Unbreakable Propeller Guard for CineWhoops (The Engineer's Approach)

Say hello to never buying another propeller guard for your cinewhoop :)

Update 19.05.2024.: See the upgraded, better version here:

https://www.printables.com/model/884159-unbreakable-propeller-guard-for-cinewhoops-upgrade

A little back story

I built another CineWhoop, this time a Cinelog25 for which I redesigned almost everything to make it better and lighter. Here are the 3D printable files:

https://www.printables.com/model/468720-geprc-cinelog25-cleanest-light-weight-printable-pa

The problem

The only thing I was missing was a good propeller guard. The stock Propeller guards were very easy to break. In fact almost every cinewhoop or miniquad propeller guard is easy to break. They are made of injection molded fragile plastic which is only good for the first encounter with a tree or the ground.

I was also fed up with ordering cheap propeller guards from China because of the time and effort it takes until I get them.

A failed solution

So I started experimenting with a design that can replace the injection molded propeller guards but they have the same low weight and more flexibility.

Of course I went down the path of designing an exact copy of the Cinelog25 propeller guard which I printed just for a test:

As it has horizontal layering because of the 3D printing the small arms that goes to the top from the bottom are very easy to break. In one crash I broke all 4 of my guards on the ground. 

The working solution: modular propeller guard

So moving forward I decided to take the engineer's approach to the problem and find the most stressed directions of each section of the propeller guard and make it modular and print the modules in such way that it would be resistant to breaking.

This was my initial design attempt: make a top mount and a bottom ring with attachment slots, then connect them with differently oriented arms. Here it is:

One propeller guard consists of a base plate, 3 arms and one propeller guard ring.

After a bit tweaking I finally found my good measurements and wall thicknesses to make it strong enough but light as the stock guards.

Good to know

It is very easy to assemble and because of the tight tolerances it will not fall apart. The design is also self centering so it will fit your quad perfectly and won't touch the propellers.

Thanks to the modular design if you break one you only have to replace the broken piece. It is  good idea to keep a few spare parts with you if you plan to do wild manoeuvres.

I made the design parametric in Fusion 360 so if you happen to know a little bit of editing you can easily make yours in a few clicks. I included my sizes for the Cinelog25 but it should fit other 2.5" cinewhoops.

Printing

This model should be printed from some tough material like PETG, ABS or ASA. PLA would be too brittle. No special settings needed just a well calibrated printer.

Source files?

I include the source files for education and personal purposes but please don't do evil things with it and don't steal this design. If you want to use it for commercial purposes, please contact me and we will find a solution.

Feedback is important!

I spend countless hours perfecting and testing my designs and I would love to hear your feedback too. If you like my designs I appreaciate a like or a comment. Please post a photo if you print this.

Donations

I am open to any kind of donation if you want to support me :)

https://paypal.me/andrasbognar