

Repeat this exercise several times before you take the craft any

higher.

Always y the craft well away from people and / or property. Always

check for children nearby.

5

p r e - F l i g h t S a F e t y C h e C k

Thoroughly check the craft before every ight…

Check to see if any wires have come o

•

Check for loose bolts on the assembly

•

Check that the battery’s are secure

•

Check the battery voltage, and if you have more than one battery, check your spares too

•

Check the propellers for marks and nicks

•

Check the propeller nuts or bolts, make sure they are tight

•

Check the engine mounts and the bolts and nuts for tightness

•

Check the Transmitter battery voltage; never y the craft with a low voltage reading on your transmitter

•

(check with the manufacturer of your equipment for minimum and maximum voltage readings).

Check that the transmitter antenna is not damaged.

•

Check that the craft receiver module is well connected and that the antenna’s are properly positioned.

•

Take a good look over the craft from all sides to make sure that nothing appears unusual or out of place.

•

Check your ight perimeter.

•

Check for power-lines and overhead obstacles.

•

Assess the weather conditions, wind direction and speed. An anemometer (hand held wind speed meter) is a good tool

•

to have, otherwise use some dry grass or a tissue, throwing in the air to gauge the wind direction.

Do not y in gusty and turbulent conditions.

•

Set your transmitter timer to 80% of the known battery duration.

•

DISCLAIMER:

Droidworx NZ Limited disclaims all warranties, whether express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and tness for a particular purpose. Droidworx NZ

Limited does not assume any lyability, whether direct or indirect, from the use of the

VM-Series Craft. Droidworx NZ Limited shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, special, incidental, punitive, contingent or consequential damages to persons or property caused by the VM-Series

craft. In no event shall Droidworx NZ Limited be liable for personal injury up to and including death.

6

d o ’ S a n d d o n t ’ S :

Never y in strong wind – the operational safe wind speed for these craft is about 10-15 KPH.

•

In the event of a crash or a hard landing, always check the craft for damage before taking o again. In this instance, you must also

•

check that you do not have dirt or grit in the engines; this can cause an engine or engines to overheat and fail in ight resulting in an

out of control craft and serious damage or injury to the craft , other people and their property.

Your launch eld should preferably be open and at with short grass. If it is necessary to take o in a eld which only has long grass,

•

manually atten a 1.5m diameter take o perimeter with your feet.

Always have a ight plan – visualize your ight path and check again for obstacles.

•

Never y the craft out of direct line of sight and always keep your eyes on the craft whilst it is in the air.

•

Never y the craft above 400 feet in height (the length of a football eld).

•

Never y near people – A 50m (150 ft) perimeter around and above people is a recommended minimum and operational law in

•

most countries.

Always set your transmitter timer before each ight to about 80% of the known ight duration for the battery pack’s you have installed in the craft.

•

Never turn your transmitter o in ight.

•

First person view ights are against the law in some countries – check the relevant aviation safety authority in your country before ying FPV.

•

Always have a “spotter” with if you do y FPV.

Never let friends y your craft unless they are well schooled in the discipline.

•

Never y under the inuence of any substance or alcohol. Whilst there is a minimum blood alcohol level allowed for driving an

•

automobile in most countries, the law for pilots in command of ying craft around the globe is universal…there is a zero limit tolerance.

Always turn your transmitter on before connecting the battery to the craft...and always disconnect the battery from the craft before

•

turning your transmitter o.

7

a S S e M B l y o v e r v i e w

8

r e q u i r e d t o o l S

M4 7mm Hex Driver

3mm Phillips Head Driver

M3 2.5mm Hex Screw Driver

M3 6mm Hex Driver

M4 3mm Hex Screw Driver

9

a S S e M B l y i n S t r u C t i o n S

10

part 1: landing gear aSSeMBly

11

landing gear aSSeMBly

Product Code Product Code

1402-0010

1402-0020

1402-0030

1402-0050

1406-0030

1406-0040

Gear Rail Bracing Plate

Gear Rail Isolator Pad

Landing Gear Plate

LG Skid End Cap

POV Mount Side Plate

POV Mount Bottom Plate

2

4

2

1

1406-0130

1406-0145

1406-0200

2503-0030

2506-0020

2506-0170

Gear Rail Bracket

Gear Rail Tube

Landing Gear Skid

Socket Head Cap Screw M3x8mm

Socket Head Cap Screw M3x12mm

Nyloc Nut M3 SS

Parts + SparesParts + Spares

2

6

2

12 (1)

