CNC Machined Multirotor Center Frame Matching Rear Cover Plate

  1. Material: AL 6061-T6
  2. Size: 281.744X180.526X21.400 mm
  3. Process: CNC Machining
  4. Surface treatment: Clear Anodizing

Production Flow

This rear cover plate starts from an aluminum sheet blank, with stress relief done beforehand to release internal stress. The CNC machining center then rough mills the outline and the stock on both faces, and finish machines the outer profile, all locating holes, the square relief slots, and the curved mating surfaces at both ends. After every edge is fully deburred and the part is cleaned, it is anodized in the same batch as the matching front plate, so that the pair stays within assembly tolerance.

What We Need to Get Right

  1. Thin plates warp easily. As cutting releases the material’s stress, the plate can distort.
  2. It has to match the front plate one to one. The hole positions must line up with the front frame plate, so the matching position tolerance is strict.
  3. The curved mating surfaces at both ends are hard to control. Holding the profile tolerance is difficult.
  4. There are many holes, and flipping can cause a shift. With so many holes on the plate, the datum can drift when the part is flipped for the second side.
  5. Two parts in the same batch can show color differences. If they are not anodized together, the appearance will not be consistent.
5-Axis CNC Machining 2

How We Make Sure of It

  • Stress relief up front: Incoming stock is stress relieved to reduce distortion after machining.
  • Vacuum chuck fixturing: Less clamping stress, so the plate is less likely to be marked.
  • Machined as a pair: The front and rear plates share the same datum, are machined in pairs, and are spot-checked together.
  • Layered climb milling: Cutting in thin layers reduces distortion from cutting heat.
  • Locating pins when flipping: Keeps the datum consistent from one side to the other.
  • Same tank, same time for anodizing: Both parts go into one tank together, which gives a more uniform color.

What It Does

It serves as the matching rear cover for a multirotor drone center frame, enclosing and protecting the flight controller and power modules. It can also be used as a cover plate for model aircraft power compartments, a closing plate for mobile robot modules, and a protective back panel in lightweight automation assemblies.