Flybrix JC-S, JC-2 Building And Flying Instructions
Flybrix Building and Flying Instructions:
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Basic Quad, Octo & Hexo Designs
JC-S Controller
Version 1.4 March 2017
Build More, Learn More
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3. Introduction
4. Getting Started
5. Safety
6. Building a quadcopter
14. Flying
15. Troubleshooting
15. Configuration Software
31. Building a hexocopter
17. Building an octocopter
40. Games
Start with the Quad.
Table of Contents
Click links to auto-navigate the .PDF
1.
2.
Learn the basics of building,
connecting motors and flying.
Try the Octo next.
Take what you’ve learned from the
quad build, apply your know-how to
the octo build.
Level up to the Hexo.
3.
Now that you’re almost a pro, give the
Hex build a shot. Use the software to
change motor specs to fly your Hexo
build.
Introduction
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Flybrix is designed for experimentation, creativity and learning. Trial and
error is the heart and soul of this kit. Why? That’s where the “a-ha” moments
happen, that’s where the learning happens, that’s where the lines between
fun and education get blurred. Flybrix is all about providing a safe, fun,
sometimes silly platform for asking and answering “how” and “why” questions that take us on the journey of understanding how things work.
In this manual is the first build (the basic quadcopter) of 3 designs that take
you on a learning arc that introduces all the aspects of your Flybrix kit. The Octocopter is the next build and finally the Hexocopter.
If you happen to get turned around in the process, we’re here for you! Visit the
forum on flybrix.com, or email support@flybrix.com for help.
Taking to the skies: Once you’ve built your airframe, it’s time to fly! Ask anyone
who flies drones, quads, hexo, and octocopters. They’ll tell you flying is “a thing”.
It takes practice to do well. Some people even go to special piloting schools to
learn how to do it! Flybrix is the perfect platform to learn how to become an
ace pilot because the drones you build are small, light and they collapse on
hard crashes. And, they go back together in a jiffy. The designs we’ve given you
are stable, balanced frames that fly well. Experiment with flying these designs
first to get a feel for how to fly Flybrix. Or not… You do you!
Exploring more: Once you’re ready, take your kit to the next level by visiting the user forum on flybrix.com. You’ll see other ways to use the parts you
already have, plus see some exciting new ones, learn how to tweak your airframes, share schematics, and meet the Flybrix community. On the last page of
these instructions we have a few game ideas that are fun to play, even with just
two people!
Leveling up: Download the Flybrix Chrome extension from the Chrome Web
Store for access to our code, configuration tools, community, and more! The
Configurator visualizes the data that comes off your Flybrix and your controller.
Features like: sensor feedback, balance, thrust levels, motor positioning, battery output etc. When you start getting into new designs with different motor
placements and adding motors, The Configurator will be your go-to in order to
get your airframes adjusted to get them flying.
We love feedback! Email support@flybrix.com with any feedback you think
could help us improve the product.
Getting Started: know your kit
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Tweezer
Binding Cord
Propellers
LEGO Bricks & Minifig
Motors Boom-Arms
Flight Control Board Propeller Wrench
Receiver* Battery
USB Cord Battery Charger
* If you ordered a kit that includes the R/C Controller, you will have the receiver board, binding cable and controller in your kit.
Getting Started: Know Your Kit
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LEGO Bag: There are enough bricks in this kit to build a quadcopter, hexocopter and octocopter, plus several extra bricks to use for tweaking your design. Get creative later on by adding your own LEGO bricks! The color of your LEGO bricks will most likely be different from the instruction pictures. It’s important to reference
shape and size of LEGO while you’re building, not color matching.
RC Controller*: You’ll use the controller to fly your airframes. Take off the bubble wrap, and it’s ready to go. The controller uses four AA batteries and they’re already inside.
Battery: Pay close attention to the way the battery connector is keyed.
It’s dangerous to plug the battery in backwards to both the charger and the flight board.
The battery has one side of the connector plain plastic and
the other side has metal connection points.
Here are some additional resources so you can read up on battery safety:
http://www.rchelicopterfun.com/rc-lipo-batteries.html http://thedronegirl.com/2015/02/07/lipo-battery/ http://www.towerhobbies.com/help/ama_lipo/
http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=209187
Propeller wrench: Use this wrench to pop your propellers off to avoid damage to your motors.
Connect the battery with the plain plastic side up.
Properly connected battery!
Receiver, Binding Cord: These components are used when you’re flying with an external RC controller. The receiver attaches to the flight control board and the
biding cord is used to bind the controller to the flight control boar and receiver. We’ll cover this further in the flight instructions.
BEFORE YOU START BUILDING... UPDATE YOUR FIRMWARE. We are constantly updating the
software and firmware that improve the Flybrix experience.
https://flybrix.com/pages/upgrading-your-firmware
Let’s Build a Quadcopter!
