Scarab Vampire User manual

Page 1

Build guide

™Vampire

Page 2

Warnings & Alerts

This manual is a building guide and is not a substitute for

common sense or technical competencies or skill sets required

for safe operation of radio controlled aircraft. Skipping past

any one step is not permitted. You must ﬁrst read the

manual entirely - then start. Separate assumptions from facts.

You - the pilot in command is responsible at all times for

everything that you do in the setup and the operation of

your aircraft. If you see something unusual or if you don’t

completely understand something - Do Not Fly.

For full details regarding safety warnings and alerts, consult the

relevant section on the MultiWiiCopter.com website.

For example, to set up your engines consult the setup and

maintenance steps on the products page for the engines you have

in your kit. Keep going back to the website pages for the latest

info

Throughout this instruction manual you will see the following

warnings, alerts and notes. Please take particular note, as they are

very important for your safety and also a successful build of your

Scarab™ Airframe.

Extreme danger without warning - risk of re, extreme heat and

serious damage if misunderstood or used incorrectly.

Irreversible electrical danger - permanent CPU damage outside

of your warranty. Misuse will smoke and blow your electronics.

Single redundancy critical - failure of this item to function will

result in the uncontrolled crash of your Multicopter.

Health and safety - if you remove the risk, you remove the danger.

e.g. remove props = no risk of ngers & eyes being cut by prop.

Watershed decision - choose wisely, not always possible to

change your mind afterwards without replacement parts.

Points to take particular note of during construction.

NB:

Page 3

Bolt Reference Guide

dark items are included in this kit.

ghosted items are not included in this kit

Check the product page on the website for what

is included and what is excluded in this kit

This manual to be read in conjuction with the

website page itself for updates.

M3*6

phillips

nylon

M3 nut

nylon

21mm*3

SS shaft

M3 30mm

hex stand-off

red

M3 6mm

hex nylon

stand-off

M3 10mm

hex nylon

stand-off

M3 20mm

hex nylon

stand-off

M3 15mm

hex nylon

stand-off

M3*10

phillips

nylon

M3*6

ﬂat nylon

M3*5

grub

M3*3

grub

M3*12 M3*20M3*10M3*8M3*5

M3 nut

M2*8 M2*10M2*5

30 x 2mm

nail

Page 4

What you will need:

Phillips Screwdriver - size 1

for: Nylon Phillps M3*10

5mm socket spanner

for: tightening M3 standoffs hex

metal (landing gear)

loctite® 241 (blue)

for: M2, M3 bolts and grub screws

SCARAB frame tool - deluxe -

1/16th 1.5875mm hex

one is included, but a 2nd one is

useful (hex key can be used instead)

for: M2 stainless steel frame bolts

curved diamond le

for: smoothing and deburing plates

and booms

2mm hex tool

for: M3 stainless steel bolts

1.5 mm hex tool

for: Motor grub screws, M3 grub

screws

DU-BRO prop balancer

for: balancing props

good quality scalpel

(snap off blade cutter)

for: balancing props

ne sandpaper - 240 wet & dry

for: smoothing props

additional 5 zip ties

for: additional motor balancing

Nitto brand electrical insulation

tape

for: attaching Rx to boom

also additive prop balancing method.

(adding weight)

not included

Page 5

Preparing the Scarab™ Airframe plates

Base Plate

1. Sand rough edges with curved diamond le

Use diamond le to smooth curved edges of the frame, including

the beetle wings to prevent wires being cut by sharp edges.

Only light scraping is required. Do both sides and outside edges

Take care not to slip and scratch the plates.

carbon conducts electricty

Attaching Delrin®Boomholders

Insert M2*8 boomholder bolts into the Scarab™Airframe plate

from the bottom.

Place a small amount of loctite® onto bolt then screw on the

21mm Stainless Steel Shaft.

There are 6 booms on a Scarab™Vampire plus an additional

empty boom holder at the rear for tail attachment stability.

Ensure no loctite® is on the outside of the shaft as it

will lock boomholders.Wipe clean.

