Frame
StructuraleasyThe structural backbone of the drone. Typically carbon fiber plates CNC-cut or molded, with aluminum hardware. Frames define the drone's size class (3", 5", 7") and flight characteristics.
What this part does
4 functions- Holds motors, electronics and battery in one rigid shape.
- Absorbs crash impact so the fragile electronics survive.
- Sets the drone's size class (3"/5"/7") — speed vs range.
- Gives the camera a stable mount so footage isn't shaky.
How to make it
5 steps- 1CADPlate and arm geometry
- 2CNC cutCarbon-fiber sheets
- 3MachineAluminum hardware
- 4AnodizeColour + corrosion guard
- 5QCDimension + stiffness
Each step happens at a real manufacturer — scroll down to see who can do it and where.
Manufacturing Processes
Materials
Key Requirements
- •Carbon fiber CNC cutting capability
- •Tight tolerances for motor mount alignment
- •Anodizing for aluminum parts
- •Quality control for structural integrity
Bill of Materials
- 1.Top plate (CF)
- 2.Bottom plate (CF)
- 3.Arms (CF or aluminum)
- 4.Standoffs & hardware (aluminum/titanium)
- 5.Camera mount plate
- 6.Battery strap mount
Matched Manufacturers
7 of 7 · sorted by scoreInferred from Wayback enrichment of company website
- +Offers cnc machining
- −Material Carbon Fiber not listed (may still be capable)
- +Quantity 100 within range (0–∞)
Inferred from Wayback enrichment of company website
- +Offers cnc machining
- −Material Carbon Fiber not listed (may still be capable)
- +Quantity 100 within range (0–∞)
Inferred from Wayback enrichment of company website
- +Offers cnc machining
- −Material Carbon Fiber not listed (may still be capable)
- +Quantity 100 within range (0–∞)
Inferred from Wayback enrichment of company website
- +Offers cnc machining
- −Material Carbon Fiber not listed (may still be capable)
- +Quantity 100 within range (0–∞)
Inferred from Wayback enrichment of company website
- +Offers cnc machining
- −Material Carbon Fiber not listed (may still be capable)
- +Quantity 100 within range (0–∞)
Inferred from Wayback enrichment of company website
- +Offers cnc machining
- −Material Carbon Fiber not listed (may still be capable)
- +Quantity 100 within range (0–∞)
Inferred from Wayback enrichment of company website
- +Offers laser cutting
- −Material Carbon Fiber not listed (may still be capable)
- +Quantity 100 within range (0–∞)
Supply Chain Decision Guide
Compare sourcing strategies, understand risks, and see the path to production.
Marinha Grande has 250+ injection molding companies. OXYBLACK specializes in CF for drones. This is the easiest, highest-margin component to produce locally.
Sourcing Options
CNC-cut carbon fiber plates at OXYBLACK or Composites Kingdom, with aluminum hardware from local CNC shops. Option to scale to injection-molded PLA-CF via Marinha Grande cluster.
- Full supply chain in Portugal — zero import dependency
- Fast iteration — 1-2 week turnaround for design changes
- 70-85% margins at scale (€2-5/frame injection-molded)
- "Made in EU" label — strong market differentiator
- Direct quality control, visit factory same day
- Higher unit cost than China at small volumes (<500 units)
- Injection mold investment €15-40K per design (for PLA-CF path)
- Limited to 2D CNC-cut designs initially until mold investment
Source finished CF frames from established EU composite manufacturers. Rebrand with your specs — companies like Carbonteam (DE) or Castro Composites (ES) do custom CF cutting.
- Proven quality — EU aerospace-grade standards
- No tooling or manufacturing setup needed
- 2-3 week delivery within EU
- Lower risk than building local production
- Less margin — you're paying their margin too (€30-50/frame)
- Limited design customization vs. in-house
- Dependent on their capacity and schedule
- Not building your own manufacturing know-how
Partner with aerospace-grade EU companies (Aernnova Évora, CEiiA Porto) to co-develop next-gen composite frames. Shared IP, higher capability.
- Access to aerospace-grade composite expertise
- Shared R&D cost — potential EU funding (Horizon Europe)
- Advanced manufacturing (RTM, infusion) for complex geometry
- CEiiA has aircraft-level composite certification
- Longer setup time — 3-6 months to formalize partnership
- Shared IP may limit future flexibility
- Aerospace partners may not prioritize small drone volumes
- Higher engineering costs upfront
Source finished frames from Chinese OEMs (iFlight, Diatone, GepRC). Lowest cost but zero strategic value for EU manufacturing.
- Lowest per-unit cost (€8-15)
- Proven designs — ready to ship
- No tooling investment
- 4-6 week shipping + customs delays
- No design control or IP ownership
- EU anti-dumping tariff exposure
- Quality inconsistency between batches
- No "Made in EU" value — cannot compete on provenance
- Geopolitical supply chain risk
Supply Chain Risks
CF sheets come primarily from Toray (Japan) or SGL (Germany). EU supply is stable.
€15-40K per mold. Design must be finalized before committing.
Path to Production — 8 weeks total
Finalize frame design in CAD. Define mounting patterns, arm angles, stack height.
CNC-cut 5-10 prototype frames from CF sheet at OXYBLACK. Test fit all components.
Build 2-3 complete drones with prototype frames. Run stress tests, crash tests, vibration analysis.
Order 100-unit batch. QC inspection on each frame. Package with hardware kit.
Open Source Resources
Classic open-source 5" FPV racing frame — DXF/STL files ready for CNC cutting
Racing-focused open-source frame successor to SOURCE ONE
5.1" frame compatible with DJI O3 Air Unit, full CAD files
Open-source drone racing frame with CNC-ready DXF files
Regulatory & Compliance
- ▸CE marking not required for structural components (no electronics)
- ▸Material safety data sheets (MSDS) for CF dust handling
- ▸RoHS compliance for any metal plating/anodizing
Deep Intelligence
Design best practices, technology evolution forecasts, materials supply chain analysis, and prototyping partners.
