CineStar 6 WKM build

[RTRyder]

The WKM Y6 is getting an upgrade, the WKM and other electronics are moving to a CineStar 6 frame along with the AV 130. Here's a side by side of the Y6 and the bare CS frame before starting the swap...

Even though the Y6 has a 700mm motor to motor spacing the bare CS 6 makes it look small, once motors and the rest of the gear is added this is going to be a big one, the largest one in the fleet so far. The frame was designed to take MK electronics so first thing was to figure out where the WKM and other components would go. Starting with the basic center plate assembly the ESC placement was fairly easy, they fit nicely right above each arm tube...

Now that the ESCs have a home its time to find a place for the WKM itself, easiest solution is to add a large plate of G10 that was a leftover frame centerplate from the original Y6 build. The center plate is drilled with the same hole spacing as the MK flight controller so it fits perfectly on a set of 15mm plastic standoffs exactly where they would go if MK electronics were to be used...

Checking to make sure there's enough clearance top and bottom of the flight control mounting plate, plenty of space on both sides...

The GPS mount was easy as well, a slight widening of the slots in the bracket and it fits nicely on the top of one of the CS boom clamps...

With all the electronic bits fitted the batteries will sit on top on the standard CS battery trays...

The only parts I do not have on hand at the moment are the new AXI motors, they are on the way and should be here Monday or Tuesday. There's still plenty to do while I'm waiting, I have more pieces to strip off the Y6 frame and I also have some wiring harneses to build, should have that taken care of by the time the motors arrive.

Ken

 

[Tahoe Ed]

Ken for your boom mount of the GPS you may want to talk to Robert and see if you can get a WK-S mount. It should fit perfectly. Looks great, I am looking forward to your first flight.

What motors and props are you using?

 

[Gunter]

Ken, that GPS mount looks just like mine! It seems like a good place to mount it, I always get signal very quickly.

View attachment 1450

View attachment 1451

 

[redridinghood]

Would be nice to see a step by step build process if you have the time. After seeing the Cinestar I am having second thoughts on my Skyjib 8.

 

[RTRyder]

Ken for your boom mount of the GPS you may want to talk to Robert and see if you can get a WK-S mount. It should fit perfectly. Looks great, I am looking forward to your first flight.

What motors and props are you using?

I like quick and easy, using the CS boom clamp was quick and easy and readily available. Sometimes things just fall into place, other times I find myself standing at the milling machine in the garage for hours making something that will work, all part of the fun!

The motors will be AXI 2814-22 short shaft and I have two sets of 12 x 3.8 props on hand, one standard APC the other APC style in carbon fiber. I'll going to try those first and see how the WKM responds and go from there. This week I'll order a set of the 13 inch APC to try out as well.

Today may well be the last day we see temps in the 60 degree range until next March so I think I'm going to stuff one of the small aerobatic quads into the Givi trunk on the R 1200RT and go for a ride. On the way back I'll stop by the field and discharge a few battery packs and then do some more on the CS when I get home.

Here's where I'll be sitting for the next few hours...

Ken

 

[redridinghood]

Sweet ride, I ride a 1200GS ADV. If your hands get cold just hug the cylinders.

 

[GGoodrum]

Nice bike...

Man, the CS6 is huge. I didn't realize they were that big. It will definitely be interesting to see if you have any issues with the WK-M handling a setup this big, as some others have reported. I'm guessing you will get it dialed in, but maybe you'll have to start playing with the advanced settings?

Anyway, looking forward to seeing your progress.

-- Gary

 

[Tabb Firchau]

Looks good Ken! I did not make any progress on my WKM install this weekend, got distracted with some other projects.

Gary - if you think the 6 is big, you should see the 8! I will snap a comparison pic to show you.

Tabb

 

[Siteline]

Looks good Ken! I did not make any progress on my WKM install this weekend, got distracted with some other projects.

Gary - if you think the 6 is big, you should see the 8! I will snap a comparison pic to show you.

Tabb

Hey Tabb, I've received my CS8 and your awesome gimbal from the boys at quadrocopter a couple of weeks ago. I started setting it up with MK and saw some very impressive results coming from the WK-M. So now I'm waffling between the two. I'm looking forward to what people think after they try the CS8 with WK-M. Are you planing on putting it on your CS8? Beautiful "foggy morning flight" video by the way. It's hard to imagine it getting better than that...but I think might with WK-M it just seems to hold it's altitude so well. like it's on a cable.

 

[Tabb Firchau]

There are a few people setting up WKM on the Cine6 and Cine8 right now. Unless you want to be a trailblazer I would see what they find in the next week or so. I have yet to see a WKM spinning 14" + props that exhibits stability I would be happy with. It may well be that the controller needs to be tweaked a bit and that is all. I have been meaning to dig in and test it myself but tied up with other things at the moment and my MK ships are flying so sweet I don't have much pressure to change anything at the moment. On the smaller ships I have seen with the WKM it does seem that it holds attitude much much better then the MK board. I think if Ken and the Geoff over at Quadcopters.co.uk can find settings to get the big birds to fly like that well it will be fantastic.

Glad you liked the foggy morning flight video!