Repeat until all shafts are done on base.

NB:

removing all sharp edges

sharp edges can cut high current wires and

cause ﬁres

ﬁrst push

then turn

Push Delrin® boomholder bases onto shafts.

Tighten the M2*8 boomholder bolts in base of Scarab™frame

now using 1/16th ProTool (hex key can alternatively be used).

Push Pro Tool in straight, otherwise bolt with strip.

Screw heads are stainless steel which is soft,

Pro Tool is hardened steel which is very hard.

If M2 heads are stripping out, this is a

technique fault.You are not pushing

the Pro Tool rmly in the rst instance.

A bolt with correct alignment require almost

zero force to turn - a cross-thread bolt will

be very stiff after one or two turns - STOP

Place boomholder tops on.

Screw M2*8 bolts into top of shafts ﬁnger tight to test / check

tolerances on all shafts and the threads on the M2 bolts

DO NOT SKIP THIS STEP, or you will regret it later when you

are pulling your whole frame apart to replace once shaft.

NB:

Page 6

Remove bolts.

Screw in one M2*5 into the inside right corner of each boom

holder.

This holds the boomholder in place before top plate goes on.You

will out the other screws in later after the top plate goes on.

Bolt does not bottom out because boomholder pair has a gap

when boom is in for a tight t.

Never apply loctite® to the top screws.

Fitting the Carbonbird™ ESCs

Install one Electronic Speed Controller as per

photo to the right.

Points to note:

• blue Engine wires slot through boom holder.

• JST wire to remain in centre

• RC White Red Black wire to feed out the back

of copter.

• Use zip-tie to attach speed controller to

base plate.

Fit ESCs as per photograph below.

NB:

one M2*5 now

to hold boom

holder in place

three M2*8 later

after top plate goes on

Page 7

Connect VOLTair

Attach VOLTair board to lower carbon plate using 5mm nylon

standoffs and nylon screws as per image to right.

VOLTair board must not be in direct contact with carbon frame.

Carbon in direct contact withVOLTair will cause ﬁre.

Connect JSTm (VOLTair) to the JSTf of the ESCs.

leave one JSTm from VOLTair to poke through top plate.This will

connect to the Andromeda..

Push JST connectors all the way in. Double click is required.

Leave one ESC red wire connected for 5v power out.

Use the ESC with best airow for this.

Keep your wires neat to avoid confusion and crushing.

Speed controllers need cooling - don’t smoother them.

Zip tie the XT60 connection on VOLTair to edge of airframe to

aid with battery attachment down the track. Position near tail /

back of frame.

Attach velcro strap for battery to Scarab™Airframe base plate.

Feed the soft furry side (female) down through beetle wings.

The landing gear are attached by one M3*12 and the large

penny washers to the centre (of 3 holes) of the botttom boom

holders.The gear locate into the heads to prevent rotation.

NB:

Page 8

Cut and stick male adhesive velcro to base plate and tail as shown. If own without a camera - the

battery will be located foward near the centre and use a centre strap. But if a 200-375g camera is added

to the front - the LiPo must equally move rearward to balance the craft 10mm forward of centre.

Page 9

Debur booms

Boom openings must be smoothed, inside and out prior to

installing heatsinks.

Use diamond le to debur inside edge.

Use sand paper to debur outside edge.

Assembling Booms and Heatsinks

Debur heatsinks by pushing the screw through.

Screw M3*12 through engine holder into saddle clamp a small

amount.

There must be a gap for heatsink to t around boom (see photo

below).

Push red lock/heatsink onto boom.

Tighten screws.

Repeat for remaining booms.

NB:

removing all sharp edges

Page 10

Option A - Trim engine wires to suit booms.

pro: reducing weight and keeping tidy

con: cannot ever be lengthened for longer booms in future.

requires advanced soldering skills. solder paste amech 223

Option B : Z-Fold wires Pro : can easily be lenghtened later ;

no resoldering of GBC connectors required ; con : weight is not

reduced. Fold and tape (or use self vulcanising plumbers tape)

Carbonbird™ Engine Setup

Engine maintenance is YOUR responsibility.

