ME: I know it has taken about a month for you to complete the design modifications and fabricate the first frame.
I can appreciate your drive to continue working on it.  I think it is great to finally see it all mounted up with servos, motor, gyro, battery, and nearly ready to fly.  I can't wait to see the vids of it in the air.

TIAGO: Today I connected the esc and found out that the mount for the canopy is getting in the way of the servo arm so, another bug in the design. :(

ME: Why did you decide to try and make your own frame?

TIAGO: I'm never happy with what I have, and when I saw by the first time the guru Z frame I loved the simplicity but it wasn't quite what I wanted. The SG90 servos don't play nice, no support for ar bracket in the front(copterX head mod), no stock shaft  and lots of minor details that leaved me in conclusion that this frame was not really built exclusively for the king.
After I filed and trimed the frame I thought to myself, "Im going to make one with all the feautures I want and it will be exclusive!"

ME: Did you trace it out on paper first or go straight to metal?

TIAGO: My first try I scanned the frame, cause I was in a hurry to put the bird in the sky again, but after that I realised that the measuring went all wrongh so I bite the bullet and get all the measures with a digital caliper, that took me ages, but in the end it payed off as everything fitted in the spot, well almost.

ME: Did you use a mill to cut it out?

TIAGO: No, I sent it to a laser cut shop.

ME: What parts did you use for the standoffs, bearing blocks, and motor mount?

TIAGO: Guru Z bearing holder, motor mount and tail boom lock case.
Blade400  main shaft and gear, the king stock shaft will fit ok too.
Extreme ar bracket, 43T pulley
Align/CopterX angled battery  tray, canopy holders, frame hardwhere(screws and canulas), complete tail, belt, head and skids.

ME: Did everything fit correctly when you put it together?

TIAGO: Almost, had some trouble fitting the SG90 servos, forgot the hole for the battery tray,  the canopy mounting bolts are 2 mm too close to the servo arm and the main gear can rubb in the frame so I had to file the frame there, besides that everything was a direct fit, the rails for the ESC are priceless and the surface area for the sepktrum sattelite was spot on.

ME: How many total design changes did it go through?

TIAGO: Since I didnt had a version control I lost track on how many changes it had, but I can assure it had plenty.

ME: Did you learn anything new while making it, or were these all skills you were familiar with starting out?

TIAGO: Yes, I had to learn almost everything to accomplish this project, like how to measure distances from holes and drawing skills, and I had lots of fun during the whole process.

ME: What was it like when you finally flew it for the first time?

TIAGO: I havent, but I hope later today I get my maiden flight.

ME: I know I have posted precise designs for my Shizzle frame mod on the Heliguy forum.  I just wanted to give back to the forum where I had learned so much.  People still pm me to ask if I could please make them one.  It is a compliment when someone likes something that I have created.    Why is it that you want to post the plans for this frame as you call it "open source" for people to be able to download?

TIAGO: I believe in the open source way, its the best way to improve desings, thoughts, the same thing can be improved by a million people. And yes its a kind of a way to say thanks to everyone that took the time to help me when I was in need. And last theres nothing like brag rights!!

ME: Do you have any other plans for DIY items?

TIAGO: I want to make another frame with trex 450 compatible parts, like a mini clone.

ME: Thanks for the plans in Tiago, and I think it is really cool that you took on this project and shared it with us. 

 

The last file below is the latest version Tiago sent to me.

 

 

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Tiago has continued to make improvements to his frame.  He has added a support connection to the upper frame from the motor mount and changed some of the frame widths to make it stronger in several areas.

 

It really is a pretty little bird.  Click on the image to see the full size picture.