FPV Instruments and Supplies for Constructing Drones and Mounted Wings
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Here’s a checklist of important FPV instruments, tapes, glues and supplies for constructing and repairing FPV drones and stuck wings. I’ll make suggestions on what merchandise you must get which can be helpful for constructing, repairs and troubleshooting.
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Getting the “important instruments” listed on this submit needs to be ample to get you began with constructing and repairing an FPV drone and stuck wing. Having among the “Good-to-have instruments“ could make your builds extra skilled wanting and can assist restore/troubleshoot your drone, however by no imply essential.
All of the hyperlinks on this web page are affiliate hyperlinks. It doesn’t price you a dime extra, nevertheless it sends us just a few cents each time a purchase order is made to maintain this weblog going. Thanks!
FPV Toolkits
These FPV toolkits include important instruments for constructing and repairing FPV drones at house or within the area. They’re packaged in a neat carry case, making it simpler to pack for a day of flying. Designed particularly for FPV, these all-in-one toolkits are moderately priced and embrace respectable high quality instruments. This comfort eliminates the necessity to seek for every merchandise individually.
| Newbeedrone Package | RDQ Drone Software Package | Flywoo Software Package |
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| Discover this product right here: | Discover this product right here: | Discover this product right here: |
For informal FPV pilots, the RaceDayQuads equipment provides unbeatable worth. It’s the least costly and gives a flexible collection of instruments. Then again, the NewBeeDrone equipment features a full soldering suite, making it best for superior constructing and restore. These two kits are notably geared in direction of the practical wants of great FPV racers or freestyle pilots, and I extremely suggest them. In the end, the selection is determined by your finances and the capabilities you want.
Important Instruments
These are the really helpful and must-have instruments for constructing and repairing your mini quad.
Soldering Instruments
You have to a soldering iron for constructing and repairing FPV drones. Listed here are my product suggestions, and on this submit I’ll clarify in additional particulars how to decide on soldering iron and solder wires.
These are useful add-on for soldering.
| Solder Serving to Hand | Tip Cleaner | Mounting Putty |
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| For holding parts in place whereas soldering. | For cleansing the tip of soldering iron extra successfully than moist sponge. | Aka Blu Tack, putty can be utilized for holding small wires and parts in place shortly. |
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Hex Screwdriver Set
Hex screws are generally used to carry your FPV drone collectively, so getting a set of hex screwdrivers is extraordinarily necessary. An important sizes you must have are:
Or search for metric units of 1.3-3mm sizes.
Listed here are some good choices:
Assorted Screwdriver Set
For the screw sizes usually discovered on RC planes and wings, each cross slotted and single slotted would possibly turn out to be useful. A few of these units on AliExpress include some hex screwdrivers too that may prevent some cash.
Prop Nut Instruments
For eradicating and securing propeller nuts requires a devoted “prop device”. You possibly can simply get a generic 8mm hex nut wrench, however I’d suggest getting a device that’s designed particularly for FPV that are simpler to make use of. There are quite a lot of choices:
- Some have one-way bearing that enables it to show one course – one facet for eradicating the prop nuts whereas the opposite facet for fastening. It lets you principally tightening/loosen the nut with out lifting the device which is extra environment friendly.
- Some instruments even have 1.5mm, 2.0mm or 2.5mm hex bit that are useful to have
Discover this merchandise right here:
Scissors
For slicing tapes and small wires. When I’m being lazy I’d additionally use it for stripping wires earlier than soldering, maybe not one of the best apply nevertheless it will get the job achieved.
Wire Cutters
I exploit wire cutters for slicing zip ties, electrical wires, management rods and so on, principally for issues which can be too onerous for scissors.
Pliers
For accessing onerous to succeed in spots and gripping parts whereas working with different instruments (for instance when soldering a wire to an XT60 or ESC energy, the wire would possibly develop into too scorching to carry by hand). It can be used as a nut wrench.
For probably the most half, a pair of needle nostril pliers shall be your device of selection right here, however a spread wouldn’t harm both.