2 (1)

1406-0050

1406-0060

1406-0080

Velcro Strap

Battery Strap

Battery Mounting Plate

1

2

2506-0190

2506-0200

2506-0250

Nylon washer M3

Spacer M3x2mm Nylon

Rubber grommet 9.5mm

14 (2)

4

12

1

3

2

Fit the four rubber grommets to the polycomposite gear rail brackets as shown.

Fit the four rubber grommets to the

carbon-bre battery plates then feed the

battery strap through the slots and loop.

Slide the battery plates onto the gear rail tubes as show below.

x4

x2

4

POV Mounting Side Plates

Fit the four rubber grommets to the pov mount side plates.

x2

x4

13

5

Slide the POV mounting plates onto the gear rail tubes in front of the battery plates.

Adjust the distance between them to t the POV mount bottom plate (g 1)

Lastly slide the gear rail brackets onto the gear rail

6

tubes ensuring the tabs face inwards and are at the top.

7

Fit the M3 x 12mm screw through the landing gear plate and add 2 of the nylon spacers.

g 1

14

8

9

Pass the M3 x 12mm screw through the landing gear bracket you set up earlier and secure with the M3 nyloc nut. This part shouldn’t be fully tightened until after the landing gear

assembly has been tted to the craft.

x2

10

Attach the four M3 x 8mm screws through the landing gear plates into the threaded ends of the gear rail tubes; place a nylon washer under all of the screws. Try not to over tighten,

just make rm contact.

NOTE: When tightening

each screw make sure you secure the opposite end. Failure to do so may damage the bond causing the inner tube to spin. There is no functional or structural disadvantage if this were to happen - just secure both ends whilst tightening.

x4

Repeat steps 4 and 5 with the second landing gear plate so your setup looks like this.

11

The remaining gear rail tubes can now be attached as landing gear brace tubes with M3x8mm screws. Place two on each side at your desired spacing.

x8

15

12

13

Fit the rubber grommets to the end of the landing gear main plates and slide the landing gear skids through. Make sure that both skids are even with one another.

The nal step is to ax the Droidworx

Landing Gear Sticker to the front landing gear plate and your setup should look something like this.

x4

x2

...nally slide the Rubber Cap over all

four skid ends.

16

RETRO FIT XM LANDING GEAR TO YOUR AD/VM CRAFT

Product Code

1404-0094

2504-0010

2505-0250

2506-0170

2506-0490

2504-0030

Universal Landing Gear Mounting Plate

Socket Head Cap Screw M3x40mm

M3X6mm Spacers

Nyloc Nut M3 SS

Socket Head Cap Screw M3x25mm

M3 Locking Washer

Parts + Spares

1

4

2

17

1

2

Firstly remove 4 of the inner boom bolts and replace with the M3x 40mm SS bolts as shown below. Note where the notch on the center plate is.

Flip your craft over. Slide the Spacers onto the ss bolts...

3

...followed by the Universal Landing

Gear Plate.

x4

4

Secure with the M3 Stainless Steel nuts.

x4

18

5

7

6

Fit your Gear Rail Mounting Bracket using the SS bolts from

the previous Landing Gear. You will need long nose plyers to

attach the SS nuts.

Use M3x12mm Socket head Cap Screws

and M3 Locking Washers on the raised section of the clip, and M3x8mm Socket Head Cap Screws and Locking Washers on the remaining two holes. Note these parts come with your Landing Gear Kit.

x2

Your clip fastens to the holes

highlighted below.

8

The orientation of your clip should look like this.

x2

x4

19

9

11

10

Build your Landing Gear and Gear Rail Assembly as shown in the corresponding sections.

