Blade Nano S2 - How to repair the frame posts

I think that anyone who has a micro helicopter, such as the Blade Nano in any of its versions (CPX, CPS, S2) has broken the frame posts trying some manoeuvres inside their house.

Typically you will break three posts : the lower two supporting the board, and the upper left, opposite to the anti-rotation bracket.

A new stock frame will set you back about $9, not to speak of aftermarket ones which are much more expensive, and given that this is an item that breaks quite easily, I decided to go ahead and mod mine RCLab style.

My sad Blade Nano S2, with the canopy rubbing on the main gear because of the broken frame.


The fix is a bit fiddly, but in my case it resolved the problem of the frame posts breaking off, even after quite a bit of crashing afterwards.

For a mini review of the Blade Nano S2, head over here!


The Blade Nano S2 with its broken frame, and the board separated from it.

STEP 1

Take the canopy off, together with the skids, which are just pressed into the frame, and unscrew the single screw which holds the main board. There is a rubber gasket separating the frame and the board, set it aside and do not forget to put it back later on.
It will also help to take off the main gear, the head and the main shaft as well.


Blade Nano S2 take apart. I prefer not to unplug the board, not to stress the plugs and risking messing up the wires.

STEP 2

Next you need to take a 1 mm drill bit, I bought this set, which is cheap and works really good.
Carefully drill a hole through the frame right where the two lower posts used to be. Drill slowly, by hand, and continuously check to be perpendicular.
Be careful when you drill a hole for the upper post, because you need to stop quite early (about 3 mm in), otherwise you will hit the bearing that holds the main shaft.

Blade Nano S2 getting pierced!
STEP 3

Now drill a hole in each post. Same deal : keep checking to be perpendicular, and go reeeeeally slow.

Slow and steady, drill holes everywhere!
STEP 4

Now you need to take a 1 mm piano wire and cut it to size.
To measure the perfect size this is what I did:

  • Insert a length into one of the drilled posts
  • Put a mark where the wire exits the post
  • Insert the other post at the other end of the wire
  • Pass the wire with the second post through the hole in the frame
  • Measure how much the wire goes in through the first post
  • Report this measure starting from the frame
  • Cut to size
For the upper post the operation is easier : just insert a small length of piano wire into the frame and keep shortening it until the post adheres to the frame.


Almost there, the Blade Nano S2 with its metal protheses
STEP 5

To glue the wire and the posts back in place I used 5 minutes epoxy, which is a bit heavy, but very durable. You could use superglue, but I think it could be too brittle for this application.

I prepared a small quantity of epoxy, rolled on end of the wire in it, inserted one post, passed it through the frame and inserted the other post. Easy peasy. The same for the upper post.

Check the posts to be as straight as possible, and rotate them to find the orientation that makes them sit the straightest.

Blade Nano S2, all glued up and almost ready to go

STEP 6

The end, put back the rubber grommet on the frame, slide the two bigger grommets attached to the board on the front posts and screw the board in place.

Be careful not to over tighten the screw: the board needs to be vertical (parallel to the main shaft) otherwise the Nano will exhibit drift while hovering.
Also, do not push the two board grommets too far along the posts, or they will sit in glue never to be removed again.

The little Blade Nano S2 almost all rebuilt and good to be crashed again ;)
Done! Now wait a couple of hours for the epoxy to fully set, put back all the pieces we removed at the beginning and go fly!
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