Forsep
This device is extraordinarily versatile. The lengthy, curved nostril lets you attain the tight areas frequent in FPV drones. The scissors-style deal with gives extra energy and precision than tweezers. Moreover, it locks in place, permitting you to set it down and free your hand for different duties if wanted.
Multimeter
A digital multimeter (DDM)is used to troubleshoot your quad’s electronics, measuring voltage, present, resistance, and check for brief circuit. I’ve an entire tutorial explaining how you can use a digital multimeter on an FPV drone.
A multimeter is a small funding that may doubtlessly prevent a whole lot of {dollars} in broken electrical elements by testing circuits earlier than plugging them in. An affordable multimeter shall be high-quality for the needs of testing for shorts, discovering damaged wires and checking battery voltage.
Some good DDM buy choices are:
Smoke Stopper
A “smoke stopper” is a testing machine that you just join between the FPV drone and LiPo battery. You employ it if you plug within the battery for the primary time to see if the drone has a brief circuit, which may doubtlessly harm your parts and not using a smoke stopper.
I like to recommend the Vifly ShortSafer V2 (overview), it really works and you should purchase it off the shelf:
LiPo Voltage Checker
By merely connecting the steadiness lead of a LiPo battery to a LiPo checker, it tells you the voltage of the battery, in addition to the voltage of every cell. It’s an necessary device to have to watch the state of your LiPo batteries on the go.
ToolkitRC MC8
It’s greater than only a battery checker, it’s additionally a servo and ESC tester and may learn numerous RC indicators. See my overview on what it does right here: https://oscarliang.com/toolkitrc-mc8/
LiPo Secure Baggage
Whereas LiPo luggage might not be the best resolution at stopping or containing a battery hearth, they’re helpful for storing your batteries temporally and for transportation
Get your LiPo luggage from:
Ammo Field
Steel ammo packing containers are nice for storing your LiPo batteries throughout or after charging as they’ll stop hearth from spreading extra successfully than typical LiPo luggage.
Get your Ammo Field from:
Bat-Secure LiPo Field
The Bat-Secure field safely incorporates battery fires, vents scorching gases, filters flame and soot, whereas making certain simple battery charging and transportation. It’s just like the upgraded model of the Ammo field. See my full overview right here: https://oscarliang.com/bat-safe-lipo-battery-charging-box/
You will discover the Bat-Secure Field right here:
Good-to-have Instruments
Your FPV buddies will certainly be impressed by these instruments 🙂
Electrical Screwdriver
Not essential however a godsend if it’s important to do a bunch of 20mm, 30mm lengthy screws typically. Merely press a button and the screwdriver will do the remainder for you. Additionally they include a wide array of screwdriver bits, which may prevent from shopping for these screwdrivers individually.
I like to recommend the ES126, it’s fairly highly effective and good high quality. One cost can final weeks.
Software Baggage
Manner higher than utilizing Ziploc luggage. Can maintain small instruments and parts when taking tools to the sphere.
Bench Energy Provide
A bench energy provide (PSU) has variable voltage output that may energy many issues, together with your soldering iron, check your quad, FPV parts, LiPo charger and so forth.
My favourite for the time being is the ToolkitRC P200. It’s versatile and compact.
3D Printer
One of many greatest advantages of 3D printing for FPV drone fanatics is the flexibility to shortly and simply substitute damaged elements or make modifications to current designs.
I’ve a tutorial that can assist you get began with 3D printing: https://oscarliang.com/3d-printer/
Tweezers
Tweezers are used to carry and transfer small parts and wires into place. Search for longer size tweezers to make it simpler to entry small parts. Cross-lock tweezers (or reverse tweezers) are most popular as a result of they apply stress if you launch them, they gained’t let go of your work even if you happen to set them down.
Wire Strippers
I’ve one however I not often use it (largely on account of laziness), a lot of the occasions I simply use scissors to strip wires. However wire strippers present extra constant and exact outcomes if you’re a perfectionist. Usually they solely cowl a sure vary of wire gauge, ensure the pair you get meet your requirement.
