<<<etheli.com Home Page

SK450KK2 Quadcopter



Here's a build I made of a 450-sized quadcopter using the Hobbyking SK450 frame and the KK2.0 controller board.  In "self-level" mode it's a very stable and predictable flyer -- it's a great first-build for someone just getting into multicopters.  In "acro" mode, it can be setup to be very acrobatic, capable of fast-forward flight and tight flips.

The four 25A "rapid" ESCs were pre-flashed with SimonK firmware, which makes them respond faster to throttle commands from the controller board.  An alternative is to get cheaper HobbyKing F-20A ESCs and flash-update their firmware.

The mounting hole pattern on the 2210N motors I used is different from the pattern of the mounting plates that come with the SK450 kit.  I used four wooden mounting plates from RA Cores (http://www.racores.com/indoor_accessories.html , large).

The KK2.0 controller board manual is here.  The rcgroups thread on the KK2.0 contains lots of information on tuning and has links to firmware updates.  The KK2.0 may be flash-updated using the USBasp adapter and the KKmulticopter Flash Tool.  (See here for connector orientation.)  Here are my KK2.0 settings:  KK2.0_SK450_settings.txt.

RC911's KK2 v1.6++:  User RC911 on 'rcgroups' has posted a patched version of the 1.6 firmware that adds a very-nice "SL stick mixing" mode.  See here for the patched v1.6++ firmware.

I have the stick-scaling values on the KK2.0 turned up to 90 (for fast flips), and 75% expo setup on my transmitter.  When starting out, leave the stick-scaling values at their default values (30) and increase them if you want faster response.

For transmitter settings, the best thing is to create a simple ACRO model -- the KK2 board takes care of all the mixing, etc.  On the transmitter you'll want to link channel 5 to a switch and setup "Self Level: Aux" in the KK2 so you can turn self-leveling on and off.  There's a "receiver test" screen on the KK2 that shows the receiver inputs, which is useful during the initial setup.  Things like dual-rates and expo on the transmitter will work like they would for a plane or heli.

I mounted the controller board using double-stick foam, with a large square piece on the frame and smaller pieces contacting the controller board at the corners and center.  I mounted nylon spacers and the bottom from a plastic dish around the controller board to protect it.  I'm using an OrangeRX R610 receiver, which connects to the controller board via five male-to-male servo leads.

On multicopter setups, it is usually advisable to disconnect the red power leads on the servo connectors on all but one of the ESCs (so one ESC is providing the +5V power).  On the KK2.0 board, disconnecting the red leads on the M2-4 ESCs is optional because the board only draws power from the M1 ESC connector.  So, either way should work OK.  (Another option is to disconnect all the red power leads and use a separate UBEC like this one.)

During the setup, it's very important to make sure that all the motors are rotating in the right directions, and all the props are setup to push air downward.  If you go into "Show Motor Layout" on the KK2 menu you should a screen like the picture below, which shows the direction that each motor needs to be rotating.  If those are correct then confirm that each prop is pushing air downward.



For battery low-voltage alarming I have a 3S battery monitor and I use the voltage-alarm input on the KK2.0.  To access the alarm input I had to solder a pin onto the KK2.0 board -- the pin is circled in this picture.  With the "Alarm 1/10 Volts" setting at 107 the KK2.0 will beep first as an early low-battery warning, and then the 3S battery monitor will beep and flash red when it's really time to land.  I use the socket-pins from servo (or red JST) connectors, solder them to the ends of wires, and cover with heat shrink to create the single-pin socket connectors -- see this pic.

I rigged up yellow and blue LED light strips on the arms, with the strips facing downward over the lengths of the arms and then upwards at the ends to shine on the props.  I also put a couple of discrete LEDs on the front to help with orientation.  I run the LEDs via an old brushed speed controller plugged into an extra channel on the receiver, allowing their brightness to be controlled using a knob on the transmitter.

Weight without battery:  800g / 1.76 lb
Weight with battery:  1008g / 2.22 lb

If the KK2.0 controller is not available, this controller has similar capabilities (see here for MultiWii info):
    MultiWii NanoWii ATmega32U4 Micro Flight Controller 9387000009
    http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=22322

See here for a gallery of pics.

Here are the parts I used:

Hobbyking SK450 Glass Fiber Quadcopter Frame 450mm 260000001  $16.99
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=24291

Hobbyking KK2.0 Multi-rotor LCD Flight Control Board 9171000073  $29.99
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=24723

25A MultiESC - loaded with Simon FW for MultiRotor RapidESC25  $18.31
http://www.multircshop.com/site/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=639

2210N 1000Kv Brushless Motor AX-2210N  $7.55
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=8621

Propeller Adapter (Colet Type) 3mm PA-3MM-5MM-A  $1.65
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=19594

GemFan EPP0845 Prop Set - Green Color  $3.19
http://www.multircshop.com/site/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=613

GemFan EPP 0845 Prop Set - Orange Color  $3.19
http://www.multircshop.com/site/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=615

OrangeRx R610 Spektrum DSM2 6Ch 2.4Ghz Receiver R610  $5.99
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=11965

10CM Male to Male Servo Lead (JR) 26AWG (10pcs/set) 258000011  $4.00
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idproduct=21758

Hobby King Battery Monitor 3S HKing-3S  $3.99
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=7223

Turnigy 2200mAh 3S 40C Lipo Pack (USA Warehouse) T2200.3S.40  $17.77
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=14960

HobbyPartz Yellow LED-30 Lights 79P-10200  $5.00
http://www.hobbypartz.com/79p-10200.html

HobbyPartz Blue LED-30 lights 79P-10194  $5.00
http://www.hobbypartz.com/79p-10194.html

Peel-n-stick foam tape. 10x5inch 4mm thick ST-FOAM-DB  $1.29
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=8999

5.6mm x 21mm M3 Nylon Threaded Spacer (10pc) 9171000016  $1.78
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=22734

Alternate parts:

Tarot FY450 Quadcopter Frame FYM-QC-1954  $14.99
http://www.valuehobby.com/multicopters/frames/tarot-fy450-quadcopter-frame.html

Hobby King 20A ESC 3A UBEC F-20A  $6.97
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=15202

2210N 1000Kv Brushless Motor (USA Warehouse) AX-2210N  $7.67
http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/uh_viewItem.asp?idProduct=19675

GemFan 8x4.5 Orange, Green, Black GF8x4.5  $0.99
http://www.gothelirc.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=115

GemFan 8x4.5 Normal Rotation - Green GF-8045-GRN  $1.50
http://www.rcdude.com/servlet/the-2282/GemFan--8x4.5-Normal/Detail

GemFan 8x4.5 Normal Rotation - Orange GF-8045-ORG  $1.50
http://www.rcdude.com/servlet/the-2283/GemFan--8x4.5-Normal/Detail

GemFan 8x4.5 Reverse Rotation - Green GF-8045R-GRN  $1.50
http://www.rcdude.com/servlet/the-2285/GemFan--8x4.5-Reverse/Detail

GemFan 8x4.5 Reverse Rotation - Orange GF-8045R-ORG  $1.50
http://www.rcdude.com/servlet/the-2286/GemFan--8x4.5-Reverse/Detail

HobbyPartz Yellow LED-60 Lights 79P-10199  $6.00
http://www.hobbypartz.com/79p-10199.html

HobbyPartz Blue LED-60 lights 79P-10193  $6.00
http://www.hobbypartz.com/79p-10193.html


Here's a little video of flying this quad in a gym:

SK450 KK2 Quadcopter at Norton Gym :





Click here to contact me

Return to previous page


ET Heli