JokerCam is flight ready

[AZ ChopperCam]

Finally after a few months of design and cooperative effort with Andrey, The Joker is nearly ready to take flight.

I just need to route the servo wires. Should have her airborne by Friday morning.

This mount is very similar to the Raptor design but is more robust. It's been scaled up a bit.

RTF weight is 11.5lb with a Panasonic GS300 and 2 FlightPower 5s5000 packs. That's nearly a lb lighter than my RaptorCam and if I ditched the "pop tart" shulze esc and got a lighter one I'd be over a lb lighter. It balances perfectly with the new Askman lower frames. The new frames push the battery back further and allow the camera to be positioned closer to the main shaft.

About the only thing that may require changing is the location of the nose frames. They are awfully close the the flybar and at max flybar deflection there could be some inetrference. Easy fix though, there's plenty of room to bring the entire nose mount assembly down about 1 or 2" It may not even be an issue. I need to see how much the flybar moved when in flight.

I think this is going to be a good ship. Will shoot some video this weekend.

http://www.minicoptercam.com/jokercam/1.jpg

http://minicoptercam.com/jokercam/2.jpg

http://minicoptercam.com/jokercam/3.jpg

http://minicoptercam.com/jokercam/4.jpg

[AZ ChopperCam]

hmmm.... just realized I could flip the servo mount and run the servo and pulleys on the underside of the mount and gain extra clearance for the flybar.

Just swapped it and now it looks like it should have plenty

[askman]

I will drop the design by 1" that should give enough room. in fact, it will use bit less material and make it bit stiffer. does look good otherwise. if we don't do the XLT, I will do the maxi joker 2.

[WMann]

Hi DJ,

I like the set up, it is clean and simple looking. I will be anxious to see the video from this machine. I like the belt drive pulleys for tilt and pan. Are those available over the counter and where if you don't mind me asking? Also does the servo pulley come broached for the servo or do you have to modify it to attach to a servo wheel?

Thanks for the info


Wayne Mann

[loewermx]

Looks very nice guys, the stuff you guys do is just amazing.

Scott

[AZ ChopperCam]

I am very pleased with Andrey's frame design. It's light and extremely rigid.

Wayne, I get my large pulleys from www.sdp-si.com. They are for "mxl" series belts. When properly tensioned they have zero backlash and are smoother than gear driven assemblies. The servo pulley is acquired from www.lynxmotion.com. They are splined to fit Hitec servos. My only gripe with them is they are 32 tooth variants and in order for me to get a 4:1 gear ratio I must use large pulleys on the gimbal.

I hear servo city will be releasing pulleys that have less teeth. I think the optimum setup would be a 15 tooth pulley on the servo and a 60-75 tooth on the gimbal. This would lighten things up a bit as the pulleys are some of the heaviest parts in the system.

[WMann]

Thanks DJ,


Wayne Mann

[fitenfyr]

Looks good.

The Flybar is close, but in flight it moves VERY little.
I don't think clearance will be an issue.

I know we had some things on the tailboom that were pretty close when the flybar was spooling up and on the bench, but we never had an issue with it.

[peaks view]

Nice, I really like the belt drive. Awaiting the Maxi Joker 2 setup!!!

[askman]

joker2 setup is coming. I have the lower frame almost programmed, but I realize I need to pickup an upper frame as well. (I just bought a lower frame to get measurement off of) I will pick it up this week.

[Nate Dogg]

DJ-
Looks great! One question though: Is it always raining when you take pictures in your backyard? Your concrete is always wet! I thougt AZ was pretty dry... :lol:

[AZ ChopperCam]

it is monsoon season here ya know! :mrgreen:

[askman]

I either need to buy a upper frame for the joker2 or I need to get a measurement for the following. frankly, at 50 bucks, I want to ask you guys for help first. (since I can't use the frame anyway, and I already spent 70 on the bottom frame. ouch) the attached picture is lines that corresponds to the screw holes in the frame, I need the distance between each, so that I can make the top part of the frame. I have all the other information I need. .

[dreslism]

DJ,

Are those carbon or G10 frames that askman cut?

Did he cut them specifically to mount the front mount or where there other reasons like weight savings?

RTF weight is 11.5lb with a Panasonic GS300 and 2 FlightPower 5s5000 packs. That's nearly a lb lighter than my RaptorCam

What is the big weight difference between the two?

The raptor plastic frame?

[Nate Dogg]

I dont know what kind of joker he's running, but you might ask here: www.silenteyeap.com. Nice guy. BungeeMike, I think...

[AZ ChopperCam]

Scott, the reason for the lower frames was to push the batteries further aft and allow the camera to be put much closer to the main shaft. The new frames stop right at the motor where as the older frames continued several inches forward.

As for why it's lighter than the Raptor? The mechanics of the Joker are very simple and the structure is efficient. The carbon frames are quite a bit lighter than the Raptor frames.

I really like the Joker because themeat and potatoes of the helicopter is compacted into the upper frames. the entire transmission, tail drive, servos are all in the upper frames and it's very compact. The lower frames only purpose is to provide an area to put batteries and mount the landing skids.

[dreslism]

Scott, the reason for the lower frames was to push the batteries further aft and allow the camera to be put much closer to the main shaft. The new frames stop right at the motor where as the older frames continued several inches forward.


Ahh, now I see it. I was not that familiar with the JOker layout, but looking at the other photo of a joker compared to yours, I now see it. It's almost like the frames are turned around backwards.

[R Hudson]

it is monsoon season here ya know! :mrgreen:

DJ,

That's funny. I'd never heard of "Monsoon Season" existing in Arizona until a friend of mine moved to Mesa and was explaining it to me.

Very interesting.

Rod

[AZ ChopperCam]

yep.. T-Storms every day pretty much from end of July into the first weeks of Sept. They are mostly really nasty sand/dirt storms. the entire sky turns orange and severe winds in the 65mph+ range

but of course I was watering my concrete down :oops:

[k2pilot]

but of course I was watering my concrete down Embarassed

i always wet down the concrete at the places im shooting if it's ugly enough! no shame in wetting the concrete, makes for good contrast.

[rroback]

looks sweet. Does the mount have the same 3 vibe absorbers the raptor mount has? Doesn't look like that. any plans for any sort of roll control?

Rhett

[rroback]

any updates on the joker 2 setup, askman?

[askman]

well, the joker cx frame is done and available. I am working on a CF gimbal with damped roll. still trying to work out the best way to dampen it. (I want some form of oil damper setup) plus, I've been swamped with orders, so I have not made the progress I wanted. should be done by end of next week. joker 2 version is coming soon as well just not enough time in the day, and I will be out of town this weekend