Warmth Gun
Warmth gun, or hot-air gun, is especially used to shrink heat-shrink insulation tubes. Most individuals would simply use a lighter, scorching air gun is maybe an overkill, nevertheless it gives extra constant warmth and don’t depart burn marks.
Rotary Software
Drills can be utilized to make modifications to even probably the most cussed of supplies. They can be utilized for shaping framework or parts in addition to creating new gap placements for screws or different gear.
Most frames and parts bought from respected sellers ought to accurately match from the get go. Nonetheless, typically small modifications might need to be made to be able to get every little thing to suit completely. A rotary device or drill is good to have round for working with troublesome to switch supplies like carbon fiber and aluminium.
Dremel rotary device equipment is a excessive finish, title model that can be utilized and not using a energy wire.
File Set
You’ll use these information to switch and clear up issues like carbon fiber body elements, to provide them a pleasant and clean end.
Digital Calliper
Helpful for exact measurement as much as 0.1mm.
Digital Scale
Each gram counts for RC fashions, so having an correct device to weigh your quadcopter and parts is necessary. Having 1g precision is nice sufficient usually, however 0.1g is good particularly for these micro quad parts. Make certain most capability is over 1kg, if you happen to plan to construct bigger fashions you would possibly wish to select one with even increased weight restrict.
Clamp Meter
A clamp meter lets you measure present instantaneously by clamping the jaws round a wire with out the necessity to break into the circuit to take measurements. It’s able to measuring increased present than a multimeter, however the accuracy is likely to be decrease and they’re pretty costly.
Watt Meter
A watt meter (or energy meter) can measure present drawn and energy consumption. It’s helpful for testing motor and even measuring the ability of a complete quadcopter. It’s necessary to get one with XT60 connectors or open wires so you may solder your personal. Ranking as much as 60V and 200A can be fascinating for FPV drone use.
Soldering Fume Extractor
Solder fumes are very unhealthy in your lung. Some folks can develop into sensitized to flux fumes, particularly from the older rosin flux utilized in cored solder, and get respiration issues.
Desktop Fan
Nice for cooling if you energy the VTX on the bench, it will probably double as soldering smoke fan (suck the fume away).
RF Energy Meter
For testing and measuring radio/video transmitter output energy. ImmersionRC Energy Meter V2 is an compact and reasonably priced choice although accuracy will not be assure, it’s higher than nothing.
Antenna SWR Meter
Understanding the SWR of your 5.8GHz antenna can assist resolve which frequency or channel you must use for optimum efficiency What’s antenna SWR: https://oscarliang.com/best-fpv-antenna/#SWR. Interested by measuring antenna SWR? Take a look at my tutorial for a deep dive into the method:: https://oscarliang.com/litevna-measure-antenna-swr/.
Get your LiteVNA from these distributors (IMPORTANT: guarantee it helps as much as 6.3GHz!):
FTDI Adapter
FTDI adapter, aka serial converter, might be helpful for programming ESC, OSD, FC, configuring GPS and so on. Within the occasions of broken USB port in your FC, you can too use it to attach your FC to your pc through one of many UART.
ST-Hyperlink V2 Programmer
That is used to flash units with STM32 processors, corresponding to ExpressLRS receivers, flight controllers and ESC.
Voltage Regulator
It’s helpful for powering VTX when there’s no BEC in your FC. It’s tiny and lightweight weight, which is helpful for FPV drones and RC planes, it’s additionally useful to have for digital initiatives. It helps a variety of enter voltage from 5V, or 2S all the way in which as much as 6S, and the output is adjustable utilizing a screw driver (you’ll want a multimeter to confirm the output voltage).
Get this mini voltage regulator from these distributors:
FPV Backpack
FPV Backpacks are extraordinarily helpful as a result of they’re designed particularly for storing typical FPV gear. Certain, you may simply use any abnormal backpack, however they aren’t going to be as environment friendly and handy to make use of for FPV stuff. They usually often lack the required padding on the skin to guard your gear if you happen to drop it.
