Rebuilding RC helicopter landing gear?

[SillyEddy]

Not quite to do with armour building, but it's a problem nonetheless.


The other Christmas, my father bought me a little toy helicopter, in fact, this one, HERE

Unfortunately, after a hard landing, part of the landing gear snapped and now it's uncontrollable to fly. I have contacted the original manufacturer, but they're not willing to sell that one part by itself.


As a first year engineering student, I have access to measurement tools, CAD, etc. But I'm wondering how best to actually manufacture the new part. I might make a new style of landing gear, but how would you actually cast the plastic? I was thinking about making a wooden mould for the top and bottom and then pouring casting resin inside?


Any tips for this?


Cheers

 

[SillyEddy]

Any suggestions?

 

[Zagoner]

Hi, I'm suprised you haven't had a reply yet, Maybe this isn't the right place for the question? Have you tried speaking to the company for a repair or new part?

 

[SillyEddy]

Hi, I'm suprised you haven't had a reply yet, Maybe this isn't the right place for the question? Have you tried speaking to the company for a repair or new part?

I have indeed. They do sell repair kits, but it's for things like the rotors and "big" components. They are not willing to give me just this part which is damaged. They said I would be able to buy a new helicopter from them with a discount, but they never replied back about it. So, for the mean time, I'd like to make a project out of it.

 

[Zagoner]

Oh, ok. Which part is the landing gear? I looked your RC copter.

 

[SillyEddy]

Oh, ok. Which part is the landing gear? I looked your RC copter.

The part being gripped by their fingers, here: IMAGE


The original must've been injection moulded, but I don't have the money for that. I only have the right half (as the other side snapped off).

I was thinking of either 3D printing it (if I can get my hands on one - I think my university has a few), or building the design into a wedged piece of wood and dremelling out the details, then filling the gap with resin or sometihng.

 

[Zagoner]

The part being gripped by their fingers, here: IMAGE


The original must've been injection moulded, but I don't have the money for that. I only have the right half (as the other side snapped off).

I was thinking of either 3D printing it (if I can get my hands on one - I think my university has a few), or building the design into a wedged piece of wood and dremelling out the details, then filling the gap with resin or sometihng.

Thought it was that bit.

Sounds like a plan. IT doesn't look so thick, Maybe you could replicate it with wire or something?

 

[Spartan_127]

have you looked on helidirect or xheli.com to see if they stock the part that you need? They have a lot of things there. That's where I will usually get parts for my 60 series chopper.

 

[SillyEddy]

have you looked on helidirect or xheli.com to see if they stock the part that you need? They have a lot of things there. That's where I will usually get parts for my 60 series chopper.

I don't think they stock it either. I think they're more focused on the hobbyist, and this is just a toy. It's a fun toy at that!

 

[Carpathia]

If you're currently in engineering school, do you have access to a 3D printer? If you have access to the software to design a new part, you should be able to print it out too.

 

[SillyEddy]

If you're currently in engineering school, do you have access to a 3D printer? If you have access to the software to design a new part, you should be able to print it out too.

I need to ask. I'm going in for a workshop induction on Wednesday, so I'll ask about things like this. It shouldn't be too difficult to mock up a basic design in 3D that way. I just wonder if they'll charge me for it, as it's not really an academic project. That said, it is very small. I might even be able to build a cast off it for use in the future - That sort of shape would probably not be very strong depending on the method the 3D printer uses.

 

[Carpathia]

I just asked because I had access to laser cutters and 3D printers while in school. I could use them for whatever purpose I wanted, all I had to do was reserve a time slot, and there was a printing fee. I can't imagine the process would be terribly different, granted you're in a different country.

 

[SillyEddy]

Yeah. Well, no major projects are going on at the moment, so they should probably be quite free. Plus, there are a tonne of computers for me to design it.

At high school and college they let me muck about with the LASER cutter as much as I wanted - I used it so much they had to ask me to teach other students how to use it! I don't know where the machining shop is though - The university has a Harrier jump jet in the basement, but I haven't seen the CAM yet