Anyone tried these folding props?

[SanCap]

LoL. Thanks.
It's a mess right now. Too many projects at the same time and it doesn't help that I use my shop for all of my hobbies and my mountain bikes.


The main advantage for folding props for me is speed and portability. It's only a matter of time before BeStem or someone else makes a landing mode backpack. That's what I like to use because I can then take my I2 on my back while I ride my bike. I'm typically not at a clean, flat place when I'm ready to fly since I'm riding in the woods and in rocky places. I need my I2 to be completely ready to go when I unpack. Landing mode, gimbal attached and props attached is an enormous help.

We are having summer like temps here in south west Florida. I think we were about 92° with 90% humidity today. I flew 3 sets of batteries at a job site and noticed the motors seemed a bit warm on landing. I have reinstalled my fixed blade T-Motor props tonight and will try to fly in the same conditions tomorrow to see if the motors seem as warm or cooler. Let me know if you are seeing warmer motors at landing with the folding props.

 

[deltalimatango]

LoL. Thanks.
It's a mess right now. Too many projects at the same time and it doesn't help that I use my shop for all of my hobbies and my mountain bikes.


The main advantage for folding props for me is speed and portability. It's only a matter of time before BeStem or someone else makes a landing mode backpack. That's what I like to use because I can then take my I2 on my back while I ride my bike. I'm typically not at a clean, flat place when I'm ready to fly since I'm riding in the woods and in rocky places. I need my I2 to be completely ready to go when I unpack. Landing mode, gimbal attached and props attached is an enormous help.

Hey Nick, have you seen the coming soon backpack from LowePro designed for the Inspire2? It doesn't protect the legs, but it is designed at a portable backpack for just the moments you mention. I am getting one as soon as those puppies hit the store.

 

[deltalimatango]

We are having summer like temps here in south west Florida. I think we were about 92° with 90% humidity today. I flew 3 sets of batteries at a job site and noticed the motors seemed a bit warm on landing. I have reinstalled my fixed blade T-Motor props tonight and will try to fly in the same conditions tomorrow to see if the motors seem as warm or cooler. Let me know if you are seeing warmer motors at landing with the folding props.

I'm in Finland and our weather (which sucks) is around 10 degrees Celsius. Looks like summer, she's ain't coming this year. However, I have not noticed anything other than the high RPM warning, and the "hey, you're using high altitude props" warning but those go away after a few seconds.

 

[Nick H.]

Hey Nick, have you seen the coming soon backpack from LowePro designed for the Inspire2? It doesn't protect the legs, but it is designed at a portable backpack for just the moments you mention. I am getting one as soon as those puppies hit the store.

I thought about it, but it won't work for me. The I2 is wide. The vast majority of trails I ride are narrow with trees butting up against the trail. I "try" to ride more carefully when I have my drone with me, but then 5 minutes passes and I start to ride as if I don't have it on my back. Regardless of the number of crashes I've caused for myself, I don't seem to learn my lesson. Yes, I've crashed on my bike really bad - multiple times - with my I1 on my back. Typically, I would be taking a corner too tight, too fast. The Bestem Inspak is wider than my shoulders (where the motors and legs would be) and would catch trees. This would immediately yank me off my bike and I would start to tumble on the ground - all with my I1 on my back. Yes, I know, its extremely stupid. However, it is a testament to how nice the Bestem Inspak truly is. Never had even the slightest amount of damage from these bike crashes on my I1. That would not be the case with the Lowepro with the motors completely exposed. Even if I didn't crash, I could easily see a stray branch threading itself right into one of the landing gear legs and thus, causing a crash. I'm just hoping that Bestem gets around to making one soon. They already have their design ready to go.

I even called up GPC. They have their backpack for the I2, but it is useless as a "backpack". Might as well just get a case. Backpacks are meant for "on the go" travel. I have no need for a travel mode backpack where I have to remove the gimbal. GPC told me they aren't going to make a landing mode backpack. They said it wouldn't work. I found this to be a weak answer. I would have preferred "We just don't feel like it" for an answer.

 

[Nick H.]

We are having summer like temps here in south west Florida. I think we were about 92° with 90% humidity today. I flew 3 sets of batteries at a job site and noticed the motors seemed a bit warm on landing. I have reinstalled my fixed blade T-Motor props tonight and will try to fly in the same conditions tomorrow to see if the motors seem as warm or cooler. Let me know if you are seeing warmer motors at landing with the folding props.

I'm not in the 90's yet, but will be within the next few weeks. I haven't noticed any heat difference, but then again, I don't really notice motor heat unless the motor is in the "danger" range. A brushless motor needs to get extremely hot before something bad can happen. It would need to get hot enough to where the copper wire itself would snap or a solder joint would pop. The motor would need to be hot enough to burn your hand to be in the danger range. No brushes in a brushless motor means that point of failure isn't there and of course there isn't the excessive heat build up from all of that friction. The bearings, magnets and copper wire can withstand quite a bit of heat before failing.

 

[SanCap]

I'm not in the 90's yet, but will be within the next few weeks. I haven't noticed any heat difference, but then again, I don't really notice motor heat unless the motor is in the "danger" range. A brushless motor needs to get extremely hot before something bad can happen. It would need to get hot enough to where the copper wire itself would snap or a solder joint would pop. The motor would need to be hot enough to burn your hand to be in the danger range. No brushes in a brushless motor means that point of failure isn't there and of course there isn't the excessive heat build up from all of that friction. The bearings, magnets and copper wire can withstand quite a bit of heat before failing.

