Sketch of a super lightweight, easy assembly drone frame that is made sturdy by tension.
The Project was created with 123D Design from autodesk STLs of the Parts & 123D Files are attached The STLs of the Connectors can be 3D Printed right away without support
Some flat & flexible bars e.g. Carbon Fiber or Glass Fiber flatbars are connected with simple / angled connectors in to a ring-shape. At least 2 but more edges can be used - in this demo 4 connectors form a ring-shape structure.
This structure can easily be assembled but will fall apart easily as well :)
But if now tension is applied towards the center of the contraption e.g. with fishing-line or carbon rods. The ring stabilizes and gets quite sturdy to bending from and towards the center.
Still flexing of corners is possible. By using an angled tensioning approach to each corner the contraption gets stury in all directions.
One of the weak-points here is the flexed flat-bar, which if made out of Carbon-Fiber is actually pushing against the connectors - which could make them splinter if force is applied.
The Example uses standard Brushed Motors available for Drones (e.g. JJRC H29, H29C, H29W, H29G Quadcopter) and is made for 5mm x 1mm (CF / GF)Flatbars of any length, "Spring-Metall" or wood might also work
