ArduCopter 3DR Frame Assembly Instructions

The first step to assembling your ArduCopter frame is to solder connectors onto the power distribution

board (PDB). The PDB is designed so deans connectors can be soldered half on one side and half on the

other side. Be sure you connect the correct sides. The board reads positive and negative on the

respective sides and you can match that to the + and – signs marked on the deans jacks.

Next, strip and solder the battery power cables onto the board.

Put a piece of heatshrink tubing on each wire and then solder on your preferred connector. A Deans

plug is included but I used an XT-60. Shrink the heatshrink onto the connector leads to cover.

Next, cut in half and solder in the right angle 0.1” breakaway headers. Put them in the set of holes

closest to the board edge next to each Dean’s connector. Then separate and strip each individual wire of

the 2 and 4-wire harnesses. Take the 2-wire harness and solder it into one of the + and – holes, it

doesn’t matter which. The 4-wire harness needs to be inserted in a particular order. Starting from pin 1

(the orange wire) the wires need to go to the “S” holes on the PDB in the order shown in the picture

below.

When the PDB is installed into the frame, it should be done in the orientation shown in the picture

above.

If you got the kit with motors and ESCs, now would be a good time to solder those too. First solder the

male bullet plugs to the three motor wires. Add heat shrink to cover the connector from the solder joint

up to the lip where it meets the female side when connected. Reference the images below.

Next solder the female bullets to the ESC side. Cover again with heat shrink this time covering all

exposed metal tip to tip.

Before mounting the PDB, put the Velcro strap through the two smaller slits evenly spaced about the

center of the main plate.

Turn the plate over and mount the PDB using the following plastic hardware: 4x M3x5mm screws, 4x

M3x8mm spacers and 4x M3 nuts. For ease of disassembly, insert the screws from the bottom and

fasten the board on top with the hex nuts. Use CA glue to secure the threads.

Next take out 4x M3x30mm screws and 4x M3x25mm screws. These screws will be used to fasten the

arms to the main frame. There are two screws for each arm, the longer screw should go toward the

center of the plate, it’s extra length will be used to mount the stackup later. Insert the screws from the

bottom of the bottom plate and push them all the way through both sides of an arm. Make sure you’re

mounting the arm so that the engine mounting holes are facing up.

You can put the top plate on and fasten it with M3 metal nuts after you put on the first arm if you want,

it will be easier than keeping all the screws from falling out while you mount the rest. Finish fastening all

the arms using a total of 8 M3 metal nuts. Use Loctite to keep everything fastened securely.

Next tighten 4 M3x30mm Nylon spacers onto the long screws extending from the main frame. On top of

those place a stackup plate.

Now add 4 M3x18mm female-female spacers. Add another stackup plate and secure it with 4 M3x5mm

Nylon screws.

Now start assembling the legs. Use 2 M3x25mm metal screws – insert them through the two top holes

in the legs and then through the side of the arm. On the other side place another leg.

Dab Loctite onto the threads and screw on M3 metal nuts. Next take 2 M3x18mm Nylon spacers and

insert them between the legs concentric with the two lower holes. Use M3x5mm metal screws to

tighten them in place.

Repeat this step for all four legs. The remaining M3x22mm screws and washers are for mounting the

motors.

Route the motor wires through the center of the arms and pull them out on the other side. Connect

them with an ESC – don’t worry about the order they’re hooked up at this point.

Finally, plug the ESCs into the PDB. Make sure to connect the motors to the correct side of the PDB

which can be confusing if you’re set up to fly in X mode. The diagram below shows what motor position

corresponds to what number it should connect to on the PDB. Match the number with the number of

each wire you soldered into the PDB earlier. Also be sure to match up the ESC signal wires in the right

direction – the black wire should plug into the “-“(minus) pin and the white wire should plug into the “S”

pin.

Use the zip ties in the kit to mount your ESCs on the arms near the PDB.

That’s it! Now add your electronics. If you would like to mount your ArduPilot Mega with screws, take a

look at the diagram below to see where it best fits. Otherwise, double sided tape works fine and is easily

removable.

Use the second level of the stackup for GPS, Xbee and an RC receiver.

Other accessories are available in the 3d Robotics store at 3drobotics.com