DIY Transmitter Tray - Thumb Friendly

Hardware Support for the 9XR Pro
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Sterling101
Posts: 143
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2017 10:32 am
Country: United Kingdom
Location: Nottingham, UK
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DIY Transmitter Tray - Thumb Friendly

Post by Sterling101 »

I found that using the neck strap from my other radio (Turnigy i10) the extra weight of the 9XR-PRO was adjusting the strap and by the end of the flight I'd end up with the strap doing very little.
I also found that during flight I struggled to get onto the elevator trim with my left hand (I always keep control of the stick I'm trimming) as the strap was getting in the way.

I've seen various transmitter trays but they always seem to be set up for "pinch" grip which I've yet to get the hang of properly so I wanted something that I could have for the transmitter to it on that was lightweight, not bulky and allowed my to still fly "thumb" style.

I found a Secraft frame tray which supports thumb style but there was two major drawbacks with it.

1 - It required the handle to be angled down from the back of the transmitter to be strapped down.
2 - It's horrendously expensive!

So I set about drawing ideas up and spotted the two M3 bolt holes on the back and thought that would be idea to tether the transmitter down, have a frame that comes down to the bottom of the transmitter and the strap extensions could bolt to that.

After about an hour of designing in the cad package I came up with a prototype that's just finished printing out and I have to admit it works rather well!

I've tried it with a strap passed around the back of my neck and it holds really steady and doesn't swing around like the neck strap did. No signs of it being too weak either thankfully.

Here's a few shots of what it looks like...
IMG_20180124_214743_044.jpg
The frame itself.
IMG_20180124_214757_785.jpg
Attached to the transmitter with two M3 bolts.
IMG_20180124_214731_703.jpg
And the finished item.


Have now tweaked the design a touch and am printing out a second prototype but so far I think this will work pretty well!
Leigh

Current Kit:-
Taranis X9D plus running ErSkyTx - main radio.
Turnigy 9XR-Pro with internal FrSky DHT Module - used on the simulator.
Retired radios:-
Turnigy i10 with FlySky receivers.
Turnigy I6 - My first Tx now just used on Quads.

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jhsa
Posts: 19480
Joined: Tue Dec 27, 2011 5:13 pm
Country: Germany

Re: DIY Transmitter Tray - Thumb Friendly

Post by jhsa »

My er9x/Ersky9x/eepskye Video Tutorials
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5uJhoD7sAKidZmkhMpYpp_qcuIqJXhb9

Donate to Er9x/Ersky9x:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=YHX43JR3J7XGW
Sterling101
Posts: 143
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2017 10:32 am
Country: United Kingdom
Location: Nottingham, UK
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Re: DIY Transmitter Tray - Thumb Friendly

Post by Sterling101 »

jhsa wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2018 10:15 pm Nice :)

This is my thumb tray ;)

http://openrcforums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=48&t=1454

João
I like it - bit more intricate than my little effort ;)
Leigh

Current Kit:-
Taranis X9D plus running ErSkyTx - main radio.
Turnigy 9XR-Pro with internal FrSky DHT Module - used on the simulator.
Retired radios:-
Turnigy i10 with FlySky receivers.
Turnigy I6 - My first Tx now just used on Quads.
rsilk49
Posts: 140
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2016 10:33 am
Country: United Kingdom

Re: DIY Transmitter Tray - Thumb Friendly

Post by rsilk49 »

Can you pls show it with the neckstrap/straps attached?
S500 + Pixhawk 1 clone + Mauch PM + C&T Telemetry adapter + 9XR-Pro (Taranis gimbals)/XJT/X8R
Sterling101
Posts: 143
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2017 10:32 am
Country: United Kingdom
Location: Nottingham, UK
Contact:

Re: DIY Transmitter Tray - Thumb Friendly

Post by Sterling101 »

rsilk49 wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2018 10:45 pm Can you pls show it with the neckstrap/straps attached?
At the moment it's just cord as I don't have a double ended strap for it.
I will have one tomorrow though so can take some pictures when it arrives.
Leigh

Current Kit:-
Taranis X9D plus running ErSkyTx - main radio.
Turnigy 9XR-Pro with internal FrSky DHT Module - used on the simulator.
Retired radios:-
Turnigy i10 with FlySky receivers.
Turnigy I6 - My first Tx now just used on Quads.

Sterling101
Posts: 143
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2017 10:32 am
Country: United Kingdom
Location: Nottingham, UK
Contact:

Re: DIY Transmitter Tray - Thumb Friendly

Post by Sterling101 »

I left version 3 printing over night (version 2 was ok, but allowed me to put the finishing touches to it and tweak the strengthening parts) and I think this is the one I'm going with as the "one that works".

I added a flat plate that pushes in at the bottom of the radio and holds the front in by lipping over the small "feet" on the bottom of the radio. It just stops any chance of the radio jiggling around and potentially straining the bolt securing tabs. Also rounded things off on the edges and added a few strengthening bits here and there.

The weight of the whole thing, including two M6 nuts and bolts and the two M3 thumb screws comes to 89g so a pretty lightweight solution I'd say!

I have an adjustable double ended strap coming later today for a test with a clip on strap but I can't see it being much different to having the cord I tied on to test with. All in all I'm happy with the result and it's quick and easy to install and remove too which is exactly what I was looking for :)
IMG_20180125_091525_629.jpg
IMG_20180125_091539_259.jpg
IMG_20180125_091557_538.jpg
IMG_20180125_091615_306.jpg
One one last thing - when you set a print going over night and think "yeah there's just enough filament left to print this".
There literally was JUST enough filament left to print this!
IMG_20180125_093510_812.jpg
Leigh

Current Kit:-
Taranis X9D plus running ErSkyTx - main radio.
Turnigy 9XR-Pro with internal FrSky DHT Module - used on the simulator.
Retired radios:-
Turnigy i10 with FlySky receivers.
Turnigy I6 - My first Tx now just used on Quads.
Sterling101
Posts: 143
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2017 10:32 am
Country: United Kingdom
Location: Nottingham, UK
Contact:

Re: DIY Transmitter Tray - Thumb Friendly

Post by Sterling101 »

rsilk49 wrote: Wed Jan 24, 2018 10:45 pm Can you pls show it with the neckstrap/straps attached?
Strap has arrived and it works fantastically. So comfortable and I'm able to bend down and move around without it spinning like a top and catching switches and gimbals all the time. Now to see if I can make one that will fit my i10...

Will make a small mod to the side "arms" and release the STL files if anyone would like to make one up.
IMG_20180125_190648_378.jpg
Leigh

Current Kit:-
Taranis X9D plus running ErSkyTx - main radio.
Turnigy 9XR-Pro with internal FrSky DHT Module - used on the simulator.
Retired radios:-
Turnigy i10 with FlySky receivers.
Turnigy I6 - My first Tx now just used on Quads.
Sterling101
Posts: 143
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2017 10:32 am
Country: United Kingdom
Location: Nottingham, UK
Contact:

Re: DIY Transmitter Tray - Thumb Friendly

Post by Sterling101 »

Design finalised and published.

https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2770728
Leigh

Current Kit:-
Taranis X9D plus running ErSkyTx - main radio.
Turnigy 9XR-Pro with internal FrSky DHT Module - used on the simulator.
Retired radios:-
Turnigy i10 with FlySky receivers.
Turnigy I6 - My first Tx now just used on Quads.

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