Failure to follow engine care and maintenance will void your

warranty. Refer to the MultiWiiCopter.com page for your engine

for full instructions on engine maintenance.

Engines contain magnets. Keep your work bench clean.

When working with engines, keep work space clinically clean

to avoid particles getting in and jamming engine; voiding your

warranty.

Apply a small drop of oil 20W50 - to Carbonbird™ engine

bearings.

NO MORE THAN ONE DROP.

Overowing oil will attract dirt and cause extra wear.

Spin oil in. spin the motor by hand the oil will enter.

Wipe with a cloth to remove all excess oil.

loctite® the Grub screw on side of engine.

Keep loctite® away from bearings!

If loctite® goes in bearing, engine will seize.

wipe any excess loctite® away with a cloth.

The side engines 5&6 are best Reverse mounted using

the two silver reversed prop adapters. This allows you to have

maximum prop clearance even if using 10" or 11" props later. See

website page http://www.multiwiicopter.com/products/carbonbird-

motor-nmb-888kv-short-shaft-reversed - as these motrs only

provide lift there is no adverse effect to handling.

NB:

motor setup

cut

Z-Fold wires to correct length.

then tape them with plumbers self

vulcanising tape. or use electrical tape

engines 5 & 6

Page 11

Attaching Carbonbird™ engines to booms

1. Insert engine wires into boom.

2. Put loctite® into engine screw holes.Wipe any excess away.

You will be using the holes that are 19mm apart (see image).

Keep loctite® away from bearings!

If loctite® goes in bearing, engine will seize.

3. Line up engine screw holes with corresponding heatsink

holes.You will want the engine wires to be as close to the

boom opening as possible.

4. Attach engine to heatsink with M3*5 bolts.

Do not cross thread.

Keep bolt straight - apply light pressure with screwdriver.

Put both bolts in halfway before tightening.

Use correct length bolt to mount engine.

If bolt goes to far into engine it will cut wires and short engine.

Labelling engine #s

Work out which ESC / engine pair belongs to each boom using

below diagram.

Label each wire with engine # - 3, 10, 5, 9, 11, 6.

NB:

label the wires with

motor numbers

3 9 10 11 5 6

VAMPIRE

Page 12

Tx Calibration

You must calibrate your transmitter. for MultiWii

See wiki for a detailed explanation on how to calibrate your

transmitter. To calibrate Tx, you will need:

• Paris connected to PC or oLED

• Your Tx with clean model memory

• Your computer running GUI ; or

• a PARIS oLED attached to PARIS

• Set end points and midpoints - (online wiki)

Getting the engine direction correct

1. Connect learning curve 4 wayY lead to engine wires.

2. Connect 1 engine - any three engine wires plug into any

three ESC GBC connectors.

Engine collet must be off.

3. Ensure your Rx is bound to your Tx.

4. Connect learning curve to Rx.

Futaba = channel 3 | All other brands = channel 1

5. Tx on (throttle off), all stick trims neutral on Tx.

6. Connect Lipo

7. You will hear 3 beeps (for a 3 cell battery) followed by 1 long

beep from engine.

8. Throttle up.

9. Is engine in correct orientation? CW / CCW?

(As per diagram on previous page).

10. Disconnect Lipo.

11. If engine is not in correct orientation, swap any two GBC

connections.

If 2mm GBC connections are stiff to do up or take apart, heat

up with hair dryer. Never force.

You can also debur female entry lip GBC with a scalpel.

12. Retest.

Ensure ESC / engine connection is fully insulated (no gold can be

visible - all part are insulated by heatshrink).

Boom is conductive. Copter will short if ESC / engine connection

comes into contact with boom. both metal and carbon conduct!