Micro-fibre Fabric
Use a correct microfibre material to scrub your digital camera lenses and goggles screens to keep away from scratching the glass!
Instruments for FPV Mounted Wings
Interest Knife / Utility Knife
Interest knife is nice for slicing and eradicating foam, tape and heatshrink. Field cutters would do too, however they are typically much less exact and fewer sharp.
Pearl Head Pins
For holding foam elements / carbon elements collectively if you’re utilizing glue that takes some time to dry.
Sand Paper
You wish to sand the froth surfaces and carbon fibre spars earlier than apply glue to them, it makes them stick higher.
I’d say something between 40 grits to 240 grits is ok. It is determined by your desire actually, so long as you’re not ripping bubbles off the froth. I personally use 80 to 120 grit, I discover something much less will make the beads of froth come out, and something greater than 120 takes a very long time to realize the specified end result.
Servo Tester
It’s helpful for testing servos, and centring them when establishing elevons. Additionally helpful for troubleshooting and testing ESC and motor spin course. You may additionally use it for motor thrust testing.
Weight for CG
These are weight blocks you may place in your wing to steadiness CG. It’s not a nasty concept in order for you one thing neat, however I usually simply use cash. Really cash change into cheaper.
Servo Cable Crimping Software
that is used for crimping wires onto lugs. You don’t want to purchase one instantly if you happen to’re simply stepping into the passion however finally the day will come when you’ll need one and can discover it helpful.
Servo connectors are Dupont 2.54mm, steadiness leads are JST-XH 2.54mm.
Scotch Heavy Obligation Packing Tape
The should have tape for basic functions – protecting, reinforcing hinges, laminating… Sellotape tape is okay, however I discover good high quality packing tape are usually thicker and stronger.
Coloration Packing Tape
Generally known as wing tapes, shade packing tapes are nice for adorning your wings, and including some colours to it. It’s typically used for protecting and laminating.
Those I exploit are thinner than the heavy responsibility packing tape and aren’t as robust. Nevertheless it doesn’t add any noticeable weight to the plane which is what I like!
Fibre Tape
AKA Reinforce Packing Tape – it’s extraordinarily robust and sticky! Typically used to guard main edges and reinforcing weak foam elements and joints. It can be used for protecting your servos within the wing.
Out of doors Vinyl Tape
It would really feel much like electrical tape, nevertheless it’s much less stretchy and has a shiny end and stick way more securely. It’s additionally twice as thick as packing tape. It conforms to irregularity effectively, nice for making use of on management surfaces, like on prime of servos, it offers it a really clean end
Duct Tape
Stronger than packing tape and works significantly better on irregular surfaces, nevertheless it’s additionally a lot heavier; it’s simpler to take away and substitute; one other drawback is that they have an inclination to wrinkle up below the solar. it’s often a selection between this or out of doors vinyl tape
Tapes
You may most likely get 90% of the roles achieved utilizing 2-3 varieties of tapes, nevertheless it’s helpful to have the variability for various purposes too.
Electrical Tape
Electrical tape is a must have each time working with electrical stuff. It’s nice for insulation and holding elements in place in your FPV drone construct. I additionally use it for masking when I’m soldering.
I solely use 3M Tremendous 35, it’s stretchy vinyl and fairly versatile, nice for wrapping motor wires or ESC on the drone arms too.
Double-sided Tape
Double sided tape is for sticking parts contained in the construct. In order for you some actually sticker and powerful ones, get the 3M Scotch model, that’s the sh*t! 🙂 Nice for sticking two separate issues collectively, like a receiver to the body. It takes just a few hours to remedy, as soon as it’s safe it’s onerous to take away.
Kapton Tape
Kapton tape is principally non-stretchy translucent electrical tape. It will possibly face up to excessive temperature and gained’t soften simply, due to this fact is nice for protecting PCB when soldering, and wrapping parts if you don’t have the correct sized clear heatshrink.
