First post!
Finally finished a design for a hexacopter that uses an entirely snap together laser cut frame.
Full project details here: https://erikroby.com/hexacopter.html
81 Likes
That first test flight video… it is so excited to be flying!
7 Likes
What?! That is AMAZING!! Thanks for sharing the design and story of the build.
5 Likes
Impressive! Welcome…we’ll look forward to seeing more of your creations.
6 Likes
Very impressive! outstanding project.
Glad to see another flyer 
I have enough spare motors & props, just not that motivated. Well Done!
9 Likes
Great first post and project. Thanks for sharing! Thanks for the Videos!
5 Likes
Welcome to the forum! Love the Hexacopter design and the detailed write-up sharing how you experimented your way to your final design. Of course, I couldn’t stop there, so I cheered and sighed my way through the Portland reflector story. Since, I’ve had a career in product management, marketing, branding…I have great sympathy for your struggles there but also found your tenacity admirable.
Eager to see what you create!
6 Likes
Seems like forever ago, but I built a multiwiicopter Y6 from scratch. This makes me happy to see that you created your own drone from start to finish, and show that it flies. Congrats on a super rad project. I really like how all your internal wiring and components are sandwiched together by this design. Nice!!!
(Side note: My new DJI Mavic Pro 2 is showing up in a couple of days, so I will be flying this weekend for sure.)
5 Likes
Incredible work! Thank you for the video and file!
3 Likes
Amazing project!
So much time and effort to figure all of this out and get it to fly.
2 Likes
Impressive specs on that little bird. 
3 Likes
This is the most up my alley project to date! I’m not a mutirotor pilot yet but the snap together airframe is truly inspirational.
1 Like
Awesome project! 
1 Like
You win the Internet today 
2 Likes
Wonderful post. Thank you for the info
1 Like
Nailed it! This is a spectacular project, and your website showcases plenty more. Can’t wait to see what’s next.
5 Likes
Thanks! It was unfortunate how the Portland Reflector story ended, but at least that gives me more time to work on projects like this one!
I wish I had spent a little more time thinking about the wiring, they rarely get hit by a blade, haha. I think I have enough tie down points that shouldn’t be an issue anymore.
No nails holding it together, only snap fits ;). Up next will most likely be a hovercraft. I’ve started looking into how I will design the skirt to be laser cut. Probably won’t really get going on this one until the rain and darkness returns to Seattle though!
5 Likes
Incredible design! Have you found the acrylic to be at all brittle for those snap-together parts where they are expected to flex a bit? I’ve only done smaller versions and had enough breaks where I felt I might need a new approach, but maybe in larger sizes they are less prone.
Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks! Acrylic wouldn’t work for this design, these parts are all acetal. To make acrylic work you would need to lengthen the height of the snaps or decrease the snap engagement, either way making it not have to bend as sharply.
Acetal? I assume there’s no proofgrade Acetal, but can you share some sources? I just tried a design in acrylic with just a similar snap-in part without the quick release, and it worked well, once I extended it a bit and yes, made the snap gap pretty small (1mm on each side). Thanks!