We had another hot day here today, 90° minimum with about the same humidity %. I removed the Heliengadin folding props and reinstalled the Heliengadin adapters and T-Motor props. I flew my normal pattern and landed, I used a handheld Mac Tools infrared temp sensor and it registered about 10 degrees above ambient outside air temp. I put the folders back on within 10 minutes and did the same flight and measured the temps with the same results about 10 degrees above ambient temperature. My conclusion is there is no difference in motor temps between the folding and rigid props.

 

[smoak5]

We had another hot day here today, 90° minimum with about the same humidity %. I removed the Heliengadin folding props and reinstalled the Heliengadin adapters and T-Motor props. I flew my normal pattern and landed, I used a handheld Mac Tools infrared temp sensor and it registered about 10 degrees above ambient outside air temp. I put the folders back on within 10 minutes and did the same flight and measured the temps with the same results about 10 degrees above ambient temperature. My conclusion is there is no difference in motor temps between the folding and rigid props.

Thanks for the test results. Had me worried for a second.

 

[Shayd]

There are a couple different threads about these props. I posted this in another and will post it here also.

"Here is a video I made this morning. The first startup is a cold start with me straightening the props, after that I shut down and restarted without straightening the props. You will have to click on the vimeo logo to go to full screen"

Is this a joke? With that vibration? 5 Hours flight time before all 4 motors need to be replaced

 

[deltalimatango]

Is this a joke? With that vibration? 5 Hours flight time before all 4 motors need to be replaced

I call BS.

 

[chopcat]

Is this a joke? With that vibration? 5 Hours flight time before all 4 motors need to be replaced

Errrr they are not vibrating in flight so flight time has nothing to do with it. I presume you mean that with a flight time of 18 minutes you are saying that the motors will be affected after starting up 20 times?. (20x18=360/60=6) If so we have all had it.
DLT have you?

 

[chopcat]

I received mine also but had a few jobs and didn't want to fly on the unproven (to me) props yet. What did you use to trim the foam? I am thinking of using a brand new fillet knife.

<Mine have arrived and there were no issues taking the prop adapters off. The screws are not a standard torx head but a hex security head type. If you get a combination set of security screw bit adapters they you will find the right one there.
Likewise my case adaptation was not to pretty but i managed with a fish filleting knife and just sharpened it frequently.

 

[Christian Wiggers]

Is this a joke? With that vibration? 5 Hours flight time before all 4 motors need to be replaced

You don't know what your are talking about !!! All multicopters with folding props have this vibration when the props start spinning. This vibration is caused by you by hand not er able to fold the props 100% in balance. But as soon as the props spinning the centrifugal force will Straighten out the props and they will be in balance.

That's exactly the same you will see on a Matrice 600/PRO and I have over 100 houses on that platform, whit out any moto problems.

 

[deltalimatango]

You don't know what your are talking about !!! All multicopters with folding props have this vibration when the props start spinning. This vibration is caused by you by hand not er able to fold the props 100% in balance. But as soon as the props spinning the centrifugal force will Straighten out the props and they will be in balance.

That's exactly the same you will see on a Matrice 600/PRO and I have over 100 houses on that platform, whit out any moto problems.

Best post ever!!!!

 

[filcastro]

I just got mine today. I will try them on and give you my feedback

 

[Florida Drone Supply]

As a reminder to anyone looking for these props, we carry them and will be receiving our next delivery of them on Wednesday (they come from Switzerland). We are caught up on back orders and will be able to ship them out to everyone the same day we receive them.

Inspire 2 Folding Props by Heliengadin

Thanks!

Michael

 

[jt20165]

I received my props from Florida Drone Supply yesterday along with the X5S. Both were packed perfectly. The props I got are labeled which I thought was a nice addition. Did some initial flights and notice that the stationary stability at low altitude 6-8ft wasn't as stable as with the original props. I am going to do some additional testing shortly and will try and video the flight. I wasn't able to do much but did noticed that its vertical ascend is much faster. At higher altitudes perfectly stable. I will be preforming a series of flights that I have done with the original props to see if there is any issue.

 

[RevCaptSirDr]

Well, decided I would give them a try for myself as the factory props on mine have quite a bit of play now. No way I would take a real plane up with that sort of prop vibration so I guess I won't fly my 6k drone like that either. Treat me well Florida Drone

Anyway, appreciate the tip on the security bits. How are the factory bolts attached? Are they just torqued on or is loctite involved? If so what type (red/blue?) I would prefer to not have to drill broken heads.

 

[deltalimatango]

Hair dryer to heat the locktght.

 

[jt20165]

I wish I could say that these props worked as well as I had hoped. Since my I2 is only a week old with less then 10 flights the original props are working fine and don't show any of the signs that have been reported. There was a considerable difference in the stability while hovering between from 3 to 15ft on the folding props. Indeed, I notice immediately that the I2's movement from side to side was much more pronounced and seemed to struggle trying to maintain a position after takeoff. It would move as much as a foot or two then return back then repeat the drift again. I showed my neighbor and he notice the same thing. He called it - "It looked like it was learning to fly"... I decided to put the old props back on and took it out with him again and he noticed immediately how much more stable it was and said that it looked like it learned to fly... I have to say I am frustrated and was hoping these would work at least as well or better than the stock propellers. Further, I noticed that I was burning through the batteries faster than normal.

This may be a one off but in my case I am going to return them.

 

[Florida Drone Supply]

Well, decided I would give them a try for myself as the factory props on mine have quite a bit of play now. No way I would take a real plane up with that sort of prop vibration so I guess I won't fly my 6k drone like that either. Treat me well Florida Drone

Anyway, appreciate the tip on the security bits. How are the factory bolts attached? Are they just torqued on or is loctite involved? If so what type (red/blue?) I would prefer to not have to drill broken heads.

We sure will!

Thank you.