NB:

Setting up your Tx

Calibate via PC GUI

interface live

setting motor directions

Page 13

Learning Curve - Rx THRO direct to ESC

1. Tx on - full throttle (mode 2 - left stick up)

2. Connect lipo - makes the sound 1-2-3-then

3. You will hear 2 beeps from engines

4. Throttle down immediately

5. You will hear 4 beeps, 1 long beep, this means the ESCs have

learnt the Multiwii throttle range which is 1095 -

>1905

6. Disconnect lipo

Test of ESC learning

1. Throttle off

2. Connect Lipo

3. Move throttle slowly forward 1 or 2 notches.

4. All engines must start a the same time

5. Throttle down

6. Disconnect Lipo

7. Tx off

Program the Carbonbird™ ESC parameters

Ensure props are off and Lipo is disconnected at start.

1. Disconnect learning curve

2. Connect 1 engine to ESC card

White to White, Red to Red, Black to Black on BEC input.

3. Connect Lipo

There will be a short delay, then lights on card will appear.

4. Change “#4 cut off voltage” to “low”

5. Make sure lights reect After photo shown on right.

6. Disconnect Lipo

7. Disconnect ESC card

Repeat for remaining engines

Gimbal Assembly (optional if purchased)

Assemble gimbal.

Completed gimbal will look like image shown.

Optional servo BMS380 shown (BSA206 supplied in kit)

Custom camera anti-vibration has been used.

Attach servo-gimbal to bottom plate as per photo.

If purchasing a brushless gimbal - install the Delrin boom holder

set (non-rotating version) at this location.

NB:

Before After

ESC programming

Page 14

Close Up

Ensure the inside right screw of each boom holder has a

M2*5 screw in it.These screws keep the booms in place whilst

positioning the lid - or during maintenance.

Feed Carbonbird™ESC wires through rear of Scarab™Airframe

top plate (back left hole), as per photo to right.

Place top plate on top of boom holders

Ensure nothing will be crushed.

Hold plates together like a sandwich.

Place one M2*8 in, then check again to ensure that no wires are

being squashed or pinched.

Move anything out of the way if it is being squashed.

Use a round ended stick - ie. a chopstick - so not to cut any wires.

If you crush, pinch, cut or screw into wires, you will short your

Copter and create a hazard.

Put 2 M2*8 bolts in halfway. by hand - nger tight - Choose

screws on opposite side of frame.

Check again for pinched or crushed wires.

Put in all remaining M2*8 bolts. Screw in halfway.

If you feel any resistance in ﬁrst half turn, STOP - back

out - you are cross-threading. M2 bolts should go in with no

resistance. re-check the M2 bolt alignment - never force it.

In a boom holder group of 4, never tighten any one M2 until all 4

bolts are in or you will make alignment impossible.

Before tightening M2 bolts:

1. Check depth of booms in boomholders

2. Rotate booms approximately 5º as per diagram to the right.

MOTOR tilt - we designed the SCARAB™system to use motor

tilt. In a Vampire the engine 3 & 9 are tilted 5° clockwise (viewed

from the end of the boom looking inward) and engines 11 & 10

are rotated 5° CCW - this gives positive YAW control for Aerial

photo Ops with very little RPM change required.

Engines 5 & 6 have no tilt.

It also allows the pilot to trim the neutral yaw position in the

hardware - not on the Tx.

Now tighten all M2 bolts, top and bottom.

Never use loctite® on the topside boomholder M2 bolts.

NB:

# 11

#10

FRONT

5°

set tilt

Hexii H

Page 15

Insert M3*6 Grub screws into the outer holes on the boom

holders on upper side.Tighten, but not so much as to damage the

booms or to strip the threads in the delrin either - do not add

loctite to Delrin !

Do not cross thread.When inserting threaded bolts or screws -

the screw should feed easily.

After maiden ight and tuning, apply loctite® to these grub

screws if using split metal bottoms /tops Delrin. in metal side

Tail installation

Attach top and bottom tail pieces as per image shown using:

2 x M3*5 with no washers

2 x M2*6 with M2*6 washer

on each tail piece.

Q: why are there some larger holes on the tail?

A: because the tail can be used for other things.

Stabilise end of tail with a 30mm red metal standoff

attached with M3 bolts.

