Frames for Quadcopters and Drones – Best Quad Frame Tech

Looking to build your own Quadcopter or Drone? A good place to start is to get your hands on a new quad frame for your project.  Some of the best quad frame manufacturers offer a variety of different products. Just as there are many different types of drones and quadcopters out there, we can also find equal amounts of variety when it comes to frames and components that make up a drone or a quadcopter. Even though building your own flying machines can be a fun and rewarding experience; it can also quickly become tedious with lots of time spent on research as well as money spent on purchasing components and parts.

This is where DroneFlyTech.com comes into the picture. We scour the drone technology world to find the best and most low-costly solutions available for you.  Whether you are a drone enthusiast, hobbyist or a business professional, this one stop shop for drone and quadcopter technology is our playground. With this page, we begin our journey into the Build-Your-Own-Drone-Quadcopter world.  Here, you will find our collection of the best quad frame components and parts.

The frame types can be broken down into a variety of different platforms.  These platforms range from: racing, surveillance, mapping, forest-fire exploration, farm monitoring, aerial reconnaissance, mini-drone, leisure & aerial photography quadcopters and many more mobile applications. Scroll down for more information on the different platforms. The quality of the best quad frame also depends on the strength & weight of the material being utilized in the construction of the frame.

The most durable frames currently on the market today are made entirely out of carbon fiber and metal.

The carbon fiber can be utilized throughout the body of the frame, but it is recommended that the actual arms themselves are constructed out of metal.  Often, carbon-fiber and metal materials are fused together for a lighter, yet stronger structure support.  Another less common material sometimes used is glass filled nylon.  The nylon is typically more durable due to its ability to bend.  Think of it this way, where glass filled nylon bends, carbon-fiber breaks.  When looking for the best quad frame, think durability and strength.  Certain parts on quadcopters can be carbon fiber as they do not need to bend, other parts should be metal as extra strength is needed; lastly, glass filled nylon should be used on parts and components that need to be able to bend and absorb shock. We believe that for an extremely durable and best quad frame, carbon-fiber along with metal alone should be utilized.

Carbon Fiber

Some Things to Look for When Picking out a Good Quadcopter Frame

When choosing a decent Quadcopter frame, some important things to also consider is to have the right engine, the right ESC (Electronic Speed Control) module, a good camera, proper wiring, weather-proof shielding etc. The frame itself is the actual platform that will need to be able to carry all of the components that make up a Quadcopter. The frame has to be strong, yet light-weight and durable. With so many different types of frames to choose from on the market today, one has to really know their stuff when it comes to the shape, material type, and dimensions of the Quad. How is it that you can decide which one would be a better fit for you? There are some things that you will need to consider before going all out and purchasing a frame to build your own Quadcopter.  Some of these things are outlined below, have a look (not necessarily in this order).

* Most Common Builds & Materials

Carbon Fiber – As previously mentioned, most of the best quad frame components out there are made out of is Carbon Fiber.  This material is great because it is physically strong, yet light.  But there has been some talk about this material not being the best as it bounces radio signals.  This could cause the loss of contact between the Quadcopter and the Controller if the receiver/transmitter are not of the best quality.  These things go hand in hand.  If you want to utilize Carbon Fiber, this is a great material; but do make sure that you also invest good money into the other components (receiver, transmitter) so as not to have issues.

Aluminum (Metal) – This can also be utilized for the construction of Best Quad Frame.  Although Aluminum tends to be stronger than Carbon Fiber, it is also heavier.  If building a Quadcopter with an Aluminum structure, keep in mind that you will need to utilize a stronger Engine in order to help it fly comfortably. A stronger engine automatically requires a bigger battery & thicker wiring.

* Strength/Hardness & Agility

Hardness – How hard should your Quad frame be to bend? When it comes to flight, having a stiff frame allows for you to have a much easier/less turbulent flight due to there being less warping and twisting of the frame. It allows the unit to more easily glide through the air/wind etc.

Softness – Having a softer frame allows the Quadcopter to be more durable in times of crashes or collisions. If your frame is too hard, it is much more likely that it would break upon impact if it hit the ground or got in contact with a bird or another drone.  A softer frame allows for bending and better impact shock absorbing.

Conclusion – It is best to pick a quad frame that is somewhere in between the hard and the soft place.  It will allow for smoother flights, yet it would also not compromise too much on the durability of the unit during crashes and collisions.

* Quadcopter Arms & Legs

Aftermarket Legs/Arms (sold separately from frame) – When it comes to aftermarket arms and legs for quadcopters, there is a sea of selection out there on the market.  You should be careful of the weight, dimensions and threading when purchasing arms/legs separately from the quad frame. The components are built from many types of materials, cut types, dimensions and quality.  Make sure that you check the compatibility of your own frame against the legs/arms.  The mounting holes on the arms need to align correctly for the best fit.  Having compatibility information about the frame & the arms/legs allows for you to not have to spend too much extra time in trying to fabricate parts, screws, washers and bolts to make it all fit together.  Also need to consider materials being used for arms, do you want just strength and stiffness of the material, or do you want shock absorption and durability as well (as was covered in the previous tip about Strength/Hardness).

Built-In Arms/Legs (included with quad frame) – This would probably be the best way to go when choosing Quadcopter Frame’s Arms & Legs.  The reasoning behind this is that both the frame and the arms themselves are made out of the same material.  This is important as you don’t want to have one frame component weaker than another.  As they say, you are only as strong as your weakest link.  Another valid reason for going this route would be, because it is much easier to replace frame components if they are all coming from the manufacturer.  Sometimes you might even have warranty on the parts and the manufacturer will replace your best quad frame unit’s damaged arm/leg for free.  Other times, the frame might come with extra legs & arms that can be utilized as replacements.