Always clip on from left to right.

Once snapped in place your Landing Gear can be further secured by inserting the M3x25 SS Socket Head Cap Screw with Locking washer as shown here.

x2

20

12

Your nal setup should now look like this...

21

p a r t 2 : C e n t e r p l a t e a n d B o o M a S S e M B l y i n S t r u C t i o n S

21

v M - 4

Product Code Product Code

1202-0010

1202-0040

1206-0010

1206-0044

1206-0064

1504-0010

Center Plate

Decal set VM

Universal Adaptor Plate

Boom bracket inner

Boom bracket outer

Gear Rail Center Plate Spacer M3

2

1

(1)

8

(1)

8

2503-0070

2506-0050

2506-0060

2506-0140

2506-0170

1306-0011

Stando Threaded M3x11 Nylon

Socket Head Cap Screw M3x30mm

Socket Head Cap Screw M3x35mm SS

Machine Screw M3x6mm Pan Philips

Nyloc Nut M3 SS

Boom 310mm

Parts + SparesParts + Spares

16

20

4

(1)

4

(1)

8

(2)

4

22

1

Take a moment to familiarise yourself with the centre plate setup to get an understanding which holes relates to which parts. Take one of the plates and lay it out with the notch at the top and the sticker facing up.

NOTE: It is important that you install the standos for your electronics BEFORE mounting the booms as you will not be able to reach the required holes afterwards.

Lines indicate the boom mount triangle pattern used for all models.

Circles show the holes used for dome xing.

Squares represent the remaining holes you can attach the standos to. This is all dependent on which electronics you will be using. In this guide we will demonstrate how to attach the Universal Adapter Plate we send with all of our crafts.

23

2

Slot the M3x30mm bolts into the relevant holes for boom mounting shown by the yellow triangles. Then ip the plate over (bottom picture).

x12

3

4

Slide the inner and outer boom brackets onto the corresponding bolts.

x4

Mount your booms onto the brackets as shown here. The holes closest to the end of the Booms should face inwards.

NOTE: For this model the curve of the boom brackets face inward following the curvature of the plate.

24

5

Place the remaining boom bracket inners and outers onto the booms.

x4

7

Fit M3 SS nuts to the screws - do not tighten them, just make them secure whilst you work your way around.

66

Position the second centre plate over the boom cluster aligning the hole pattern as shown below.

78

x12

Now t the 22mm center plate spacers between the center plates as shown below using the M3x35mm SS screws for front and back of the craft (your landing gear will attach to these) and the M3x30mm for left and right spacers.

x8

25

9

10

You can now tighten all of the nuts apart from the SS ones (front and rear).

Fit the electronics standos by slotting the supplied nylon M3 x 6mm countersunk screws through the desired holes from the underside. Then screw the standos onto them.

x4

26

11

Now place your universal ight controller adapter plate onto the stando and secure with the M3x6mm nylon screws as shown below. Note: the small notch on the adaptor plate should face to the front.

x4

27

12

Your setup should now look like this....

28

v M 6

Product Code Product Code

1202-0020

1202-0040

1206-0010

1206-0044

1206-0064

Center Plate

Decal set VM

Universal Adaptor Plate

Boom bracket inner

Boom bracket outer

Parts + Spares

2

1

(1)

12

(1)

12

2503-0070

2506-0050

2506-0060

2506-0140

2506-0170

1306-0011

Stando Threaded M3x11 Nylon

Socket Head Cap Screw M3x30mm

Socket Head Cap Screw M3x35mm SS

Machine Screw M3x6mm Pan Philips

Nyloc Nut M3 SS

Boom 310mm or 355mm

Parts + Spares

4

(1)

14

4

(1)

8

20

6

29

1

The notch indicates the front of the craft.

Take a moment to familiarise yourself with the centre plate setup to get an understanding which holes relates to which parts. Take one of the plates and lay it out with the notch at the top and the sticker facing up.

NOTE: It is important that you install the standos for your electronics BEFORE mounting the booms as you will not be able to reach the required holes afterwards.

Circles show the holes used for dome xing.

