The developer designed a 3D-printed frame for a 5-inch drone using PETG CF material. The initial design process involved simulation in CAD software, where the author applied a load of 1 kilogram-force per arm to test structural integrity and deformation under stress.
Several iterations were tested, including hollow and solid configurations with varying thicknesses. The experiments revealed that complex generative designs often lacked the rigidity of simpler models. A final version of the frame was developed, which weighs 50 grams and requires no support structures during printing.
The resulting frame is compatible with the QIDI Q1 PRO printer, which has a 245x245 mm build plate, and also fits on the smaller Bambu Lab A1 mini with an 180x180 mm print area. The author intends to use this final design for the assembly of a Clover 4 drone.
