Foamboard Aircraft Motor Mount – 1.5 deg
$3.70 Foamboard Aircraft Motor Mount – 1.5 deg
3D
Published 2019-10-07T16:30:51+00:00
A 3D printable motor mount for a mid-size profile model aircraft with a wingspan of 1 to 1.5 meters (~ 39” to 60”), built from foamboard, cardboard, or balsa. The motor mount is suitable for many 450, 480 and power-10 size motors. It has built-in 1.5 degrees trust offsets, both downward and to the right, and pre-threaded M3 mounting holes for the motor.
Originally designed to upgrade a “Hummer” for my club’s 2019 pylon racing season. It should work well with most foamboard kits, where a decent size motor with adequate offset trust is desired.
The parts can be easily 3D printed, without any support, on a modern inexpensive 3D Printer. They can be printed with a variety of materials, including PETG, ABS and many other types of printable materials that are more heat tolerant than PLA.
The motor mount must be printed with a heat tolerant material such as ABS or PETG. Do not print this part with PLA! This is because the motor can be exposed to high temperatures during flight or immidiately afterward, exceeding ~55 C (~ 130 F). At such temperature, PLA will likely deform, warp or even separate, thus causing loss of control of the model.
I have successfully used this motor mount since early 2019. The upgraded aircraft flies true at much higher speed than stock, using a power 10 size motor – 1250kv, 3-cell, 600 watts power system, turning an APC 9x9E propeller.
Recommended print settings with a .4 mm nozzle:
- Layer Hight: .150 ~.160 mm, depending on motors and gearing
- 3 perimeters or shells (1.2 ~ 1.5 mm)
- 8 bottom layers (1.2 ~ 1.3 mm)
- 8 top layers (1.2 ~ 1.3 mm)
- Infill 20~30%, depending on infill type
Additional items needed for assembly
- Medium CA or another suitable adhesive
Assembly Instructions
I recommend using medium CA, with or without accelerator, to glue the individual parts to the model. However, feel free to use any other suitable adhesives you are comfortable with.
The holes for mounting the motor are pre-threaded for M3 screws.
The motor mount consists of 2 separate parts - the X-Brace at the rear and the 1.5 degrees Offset at the front. The two parts should be glued together back to back using medium CA, to make one assembly. When completed, the engraved writing should be visible on the front side.
Cut a 42.5mm high X 45mm deep opening in the front of the model for the motor mount, centered along the longitudinal axis or desired trust line. Make sure that the opening is not cut too large.
The motor mount assembly is installed with the engraved writing facing forward – The “Up” should be in front and be oriented towards the top of the model. If mounted up-side-down, the offset trust angle will be in the wrong direction.
Dry fit the motor mount assembly by orienting it properly in the opening with the long rails facing forward, and the short rail pushed all the way to the back of the opening that was cut in the step above. It should be a snug fit, not a tight fit. If necessary, carefully trim the opening in the foamboard.
Once satisfied with the fit of the motor mount assembly, remove it and apply medium CA (or epoxy) in the motor mount assembly rails, then re-install it in the model.
Note: The motor mount assembly is designed with the correct offsets for a clockwise rotating propeller when viewed from inside or the rear of the model. This is the standard in North America and many other countries around the world. Some models may require counter rotating propellers. In that case, the correct offsets should be to the left and down. This can be achieved by mirroring the 1.5 degrees offset part along the “X” axis prior to printing. Unfortunately, this will also mirror the engraved text in front of the part making it difficult to read. However, the direction arrows will remain pointing in the correct direction.
| Date published | 07/10/2019 |
| Price | $3.70 |
| Tempo per farlo | 110 - 130 Minuti |
| Quantità di filamento | 10.5 grams for both parts |
| Dimensioni | Offset: 39.4x56.25x27.1 mm - Xbrace 39.4x56.25x17 mm |
| Supporto Gratuito | YES |