Lines indicate the boom mount triangle pattern used for all models.

Squares represent the remaining holes you can attach the standos to. This is all dependent on which electronics you will be using. In this guide we will demonstrate how to attach the Universal Adapter Plate we send with all of our crafts.

30

2

To build the VM6 core is exactly the same as the VM4, except there are no spacers required.

31

v M 8

Product Code Product Code

1202-0030

1202-0040

1206-0010

1206-0044

1206-0064

Center Plate

Decal set VM

Universal Adaptor Plate

Boom bracket inner

Boom bracket outer

Parts + Spares

2

1

(1)

16

(1)

16

2503-0070

2506-0050

2506-0060

2506-0140

2506-0170

1306-0011

Stando Threaded M3x11 Nylon

Socket Head Cap Screw M3x30mm

Socket Head Cap Screw M3x35mm SS

Machine Screw M3x6mm Pan Philips

Nyloc Nut M3 SS

Boom 355mm or 410mm

Parts + Spares

4

(1)

20

4

(1)

8

(2)

24

8

32

1

The notch indicates the front of the craft.

Take a moment to familiarise yourself with the centre plate setup to get an understanding which holes relate to which parts. Take one of the plates and lay it out with the notch at the top and the sticker facing up.

NOTE: It is important that you install the standos for your electronics BEFORE mounting the booms as you will not be able to reach the required holes afterwards.

Circles show the holes used for dome xing.

Lines indicate the boom mount triangle pattern used for all models.

Squares represent the remaining holes you can attach the standos to. This is all dependent on which electronics you will be using. In this guide we will demonstrate how to attach the Universal Adapter Plate we send with all of our crafts.

33

2

To build the VM8 core is exactly the same as the VM4, except there are no spacers required.

34

3

Your setup should look like this before attaching the top center plate (follow instructions from VM4 Core Assembly chapter).

NB: Placement of SS screws.

35

p a r t 4 : e n g i n e M o u n t a S S e M B l y

36

p a r t 3 : e n g i n e M o u n t a S S e M B l y

Product Code Product Code

1206-0080

1206-0090

1210-0040

2506-0010

Engine Mount Bracket M3 (13mm)

Engine Mount Bracket M3 (20mm)

Engine Mount Disk M3

Heat Shrink Black

2

1

2506-0050

2506-0120

2506-0170

2504-0030

2510-0080

Socket Head Cap Screw M3x30mm

Machine Screw M3x6mm SS

Nyloc Nut M3 SS

Locking Washer M3

M3 Washer SS

Parts + SparesParts + Spares

2

4

2

37

1

Apply the heat shrink.

3

Fit the two M3 x 30mm alloy screws, Locking Washers and Flat Washers through Engine Mount Bracket

x2

2

Ax the engine to the engine mount disk by slotting the

desired machine screws through the chamfered side of the

disk and into the rewall mount holes of the engine.

x2

4

Place the Boom onto the Engine Mount Bracket making

sure the dimpel slots into the hole of the boom.

x4

38

NOTE: If you plan to Upgrade your craft

with Boom Nacelles to reduce bueting follow the instructions below before

further mounting the engines.

1

Slide the 1.5mm O-rings over the

boom... adjust the distance of the two O-rings to t the Boom Nacelle.

2

Place the second half of the Nacelle on top and snap together.

Please Note: we are showing the

hi visibility boom nacelles in these pictures. To buy your hi visibility boom

nacelles go to www.droidworx.co.nz

x2

39

5

7

6

Place a second Engine Mount Bracket on top, feed your wires

through the boom and place the Engine Mount Disk with the

engine on top.

Fasten with M3 SS Nyloc Nuts.

Your nished setup should now look

like this...

x2

40

p a r t 4 : C r a S h C a g e a S S e M B l y

Product Code Product Code

1102-0032

1102-0040

1106-0050

1110-0010

1506-0060

2503-0030

Crash Cage Outer Mounting Ring

Crash Cage Hub

Crash Cage Arch

Crash Cage Mounting Bracket

Droidworx VM Series, VM4, VM 8, VM 6, VMX3 Build Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual