<p>A major consideration is weight reduction; if material can be removed without significantly reducing the strength of the item, this will result in an increased payload or flight duration. This is particularly evident in the motor arms of the product you linked, as the <a href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle#Triangles_in_construction" rel="noreferrer">triangular shapes are renowned for their relative strength</a>.</p>
<p>Another advantage of this is that it allows additional equipment to be attached easily, with cable ties or similar; in some cases I expect the cut-outs will be designed with this in mind - for example; a selection of parallel cut-outs can allow for a wider range of battery sizes to be securely attached to a frame.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-21T10:15:39.947Z
2021-05-21T17:24:02.820Z
2021-05-21T17:24:02.820Z
Kralc
<p>This may sound like a very dumb question, but I am building my first quadcopter and I just realized that some frames have these perfectly symmetrical holes/spaces.</p>
<p>I used up all the screws on mine, so I don't think I have to actually use those spaces, but why are they there?</p>
<p>Is it to allow the user to make more modifications? Are some of the spaces/holes deliberately made to fit certain screws for modifications?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.ebay.ca/itm/284005585210?hash=item42200d513a:g:4-IAAOSwENVfWIUH&amp;autorefresh=true" rel="nofollow noreferrer">This</a> is the drone frame that I am specifically referring to, but this applies to a lot of other frames (and even electronics in general) as well.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-21T18:40:57.943Z
Why do bridges, tower cranes, and power transmission towers uses trusses instead of just giant solid metal slabs of material? Well, yes, because it's difficult to make one big huge slab of metal for something so large, but there are reasons other than manufacturability. Can you think of any that would also apply to aircraft?
DKNguyen
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-21T19:32:19.527Z
In structural engineering, it's called a "space frame".  It gives you strength at minimal weight cost: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_frame
Flydog57
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-05-21T22:50:56.963Z
yes thank you! that makes a lot of sense and its something i noticed but never really thought about lol
Ahmed Anwer
<quadcopters><building><diy><drone-frame><modification>
why do drone frames have spaces and holes
Ahmed Anwer
# why do drone frames have spaces and holes

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-05-21)

This may sound like a very dumb question, but I am building my first quadcopter and I just realized that some frames have these perfectly symmetrical holes/spaces.

I used up all the screws on mine, so I don't think I have to actually use those spaces, but why are they there?

Is it to allow the user to make more modifications? Are some of the spaces/holes deliberately made to fit certain screws for modifications?

[This](https://www.ebay.ca/itm/284005585210?hash=item42200d513a:g:4-IAAOSwENVfWIUH&autorefresh=true) is the drone frame that I am specifically referring to, but this applies to a lot of other frames (and even electronics in general) as well.

**Tags:** quadcopters, building, diy, drone-frame, modification
> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Why do bridges, tower cranes, and power transmission towers uses trusses instead of just giant solid metal slabs of material? Well, yes, because it's difficult to make one big huge slab of metal for something so large, but there are reasons other than manufacturability. Can you think of any that would also apply to aircraft?  
> **username_2**: In structural engineering, it's called a "space frame".  It gives you strength at minimal weight cost: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_frame  
> **username_0**: yes thank you! that makes a lot of sense and its something i noticed but never really thought about lol  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2021-05-21. Score: 7 | Accepted answer

A major consideration is weight reduction; if material can be removed without significantly reducing the strength of the item, this will result in an increased payload or flight duration. This is particularly evident in the motor arms of the product you linked, as the [triangular shapes are renowned for their relative strength](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triangle#Triangles_in_construction).

Another advantage of this is that it allows additional equipment to be attached easily, with cable ties or similar; in some cases I expect the cut-outs will be designed with this in mind - for example; a selection of parallel cut-outs can allow for a wider range of battery sizes to be securely attached to a frame.


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