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1.
Attach (4) Boom-Arms to (2) 1x8 bricks.
*Notice the next few instruction pictures are in black and white. That’s
to remind you that the colors of your LEGO bricks don’t matter. Use the
shapes of your LEGO as your reference for which bricks to use.
2.
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3.
Front
Front
Attach the flight control board.
*The “front” of your airframe is where the cables attach to the flight con-
trol board. Orientation is important when you’re building!
Back
Back
Attach (1) 2x4 brick to the back of your airframe below the battery connector cords, with one row of the brick sticking out past the 1x8 bricks.
Attach (1) 1x4 brick to the front of your airframe, flush with the 1x8 bricks.
Design check-In
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4.
Front
Front
Back
Back
Attach (1) 1x4 brick to the top of the flight board.
If you have an RC Controller, take a look at your flight control board and
notice where these 3 pins are located for the next step. If you’re using
the app to fly your airframe, these pins don’t matter.
5. Only if you are using an RC controller to fly your quad.
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Front
6.
Back
Line up the 3 pins on your receiver board with the 3 holes on your flight
control board and attach the two boards by pushing them together.
This illustration is meant to show where the R415x connects to your
board. Before you fly for the first time, you’ll remove this board and go
through a pairing sequence (later on in the instructions) for now you can
keep your R415x attached.
Back
Attach (1) tail fin.
Attach the flat brick that comes with your battery. It has velcro on it.
Front
7.
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8.
Front
Front
Colors and placement really matter in the next few steps! Take two
motors that have black and white cables coming off the bottom. Gently
push the motors into the Boom Arms from the bottom to the top. Push
them in so they’re about even with the bottom edge of the Boom Arms.
Back
Back
Now, get two more motors that have the red and blue cables coming
off the bottom. Gently push the motors into the Boom Arms from the
bottom to the top. Push them in so they’re about even with the bottom
edge of the Boom Arms.
* The difference between the red/blue motors and the black/white
motors is that the red/blue motors spin clockwise and the white/black
ones spin counter clockwise. This is important for generating lift.
9. Pay attention to this step, it can be tricky!
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Front
Design Check-in
A
B
A
B
Back
Time to add the props!
One color goes in the front and one color goes in the back. Notice the
red ones are in the back and the white ones are in the front.
Each propeller has a very small label on it. The circle in the picture
shows about where the label is located. The props are labeled A and
B. A props and B props are shaped differently. They match up with the
direction the motors spin in order to push the air in the right direction
to generate lift. B props go on the black/white motors and the A props
go on the red/blue -- always.
It’s time to take a look at your motor connectors. On the very ends you
can see white marks. These marks will be used to line up the pins on
these connectors and your flight control board. Lining up these white
marks with marks on your flight control board takes a good set of eyes
and attention to detail.
Design Check-in
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10.
FrontBack
In the next step, we’ll show you how to connect your motors. For right
now, take a look at your airframe and find the 4 white marks on both
sides of the edge of your flight control board that you’ll use to line up
your motor connector pins. The red arrows show you where the white
marks are on the flight control board. The dotted line shows you how
to match up the marks on the flight control board and the motor connectors. *NOTE The white marks on the motor connectors are on the
opposite side of the motors, so it may be that to get the correct alignment, the white marks on your motor connectors face inward, toward
the board.
Let’s get the motors connected! One by one, wrap each motor cable around the boom
arm a few times so it stays out of the way of the spinning props and connect the motor
pins to the flight board. For your quad to fly, the motors need to be connected to the
correct ports on the flight control board. One way is to connect the motor to the ports
closest to it in each corner of the flight control board. Line up the white marks and
gently push the motor connector into the port. Another way to check to make sure
you have the right ports is to find the numbers on the ports on the opposite edge of
the motor ports from the white marks. Use ports 0 and 6 on one side and 1 and 7 on
the other.
Now, attach your pilot and windshield. If you’re a beginning pilot, its easeir to fly with
less weight on the quad. You can leave off the minifig and the windshield if you like.
11.
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For a reminder, click here.
12.
Connect your battery to the cable attached to the flight control board.
Remember battery safety! Plugging in the battery the wrong way can
heat up and short circuit your flight control board.
Now stick your battery with the velcro side down to the brick with the
veclro tab.
If your battery is properly charged, the LEDs on the flight control board
should be blinking. If not, it’s time to charge your battery!
Once your battery is connected go to the flybrix app to get airborne.
The instructions are easy as 1, 2, 3!
If you’re using an RC controller, find the orange LED that is under the
receiver board. It’s a bit hard to see since it shines from beneath the receiver board. This light tells you that the boards are connected properly
and you are set up to start the flying sequence with your controller.
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