MAKER PIPE CONNECTORS FOR AIRCRAFT FRAMES...

MAKER PIPE CONNECTORS FOR AIRCRAFT FRAMES

Here is my latest project, that started with end goal of using conduit and Maker Piper connectors. Some of you may recall my earlier posts here and videos where I show the pressing of the ends of the conduit tubes with a 3D printed die to allow me to connect more permanently and securely to the MP connectors, via the single nut and bolt, this is the main reason I did the tool, but since I had started a go-kart earlier using MP connectors and conduit, I used it there first.

You can see the 1:4 scale model of my own design MIA Ultralight Coaxial Electric Weight-Shift Helicopter, in action, in the attached video link. First of its kind in the world, although much inspired by the GEN-H4, but more simplified with my own design independent rotor drive for yaw control with mixed elevon control for pitch and roll, a unique gimbal gear drive pod, and 4 brushless motors for dual redundancy.

I am still working on the full scale frame, which at the moment is still done with conduit, but I will replace the conduit with aircraft aluminum and hardware, but still using the Maker Pipe connectors using my press fit end approach to keep all connections securely.

The Maker Pipe connectors are excellent for making all the frame connections fast and simple, provided prudent thought and safety is employed when used for making aircraft frames. I think I am the first in using MP connectors for full size aircraft projects.

I also think the connectors with the tubes "pressed at the ends" as I have shown, will also work in ultralight airplanes, with aircraft hardware. I am thinking I can scale up, also, the MIA Quicksilver RC Ultralight or any of my RC aircraft designs that use aluminum tubing for frames, using the MP Connector as described above. Some sample photos attached.

BTW, all my rc aircraft, I re-engineered it from ground up for RC application with durability, safety and longevity in mind. I do not like to drill through thin wall round tubes, but pressing the ends flat and placing a connecting hole there is acceptable, cleaner and safer too. I employ aluminum tubes only in the frame, and wing tensioner tubes, the rest of the bracing , Leading and Trailing edges as well as tail stabilizer use carbon in all my aircraft designs. For example, there is not much damage you can do to the MIA Quicksilver RC ultralight or any of my designs, as they are well designed and built. So I am confident that if I scale any of them up, using MP connections, with a bit more thought on human safety, it will work just fine. I have Several RC Ultralight designs that are more than 10 years old and still look and fly like new. These use my trademark, same alu tube, carbon, flex press fit and P-Clip connector design approach I've been using for over 20 years.

With respect to my full size heli frame, it needs strategic placed triangulation bars and reinforcements for additional structural rigidity and safety, but I have attached a preliminary photo to show the idea behind it. When finished the full size will be very similar to the scale model of it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2gcgRWOAOw&t=3s

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