Attach Paris™ Board,Andromeda™ and LED

Mode Ring

Attach Paris™board to top plate using 15mm Nylon Standoffs -

screwing them into the 6mm phillips screws.

Connect blue(black) wire from Andromeda to Paris board "LED

STRIP GND"

Attach 6mm standoffs to outer plate.

Connect red wire from VOLTair through top plate to the

Andromeda.

Attach Andromeda to outer plate with 6mm nylon screws.

Velro LED Mode ring to the top of the Andromeda board with

the switches orientated to the back of the copter.

Poke LED Mode Ring wire through outer plate and connect to

Paris.

Ensure props are off and Lipo is not connected.

Connect Carbonbird™ESC wires to Paris™board.

Gimbal = E#12

POWER OFF - Connect all three pins correctly (see photo),

orientation - otherwise board will short later

Neaten wires by tucking gently into frame.

Correct Wrong

NB:

Page 16

When you are sure that you have connected the

ESCs to the Paris in the correct order – mark a

line over the connections with a paint pen (see

photo).This will enbale speedy reconnection in

the future.

Attach the outer deck with M3*5 and 30mm

metal standoffs.

Attached Rx to tail

Use adhesive velcro and Nitto electrical tape.

Must not be able to get caught in prop.

CARBON BLOCKs RC ! In this photo only

signals from above can be received.

Antenna need to sit at 90° angles -

see image to right.

Tape your antanenna to sit at right angles with

clear packing tape. Make sure the antenna will

hang well below the fuselage and CANNOT be

blocked by any carbon.

Set your receiver fail-safe to AUTO LEVEL and

50% power - if Rx signal is blocked - craft will

automatically ick level.

Page 17

Prop Balancing

Triple Blades are thin – use additive tape method only

balance your motors with zip ties and copper tape.

For detailed instructions of prop balancing, refer to video link on

MultiWiiCopter.com website

Ensure there is no wind, breeze or air moving through

environment when doing prop balancing.

1. Push in inserts

Check your prop balancer with no props. Cones must be

centrered. Place a dot on one cone to make sure it doesnt

rotate.

2. Attach prop to prop balancing device.

Observe where prop stops on balancer, mark the blade on

the side that is highest - lightest - with a silver pen or white

out pen. You will add tape to this blade.

holographic tape = safety

nitto tape / balancing tape / copper tape = for balancing

you are trying to shift the centre of gravity of the blade to the

centre.

3. Add heavy tape to the lightest blade.Wrap on both sides.

Trim off excess. Be careful not to cut the blade.

4. Check blade on balancer after each addition.

Rotate a different blade to the top to test centre of gravity.

Heaviest blade will get no tape.

Add lighter tape 2nd heaviest blade.

6. Repeat with remaining blades.

You will need two CW and two CCW blades.

The rest of the blades are spares.

3D Holographic bade tape is for safety, not for balancing.

Put on at the end for safety.

NB:

Page 18

Props on

Ensure to apply props in the correct orientation for your copter.

Refer to diagram to right.

Beyond this point, if you injure yourself with a prop, it is your

fault. If you dont understand this = dont put props on!

Never add props to the copter until you are condent in your

understanding of the electronics.

No Props = No Risk

Use eye protection after props on.

Squash engine collet leaves with your ngers.

Virgin collects have gaps. Squash with your ngers - rotate 120º -

sqaush. repeat until all leaves have be squashed.

Do not use a tool to squash collet.

Collet will be damaged and prop will be out of balance.

Push collar over collet leaves.

Attach prop in between collet and washer, with the spinner

holding everything onto the collet.

Collets are soft and can be bent easily if forced from one side.

Push directly from the top.

Push collet onto engine rmly.

There should be a gap of approximately 2mm between collet and

engine where shaft is visible.

Prop Tightening - VERY important

1. Push 2.5mm pro tool shaft through spinner

you can alternativly use an 11mm spanner to tighten.

2. Hold base of Carbonbird™engine with your lower hand ...

3. ... and hold top of spinner and prop with your thumb and

index nger.

