DJI F450 Naza mount w/ Velcro

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stauntonflyer

Psychopath Labratories
I just wanted to save someone else the headache I just went through. I have a DJI F450 Flamewheel w/ naza and GPS. I mounted my Naza with Velcro (the sticky kind).

For the past 2 weeks I keep fighting my Quad because it always wanted to wander. On takeoff, it would try to veer one way or the other, never lifting off with a little stick to level it out.

I installed the GPS a few days ago and couldn't get it to stop doing the "toilet bowl" movement and wandering around. (yes I have calibrated the IMU, GPS, TX, and everything else I could come up with several times. My neighbors think I'm nuts because I have been outside doing the Naza shuffle at all hours)

So I just took off the top plate, removed the Velcro, and mounted the naza to the bottom plate w/ the double sided sticky tape provided.

SHAZAM! Flies like a dream! GPS lock is good and the take off is pretty much perfect! In no wind ATTI mode holds nearly as good as GPS!

I think the Velcro gave the Naza too much movement and each time it shifted slightly the Quad would think it was out of level.

Also, I happen to have a .005" level on hand so I leveled out the copter to perfect on the level before the last IMU calibration. That also seems to have helped alot.
 

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cabojay

Member
Correct you can't use velcro for the imu. They want you to use that tape they give you. Too much vibration with velcro. Good job on fixing it..
 

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stauntonflyer

Psychopath Labratories
Thanks,
Know any reason in RTH mode the quad would fly the wrong way? I have the Gps pointing the correct direction (forward). Last test it went basically the opposite direction of me (I was at the launch point where I powered it up and waited for it to lock the satellites)
 

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b0nafide

Member
I see the sticky tape provided by DJI but would a bit thicker gel-like gyro tape be okay or better?
 
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cabojay

Member
Did you set up the failsafe in the dji setup the right way? Does it go to failsafe in the blue? And you are flying in GPS mode? If nothing else you can go to runryder and look up Sidneyw he is the guy who works for dji or Dr.Tim from the same place.. Hope this helps Jay
 

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stauntonflyer

Psychopath Labratories
I think I have done it all correctly, the failsafe does turn blue. I have been testing RTH through the 3 position switch, changing from ATTI to Failsafe. The copter does stop hover for only 2 sec then gain altitude and proceed off in the wrong direction. I doesn't even seem to wait till it has gained the 20M, gains altitude at a angle then levels off in flight.

I just set my magnetic declination, need to re-calibrate now and try again in the next day or two. I'll double check all my settings and calibration(s) before I get to bothering anyone too much.

Thanks Jay
 

Tomstoy2

Tomstoy2

Member
I don't remember how far out the acft has to be, 20meters comes to mind. Could be the acft is moving out that distance first?
Try fs at 20 meters out and see if it works correctly first.

bOnafide, the The Naza has to be hard mounted. When laying down the stickty tape, ensure you don't get a trapped air bubble underneath. Even that can cause issues.
 

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stauntonflyer

Psychopath Labratories
Well, I think I was inside 20M when I activated failsafe, but I'm pretty sure It went a good bit further than 20m from me before I started flipping switches (my guess is that it was 20m or more from where it was when I hit the failsafe switch when I toggled back to atti). I'll measure next time to be sure. Thanks for the reply this is good Info, I didn't know about a minimum distance.
 



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pseudopod

New Member
Damn it! I just ripped off my antenna and replaced the original naza sticker with velcro; and now I've read this an hour too late.

My whole reason for this was to be able to take off the antenna to fit it in a reasonably sized box. But now I must be hooped.

Is there any kind attachment I can put on so that I can take it on and off?
 

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ProPilotWannaBe

Member
The only device I have seen is coming later this year from DJI where they have a folding mount for the GPS on the new EVO S800.
Other than that, I've just seen the usual remove-two-screws method.
I have heard of a big rig crashing because their GPS came loose and couldn't control the MR anymore (thro would have been able to salve from flipping to manual)... So, yeah, be careful with mounting things on Velcro.
 

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stauntonflyer

Psychopath Labratories
I was speaking of the the actual Naza flight controller. I still have my GPS antenna mounted with Velcro. I travel quite a bit and find myself resetting Magnetic declination like 2 times a month. I haven't had a single issue with the antenna being mounted with Velcro, i just check that it is secure before each flight. Also, I mounted the gps directly to the arm to avoid having that crazy antenna sticking up, that seems fine also.
 


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ProPilotWannaBe

Member
Stauntonflyer, sorry, I knew you were talking Naza FC, but I took Pseudopod's question as referring to the GPS (maybe he wasn't).
I had not seen a setup like yours, and I really like how you did the GPS... I may have to do the same thing. My comment I made earlier was just a warning to what can happen when the GPS comes loose, but the way you have yours mounted looks quite sturdy. Glad to know that the props are causing interference. Learn something new everyday! And I like what I just learned!
 

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stauntonflyer

Psychopath Labratories
I was actually aiming that last post @ Pseudopod, you're pretty on point with your comments. I haven't had the GPS come loose but, I did fly under a big awning at a hotel in GPS mode. I expect that I had the equivalent failure, the copter went crazy and crashed.

I would like to make a slightly better mount with some kind of compass reference so that I'm not always half guessing at +5, -9, or whatever on the declination. Currently I use the NOAA mobile thing on my phone held up next to the GPS and copy it. Works fine when the website cooperates.
 

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stauntonflyer

Psychopath Labratories
That GPS location works great, I'm using 10" props and they barely go over the GPS. There might be a 1/4" of prop directly over the edge of the antenna, 8" props would give it plenty of room to breath.

Thanks for the complement on my set-up! Truthfully I would hard mount the GPS if it wasn't for the traveling.
 

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pseudopod

New Member
stauntonflyer said:
I was actually aiming that last post @ Pseudopod, you're pretty on point with your comments. I haven't had the GPS come loose but, I did fly under a big awning at a hotel in GPS mode. I expect that I had the equivalent failure, the copter went crazy and crashed.

I would like to make a slightly better mount with some kind of compass reference so that I'm not always half guessing at +5, -9, or whatever on the declination. Currently I use the NOAA mobile thing on my phone held up next to the GPS and copy it. Works fine when the website cooperates.
Click to expand...

So just to clarify, only my antenna is attached with velcro. When I shake the heli around with my hands it wobbles quite a bit, but does seem to stay on. Is it safe? I'd like to go flying today, but I am quite worried.

Please let me know.

Thanks!

C
 

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ProPilotWannaBe

Member
I wouldn't go with a wobbly GPS. The other day I flew with a wobbly GPS, but stayed 2 ft off the ground; I only did it because the screw came loose and I didn't have my tools.
How is it attached via velcro? Is it on a stick? If so, and the velcro is at the base, then I would be worried the stick would topple over under some hard movement. If you really want it on velcro, take a look at stauntonflyer's photos. That setup might serve your purposes.
 

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pseudopod

New Member
hi propilot, it is on velcro at the base of the stick. I was instead thinking of getting some clamps to clamp it down for extra stability.
Btw, how did it fly with your wobbly GPS 2ft off the ground? Did you notice a big difference?
 

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