Sorry to derail your thread Ken

Tabb

 

[GGoodrum]

Hey Tabb --

It's been awhile. The performance of your first GPS-based setup, "back-in-the-day", has been the benchmark that I've aimed for, performance-wise, for some time now. loved the panos you used to do. Anyway, I couldn't get there, with helicopters, without spending $10k+ for that UK system (the name escapes me...), and I got tired of spending $500 every time I had a "minor" incident, so I got out. Five years later, the technology finally caught up, and now we have mk and WK-M setups on multirotors that do quite well.

Anyway, a comparison pic of the CS6 and CS8 would be great. Were you involved in the design of these, and the gimbal?

-- Gary

 

[seattle_helo]

Ken, your CS6 looks great. I'm very curious to hear your thoughts on how it flies with the WKM on there.

Gary, you could certainly say that Tabb has something to do with the Cinestar gear. I don't have a CS6 but I do have an 8 and it's a big sucker. If you measure from tip to tip of the 14 inch props it's 1.3M or just under 52" in diameter. It's big and quiet! Had a guy come up to me the other day after I landed and asked me, seriously, if I was with the CIA...

nick

 

[quadcopters]

Here is the First flight we did with the Cinestar 8 with WKM set up and Torxpower Pro Motors , swinging 14 x 4.7 apc props.
It was very very windy so tuning will be further carried out on a calmer day , maybe later today or tomorrow and we are going to get the gimble set up and then test the Failsafe feature
But here is a sneak preview.

 

[Tabb Firchau]

Wow! Great work Geoff, windy day for sure!

Looks like you found some nice initial settings. I am sure you saved me some broken props!

Gary - Funny how we keep ending up in the same areas of interest! The name of the UK system is CARVEC. John is still developing cutting edge stuff and I am still using his stuff on the big choppers. You should see what the recent systems will do!

Yes my company FreeFly Systems designs and manufactures the CineStar line of products. We have a team of really talented people working on the project and I just make sure they have plenty of coffee and food

 

[BorisS]

Hi Geoff,

i would understand if you guys don't want to share, but were abouts have you guys set your basic and attitude gain ?
The couple flights I did were in 100% for all flying nicely in no wind, and I did some tuning with X2 and X3 but not getting anywhere since no wind.

People in rcgroups starting to state that its actual the basic gain that has to be low to have a more floaty touch to the bird in the wind. I always though it was the attitude one has to go down with.

I think i am just gonna get the CS gimbal I am so sick of the AVs constantly having to take it apart check screws etc etc on some days for what ever reason working better than on other, just not consistence in them.


Thanks

Boris

 

[GGoodrum]

Yes, it is funny we keep ending up back at the same place. You never left, though, but wow, have you been busy! :tennis: It figures that you'd be involved with the "best-of-the-best" in MR frames and gimbals.

CARVEC, that was it. I was truly amazed at what these setups could do, but just couldn't justify the high cost, back then.

Yep, I definitely see one of these CS6 setups in my near future. I've been looking at various hex setups, and have been drafting behind Ken, letting him, Geoff and others, do all the "heavy lifting"/trial and error on getting things dialed in. :highly_amused: The one thing I've been going back and forth on, however, is the size. My little 600-sized X8 is fine for a GoPro2, but I wanted to at least be able to carry a NEX-5N/7 on the hex. I've been quite impressed with the video out of these cameras, so I figured that would be enough. What I really want, however, is the option to also be able to hang my 60D under one as well, hence the worry about size/payload. With a CS6 that becomes a non-issue, for sure.

I just watched Geoff's video, and wow, that sucker is huge. :frog: The wind is very brisk, for sure, but I don't see any of the wobbling that others with larger setups have complained about. To me, it seems like wobbling is a result of being underpowered, in the sense that the motor/prop combination can't react quick enough to changes. That certainly doesn't seem to be the case with Geoff's setup.

-- Gary

 

[Droider]

I have been working on this setup with Geoff for over two weeks now.. THAT WAS the maiden flight.. TABB.. NO BROKEN PROPS! I filmed it.. Geoff smoked 10 fags before he attempted his first flight.. The settings where out of Geoffs head and shows his vast experience with the WMK.. For those doubters of the system on larger configs this is the answer.. WE got it ok first time.. we know there is some tuning to do but in the conditions we maidened in Geoff deserves a huge pat on the back for his commitment to the project and his HUGE Kahooners for attempting it is such blustery conditions..AND what about that landing!

Dave

 

[Droider]

@Boris.. Geoffs settings are not just in the WMK tool, but also in the TX.. Its just his advanced understanding of general MR platforms across the board that enables him to get a starting point in his head.. I have to be honest.. I was really concerned about the conditions but Geoffs answer was.. it'll be reet!... and it was

Dave

 

[Droider]

@ Ken I am sorry if your thread got hijacked slightly here.. You have done so much in such a short period of TIME. I would be interested to know your solution for power distribution to the esc's.


Dave

PS

Paul at www.electricwingman.co.uk provides a great service in the UK and world wide and works closely with Geoff at www.quacopters.co.uk

 

[Macsgrafs]

What motors is he running on that ship? Looks so stable..Im impressed!

Ross