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Deadcat frame

Name: Deadcat frame dimension sheet
Creator: Xem Studio
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Why do cinematic drones use a deadcat frame? · Standard part · basis: Design rules and figures from the cited sources; example geometry by Xem Studio

Also called: deadcat, dead cat frame, deadcat quad, props out of view, cinematic frame, deadcat vs true x, fpv deadcat, camera clear frame

Exact dimensions. True size, with no printing tolerance added.

sizes: 3 in table

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.

Deadcat frame size chart

parameter	value or range	source
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

Where the files are

Other publishers' files are linked, not hosted. "verify" = check the license at the link before commercial use.

UAVModel blog	FPV Frame Geometry: Deadcat vs True X vs Squashed X (2026 guide)	web	Publisher's page; dimensions are facts
IntoFPV forum	Frame layouts, configurations and their characteristics	web	Publisher's page; dimensions are facts
Grepow	What size FPV drone should I get?	web	Publisher's page; dimensions are facts

Free files

★ Free files 1 parts. Xem Studio design: free to use, print and sell things from; not to be republished as files. Xem Studio Design License. index.json

deadcat-frame-layout

deadcat frame layout: 220 mm motor-to-motor diagonal, 5 in props (discs show the swept area; arms and plate illustrative)

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Plain text: sheet.txt · JSON: /api/geometry?object=deadcat-frame