{
 "version": "2026-10-20",
 "license": "Dimension sheets: CC BY 4.0. Standard and published-size files: CC BY 4.0. Xem Studio's own designs (files_license = Xem Studio Design License): free to use and sell things from, not to redistribute as files — https://xemstudio.com/license/. Other publishers' files: their own license, linked beside them.",
 "slug": "arm-thickness",
 "name": "Frame arm thickness",
 "kind": "standard",
 "category": "Drone design",
 "group": "Drone frame layouts",
 "year": null,
 "question": "How thick should FPV frame arms be?",
 "tags": [
  "vehicle design",
  "drone frame layouts",
  "rc design",
  "aerodynamics"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "arm thickness",
  "fpv arm thickness",
  "5mm arms",
  "6mm arms",
  "frame resonance",
  "carbon arm",
  "frame stiffness",
  "arm width motor mount"
 ],
 "overall_mm": {
  "length": null,
  "width": null,
  "height": null
 },
 "official_cad": false,
 "xem_status": "free-files",
 "les": false,
 "free_files": 1,
 "url": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/arm-thickness/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/arm-thickness/sheet.txt",
 "sheet": {
  "basis": "Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio",
  "overall_mm": {
   "length": null,
   "width": null,
   "height": null
  },
  "notes": [
   "Thicker arms resist crashes and push resonance higher but add weight (UAVModel).",
   "5 mm is standard for 5 in freestyle; 6 mm adds 15-20 g and moves resonance to 240-280 Hz. Arms narrower than 12 mm at the motor can flex into a 40-60 Hz wobble (UAVModel).",
   "The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above (Reference 5-inch build: 220 mm diagonal within Grepow's 210-250 mm class for 5 in props.). Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle."
  ],
  "table": {
   "columns": [
    "parameter",
    "value or range",
    "source"
   ],
   "rows": [
    [
     "4 mm",
     "3 in / ultralight 5 in",
     "UAVModel"
    ],
    [
     "5 mm",
     "5 in freestyle/racing; ~180-220 Hz",
     "UAVModel"
    ],
    [
     "6 mm",
     "+15-20 g; ~240-280 Hz",
     "UAVModel"
    ],
    [
     "8 mm",
     "7 in long range",
     "UAVModel"
    ],
    [
     "Arm width at motor, 5 in",
     "13-14 mm",
     "UAVModel"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Frame arm thickness — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/arm-thickness/  (sheet CC BY 4.0; files Xem Studio Design License, https://xemstudio.com/license/)\nBasis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio\nCatalog version: 2026-10-20\n\nSizes: see table below\n- Thicker arms resist crashes and push resonance higher but add weight (UAVModel).\n- 5 mm is standard for 5 in freestyle; 6 mm adds 15-20 g and moves resonance to 240-280 Hz. Arms narrower than 12 mm at the motor can flex into a 40-60 Hz wobble (UAVModel).\n- The file is a reference example built by Xem Studio from the numbers above (Reference 5-inch build: 220 mm diagonal within Grepow's 210-250 mm class for 5 in props.). Sizes the sources do not fix are illustrative; scale the example to your own vehicle.\n\nparameter  value or range  source\n4 mm  3 in / ultralight 5 in  UAVModel\n5 mm  5 in freestyle/racing; ~180-220 Hz  UAVModel\n6 mm  +15-20 g; ~240-280 Hz  UAVModel\n8 mm  7 in long range  UAVModel\nArm width at motor, 5 in  13-14 mm  UAVModel\n\nFiles elsewhere (not hosted by Xem Studio; license as stated by the publisher):\n- UAVModel blog: FPV Frame Geometry: Deadcat vs True X vs Squashed X (2026 guide) — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://blog.uavmodel.com/fpv-frame-geometry-deadcat-vs-true-x-vs-squashed-x-prop-view-resonance-and-flight-feel-2026-guide/\n- UAVModel blog: FPV Drone Frame Selection Guide: Geometry, Materials, and Arm Design — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://blog.uavmodel.com/fpv-drone-frame-selection-guide/\n\nFree files (Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 1 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/arm-thickness/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=arm-thickness\n",
 "sources": [
  {
   "publisher": "UAVModel blog",
   "title": "FPV Frame Geometry: Deadcat vs True X vs Squashed X (2026 guide)",
   "url": "https://blog.uavmodel.com/fpv-frame-geometry-deadcat-vs-true-x-vs-squashed-x-prop-view-resonance-and-flight-feel-2026-guide/",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "UAVModel blog",
   "title": "FPV Drone Frame Selection Guide: Geometry, Materials, and Arm Design",
   "url": "https://blog.uavmodel.com/fpv-drone-frame-selection-guide/",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  }
 ],
 "xem": {
  "status": "free-files",
  "sheet_free": true,
  "mesh_price_usd": null,
  "step_price_usd": null,
  "tolerance_mm": null
 },
 "related": [
  "true-x-frame",
  "stretched-x-frame",
  "squashed-x-frame",
  "hybrid-x-frame",
  "deadcat-frame",
  "h-frame"
 ],
 "fits": [],
 "dimensions": "exact (nominal, no printing tolerance)",
 "dimension_rule": "All geometry on Xem Studio is exact (nominal, true size) with no printing tolerance. Where a part meets another part, the object lists its mating features (feature, exact size, what it mates with, fit class: press, slide, run, socket, clamp or designed). Apply your process's allowance to those features only; 'designed' gaps are part of the design and stay as drawn.",
 "mating": [],
 "faq": [
  {
   "q": "Why do arms wobble?",
   "a": "Below 12 mm wide they flex under torque (UAVModel)."
  }
 ],
 "files_license": {
  "name": "Xem Studio Design License",
  "holder": "Xem Studio",
  "url": "https://xemstudio.com/license/",
  "note": "Xem Studio's own design: free to use, print, modify and sell things made from it; not to be republished or redistributed as files."
 },
 "offers": [
  {
   "file": "arm-thickness-layout",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/arm-thickness/arm-thickness-layout.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/arm-thickness/arm-thickness-layout.stl",
   "note": "true x frame layout: 220 mm motor-to-motor diagonal, 5 in props (discs show the swept area; arms and plate illustrative)"
  }
 ],
 "markdown": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/arm-thickness/index.md"
}