Introduction: NLR35 - Single 21700 3d Printed Nanolongrange Digital FPV Drone

By www.youtube.com/unboxingexperien

Hi guys,

welcome to my new Nanolongrange FPV drone design! This is the 3rd iteration, you may know the previous versions https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4743497 and https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4818009 For this build, you need to have some experience with FPV drones, in particular with wiring electronics and setting up the software in Betaflight. If you are a complete novice check tutorials on youtube (e.g. from Joshua Bardwell) before starting the build.

This time, the design aim was to provide a more robust and versatile frame. In my opinion, 1s Nanolongrange FPV drones are just at the beginning and can push all boundaries! Please feel free to print, mod and share your builds with the hashtag #NLR35.

NLR35's key features are:

  • 2 camera mounting options
  • analog or digital FPV link
  • ELRS long range RC link
  • 1s 12A AIO board
  • top or bottom battery mounting
  • push or pull prop setup
  • larger props (up to 3.5")
  • GPS mount
  • single 18650 or 21700 Li-Ion battery power
  • optional magnetic battery connectors



Supplies

Electronics

1x 1s 12A AIO flight controller

1x NamelessRC nano GPS

1x JumperRC T-Pro ELRS


FPV goggles 

Fatshark HDO 2

HUGE Antenna


Analog FPV

1x Caddx Ant

1x Eachine nano VTX if you choose lite AIO board without integrated VTX

1x Foxeer micro U.fl antenna


or Digital FPV

1x HDZero VRX

1x HDZero Whoop lite set

1x Foxeer micro U.fl antenna


Propeller

4x Gemfan 3018 


(Titanium) screws:

8x M2x6 for mounting motors

2x M2x20 for 21700/18650 battery holder

2x M2x16 for Flight controller mounting


Recommended 21700 Li-Ion batteries:

https://www.nkon.nl/molicel-21700a-4200mah-30a.html

https://www.nkon.nl/samsung-inr21700-40t3-4000mah-50a.html


Recommended 18650 Li-Ion batteries:

https://www.nkon.nl/sony-murata-us18650-vtc6.html


Other stuff

M2 plastic nuts

Zip ties 1.8x100mm

Step 1: 3d Printing the Parts

I strongly recommend printing all parts with ABS. PLA(+) will work too, but it is very temperature sensitive and will deform over time. PETG is ok, but too flexible for my taste. I'm using Esun ABS+. My printing settings were 0.2 resolution and 20% infill.

If you want to save 6g, you can CNC cut the frame from 1.5mm carbonfibre. There is a .svg file on the Thingiverse deposit as well.

The battery mount is optional, as well as the magnetic battery connector.

Step 2: Build

Before starting the build, you should decide I went for a push prop setup, do avoid propeller in the view. I also opted for the 21700 battery mount and to install it under the frame. Alternatively you could use no mount, the 18650 battery mount or installation on top of the frame.

  • Use M2 screws to build the drone. The battery mount is connected with 2 16-20mm M2 screws. You need 2 additional screws to mount the Flight controller. Titanium screws will help to save weight.
  • If you decide to use the optional GPS, put the 3d printed mount on top of the rear screw.
  • Put the flight controller on the 4 screws using grommets.
  • Install motors using two M2x6mm screws per motor.
  • Press fit propellers on the motors. Ensure correct direction according to your Betaflight setup. You can use 2 screws per prop, but I decided to skip them and save weight.


Step 3: Optional: Magnetic Battery Connector

  • For the magnetic battery connector put the power wires through the hole of the 3d printed connectors.
  • Solder a Nickel bit to the wires.
  • Press fit a 5x2mm magnet into the 3d printed parts
  • Solder the wires to the power input of the flight controller. Ensure correct polarity! The + shaped connector should be soldered to the positive wire, the - shaped connector to the negative wire. Recommended: Install a small capacitor too.

Tip: Ensure that the wires are not too long when connected to the battery to avoid props touching them.

  • To power the drone, put the battery into the mount and attach the magnetic connectors. Ensure correct polarity, the different shape of 3d printed connectors (+,-) will help.

Step 4: Digital FPV (HDZero)

HDZero is a digital FPV system providing you with HD video transfer. There are better video quality systems on the market (e.g. DJI, Walksnail) but HDZero is light weight! However, there is a major drawback over using analog FPV on this drone. HDZero needs a dedicated UART so there is no free UART on the simple 1s flight controllers for using GPS...

  • Solder the HDZero whoop lite board to the Flight controller. RX goes to TX, TX to RX of a free UART. Connect the power wires directly to the battery connector. I did not connect The 5V output of the flight controller will not provide sufficient current.
  • Mount the HDZero whoop lite board on top of the flight controller. Then put M2 plastic nuts on the screws.
  • Mount the camera with the included tiny screws to the frame, attach the MIPI cable to the board and the antenna to the U.fl connector.
  • For setting up HDZero including OSD on Betaflight, please watch the video.

Step 5: Analog FPV

Why should you use analog FPV over digital? It is cheaper, provides better range and it is lighter! Moreover, you have a spare UART for connecting GPS.

  • Use a zip tie to attach the VTX on the battery mount. There is a dedicated cut-out for the zip tie to ensure the VTX does not slide or wobble after attaching
  • Optional: Use a second zip tie to support the antenna.

Step 6: Have Fun!

Now you should be ready to fly NLR35. Don't get frustrated, FPV drones can be complicated. However, the community is supportive and you will find a lot of support online.

Please don't forget to follow your local regulations!

Feel free to print, mod and share your builds with the hashtag #NLR35.

Have fun!