Masking Tape
It’s principally simply sticky paper 🙂 You may tear it off the reel along with your fingers, very handy to make use of if you happen to simply wish to maintain one thing in place temporally through the construct. It may be eliminated simply with out leaving any mess behind. You can even write on it because it’s simply paper.
Fabric Tape
A.ok.a gaffer’s tape, it’s versatile like material, nice for wrapping issues round. It’s sticky but in addition simple to take away. I exploit these for wrapping the motor wires to the arms, gives sure safety to the wires from prop strikes too.
Glue
Any foam pleasant glues would do!
Sizzling Glue
Sizzling glue might be the most well-liked choice for constructing/repairing foam fashions. As a result of they soften into the froth like a chemical glue, but in addition creates a particularly robust bodily bond on the similar time.
The energy can be its draw back. The bond is so robust it’s close to not possible to take away with out ripping the froth aside. Generally you may want the froth to simply disintegrate in a crash moderately than fully destroyed? It’s a private desire.
The opposite properties is that it units in a short time because it cools down. However that’s additionally the drawback, as a result of you could have solely a short while to place the elements. That will get worse in chilly climate.
E6000 Glue
At present my favorite glue, I’m utilizing this as a substitute to scorching glue and CA for constructing/fixing wings. I’ve an entire article to focus on why I prefer it a lot.
UHU Por Glue
UHU POR glue is good for gluing onerous foam like styrofoam. It’s versatile, proof against ageing and waterproof. Takes 10-20 minutes to set, turns into clear when dried.
Gorilla Clear Glue
A very fashionable choice for RC mannequin constructing. Sturdy stuff for an incredible vary of supplies, however personally not a giant fan of Gorilla glue, as a result of getting it in your fingers might be worse than epoxy!
Supplies and Provide
Zip Ties
Helpful sizes (width): 2mm and 3mm
Silicone Electrical Wires
Get your electrical wires in numerous gauges, generally used sizes for five″ FPV drones are 12AWG, 14AWG for energy, 20AWG for motors, and 28AWG for indicators. The dimensions requirement is determined by the present going by way of the wire, try this information about electrical wires and connector for extra element.
Warmth-shrink Tubes
Get numerous sizes for various purposes, e.g. 2mm, 3mm for motor wires and XT60 pigtail, 20mm, 25mm for ESCs / RX, and so on.
Battery Pads
A great battery pad will cease your battery from sliding, and forestall it from being punctured by the screw heads on the body. Listed here are some nice sticky pads:
Ummagrip 3mm thick Model
Ummagrip 1.5mm thick Model
Battery Straps
For five-inch or bigger drones, 20mm width velcro straps are sensible choice. Usually 200-220mm size for 4S, and 240-260mm size for 6S, nevertheless it largely is determined by your selection of body.
Thread Locker
Details about thread locker, principally it prevents screws from coming free on account of vibration.
{Hardware}
When choosing up metallic screws and bolts, watch out for what materials they’re product of. My desire is to get 10-9 or 12-9 each time attainable. These numbers check with the alloy of metal used within the screws. These are the great things, they don’t strip out simply and really robust.
M3 Stainless Metal Screws Assortment: https://amzn.to/3tOpPpA
M3 Nylon {Hardware} Package:
AliExpress – https://s.click on.aliexpress.com/e/_DEvf1gl
Amazon – https://amzn.to/3xlFMph
Silicone Conformal Coating
By coating this in your electronics, it makes it water proof! You may be taught extra in my tutorial.
Isopropyl Alcohol
Isopropyl alcohol can be utilized as a degreaser, solvent and cleansing agent. You should use it to scrub residue from burnt solder flux, in addition to simply basic cleansing of your electronics. It can be used to take away sure varieties of glue, in addition to silicone conformal coating.
Edit Historical past
- 2015 – Publish created.
- 2017 – Added extra objects.
- 2021 – Shortened web page URL, added extra objects.
- 2022 – Up to date product hyperlinks, added extra objects.
- 2023 – Up to date product hyperlinks, added FPV wing instruments.
- Jun 2024 – Up to date product hyperlinks.
