{
 "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": "deadcat-frame",
 "name": "Deadcat frame",
 "kind": "standard",
 "category": "Drone design",
 "group": "Drone frame layouts",
 "year": null,
 "question": "Why do cinematic drones use a deadcat frame?",
 "tags": [
  "vehicle design",
  "drone frame layouts",
  "rc design",
  "aerodynamics"
 ],
 "aliases": [
  "deadcat",
  "dead cat frame",
  "deadcat quad",
  "props out of view",
  "cinematic frame",
  "deadcat vs true x",
  "fpv deadcat",
  "camera clear frame"
 ],
 "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/deadcat-frame/",
 "sheet_txt": "https://xemstudio.com/objects/deadcat-frame/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": [
   "A deadcat spreads the front arms wider and longer than the rear so no props appear in the shot (UAVModel). It exists mainly to keep props out of view, not for racing (IntoFPV).",
   "Costs: yaw authority falls ~10-15%, two arm resonance frequencies complicate filtering, and pilots report more weight on some builds (UAVModel; IntoFPV).",
   "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": [
    [
     "Yaw reduction",
     "~10-15%",
     "UAVModel"
    ],
    [
     "Suggested roll P vs pitch P",
     "5-10% lower",
     "UAVModel"
    ],
    [
     "5 in prop frame size",
     "210-250 mm diagonal (motor to motor)",
     "Grepow"
    ]
   ]
  }
 },
 "sheet_text": "Deadcat frame — dimension sheet\nSource: Xem Studio, https://xemstudio.com/objects/deadcat-frame/  (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- A deadcat spreads the front arms wider and longer than the rear so no props appear in the shot (UAVModel). It exists mainly to keep props out of view, not for racing (IntoFPV).\n- Costs: yaw authority falls ~10-15%, two arm resonance frequencies complicate filtering, and pilots report more weight on some builds (UAVModel; IntoFPV).\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\nYaw reduction  ~10-15%  UAVModel\nSuggested roll P vs pitch P  5-10% lower  UAVModel\n5 in prop frame size  210-250 mm diagonal (motor to motor)  Grepow\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- IntoFPV forum: Frame layouts, configurations and their characteristics — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://intofpv.com/printthread.php?tid=15838\n- Grepow: What size FPV drone should I get? — web — Publisher's page; dimensions are facts — https://grepow.com/blog/what-size-fpv-drone-should-i-get.html\n\nFree files (Xem Studio Design License, Xem Studio; STEP + STL, 1 parts): https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/deadcat-frame/index.json\nAPI: https://xemstudio.com/api/geometry?object=deadcat-frame\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": "IntoFPV forum",
   "title": "Frame layouts, configurations and their characteristics",
   "url": "https://intofpv.com/printthread.php?tid=15838",
   "formats": [
    "web"
   ],
   "license": "Publisher's page; dimensions are facts",
   "license_verified": true,
   "hosted": false
  },
  {
   "publisher": "Grepow",
   "title": "What size FPV drone should I get?",
   "url": "https://grepow.com/blog/what-size-fpv-drone-should-i-get.html",
   "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",
  "h-frame",
  "plus-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": "Any props in shot?",
   "a": "None by design, though some deadcats still show tips (IntoFPV)."
  }
 ],
 "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": "deadcat-frame-layout",
   "formats": [
    "step",
    "stl"
   ],
   "price_usd": 0,
   "license": "Xem Studio Design License",
   "step": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/deadcat-frame/deadcat-frame-layout.step",
   "stl": "https://xemstudio.com/files/hardware/deadcat-frame/deadcat-frame-layout.stl",
   "note": "deadcat 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/deadcat-frame/index.md"
}