4. with your other hand, tighten spinner using the pro tool as

grip. use EVEN force on both sides of tool (4)

5. Once tightened, test for tightness. Pull hard to 5kg whilst

holding exactly as shown in photo to right.

6. Spin to test collet.

If prop spins true, collet is ne.

If prop wobbles, collet is bent - replace it.

NB:

grip the bell

grip the prop

tighten the spinner

check the spinner wont pull off

FRONT

CCW

Page 19

Battery

Attach female velcro to battery.

Attach Lipo to base plate of Scarab™Airframe with velcro.

Battery should be oriented toward the back of the copter.

The battery is moved to set the balance point.

Adhesive velcro stops Lipo from slipping.

Velcro strap, holds Lipo in place.

There are 3 possible positions for the battery:

1. for carrying a go pro

2. for carrying a heavy APSC camera

3. for no camera

ensure to position your battery accordingly.

Check Scarab™Copter is correctly weighted with Lipo

on board by balancing on index ngers. Copter should tilt

slightly toward the front. ALWAYS check CofG

Pre-ﬂight inspection

Below - get used to to doing a full pre-ight inspection

everytime.

Its a full aircraft and requires methodical checkng. A

combination of eyeball - visual inspection and manual

checking - physical tightness checks - your quad does

not glide - if something goes wrong it will exit the ight

envelope.

Always do a Pre-ﬂight and Post ﬂight

check - dont become complacent.

be systematic and ALWAYS check

prop attachment - wiring and Temps.

Use cell-by-cell monitoring of LiPo

C of G test

set 10mm forward

of centre point

Page 20

Flight Modes

MultiWiicopter ACRO vs Auto LEVEL

Some Noobs want to use their wallet to buy their way to a full

auto-pilot - like buying a Wookong M for their rst copter - or

get GPS so that GPS somehow controls the aircraft for them -

that’s a myth and unsafe - but don’t worry - the real JOY of the

multiwiicopter ACRO mode system is the amazing combination

of smooth 100% control with full stability - hard to explain - it’s

just amazing how the basic ight mode - called ACRO - handles

really well - its far more satisfying than MikroKopter or DJI

autopilot level modes - in these other platforms you feel like a

cab passenger in New York - you can basically direct the Cab

to go where you want but your in no doubt that your NOT

the driver.Well with Multiwiicopter hardware/software it’s the

opposite - in ACRO mode (ACRO = stupid name - should be

called AWESOME mode or HERO mode) you have absolute

and complete control - Smooth and even respose to stick inputs

- yet its smooth predictable and stable. ALL the lmmakers at

MultiWiicopter.com y in ACRO mode - almost all the time.

First off I y Mode 2 (throttle and Yaw on left stick - I am a real

Helicopter pilot/instructor - so the other RC modes are like weird

to me - sorry.

Transmitter set-up

I set on 2 posn switch above throttle (right stick) this switch

controls ACRO/LEVEL - down is ACRO - up is LEVEL on

on 3 position stitch on right side - up off/mid MAGon/ down/

MAG & BARO on

I y 95% in ACRO - I use LEVEL mode only for

High hover parking while looking at something (my ground station

LCD)

I use LEVEL mode for Take-off on goggles - FPV - when in sloping

or patterned area with no obvious level horizon line - rst 10m

climb out - then switch back to ACRO

Landing on Goggles - FPV - last 10m to touch down

Crash recovery - if lost orientation - crash recovery panic is a)

power up 70% b)hit switch above LEVEL on c)release right stick

to centre it

I use MAG for level hover heading lock - MAG does not work

when tilted more than 20° - erratic readings - don’t go ying

around at high bank angles in MAG locked mode.

I use BARO - for high hover parking at 100 feet up above my

head (in calm wind - otherwise it will go downwind) - its not

ultra sonic - use your eyes/brain/hands to hover the aircraft - you

don’t need an auto pilot for this - get more stick time and get

your skills developed.

UP = AUTO LEVEL

DOWN = ACRO

UP = OFF

MIDDLE = MAG

DOWN = MAG + BARO

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