I believe I simply discovered the finest funds body in 2024—the AxisFlying Manta 5 SE! This freestyle FPV body equipment combines efficiency, affordability, and ease. By mixing CNC aluminium components with high-quality carbon fiber and sensible 3D-printed equipment, the Manta5 SE is designed to ship worth and flexibility for FPV drone builders. On this evaluate, we’ll dive into the design, options, and the way it stacks up in opposition to the favored TBS Supply One V5.
New to FPV, study in regards to the fundamentals of FPV drone frames on this tutorial: https://oscarliang.com/fpv-drone-frames/
The place to Purchase
You should buy the Manta 5 SE body equipment from these distributors:
The packaging is spectacular for a funds body, rivalling and even surpassing frames that price twice as a lot. The eye to element units the Manta 5 SE aside from its rivals.
One of many largest promoting factors for me is the inclusion of 3D printed TPU components such because the GoPro mount, VTX/receiver antenna mount, GPS holder, and arm guards. It even comes with a mini beeper, which is cleverly built-in into the body design.
Specs
- Wheelbase: 223mm (diagonal motor-to-motor distance)
- Propeller Dimension: Helps as much as 5.1-inch props
- Backside Plates: Cut up design
- FPV Digicam Compatibility: Micro FPV digicam (19mm width) and DJI O3 digicam (20mm width)
- FC/ESC Stack Mounting: 20x20mm (M3) and 30.5×30.5mm (M3)
- VTX Mounting: 20x20mm (M2) and 25.5×25.5mm (M2)
- Motor Mount: 16x16mm (M3)
- Stack peak (standoff): 20mm
- Materials: T700 Carbon Fiber and Aluminum
- Lipo battery pad, strap, and stack screws included
Carbon Fiber Thickness:
- Arms: 5.5mm
- High Plate: 2mm
- Center Plate: 3mm
- Backside Plate: 3mm
- Digicam Plate: 2mm
Weight:
- 130g (with out TPU components)
- 157g (with TPU components)
Higher Than Supply One?
It’s been over two years because the launch of the TBS Supply One V5, and it had undoubtedly been one of many finest funds 5-inch FPV drone frames. Whereas many challengers have emerged, none have matched its affordability and consumer expertise—till now, with the AxisFlying Manta 5 SE.
Supply One’s Stagnant Growth
Though the Supply One is an open-source mission, this comes with inherent drawbacks. As an illustration, there hasn’t been any replace on the body up to now couple of years. Many within the FPV group, together with myself, have been eagerly ready for a brand new model with native DJI O3 help for a very long time, and now even the DJI O4 is on the horizon, hope is fading. There are customized made TPU components you possibly can add to the Supply One to make it appropriate with the O3, however not everybody has a 3D printer and it’s a trouble. The open-source nature means improvement is pushed largely by group ardour quite than revenue, which sadly means unpredictable consequence.
Manta 5 SE vs. Supply One V5
The TBS Supply One V5 remains to be the most cost-effective model identify body in the marketplace, priced at $29.99. Nonetheless, the AxisFlying Manta 5 SE, priced at $39.99, provides considerably extra options that, for my part, make it properly value the additional $10.
Why the Manta 5 SE is Higher, to sum it up:
- Native DJI O3 Help: No want for modifications or further components—the Manta 5 SE helps the DJI O3 system proper out of the field.
- 3D Printed TPU Elements Included: The equipment comes with arm guards, VTX and receiver antenna mounts, and a GPS holder—no must supply or print these individually.
- Built-in Buzzer: Comes with a small buzzer, which is a helpful addition for finding your drone after a crash.
- Lovely Carbon Fiber End: The carbon fiber is superbly crafted, with chamfered edges requiring no extra sanding or preparation.
- Full {Hardware} Package: Consists of lengthy stack screws, motor screws, and battery straps—gadgets lacking within the Supply One equipment.
- Consumer Pleasant VTX Mounting: Helps each 20x20mm and 25.5×25.5mm mounts with M2 holes, providing larger compatibility for contemporary VTX programs.
- Easier Meeting: Barely simpler to construct, with meeting directions included (a considerate contact absent within the Supply One equipment).
- Premium Packaging: Is available in safe {and professional} packaging, making certain all components arrive in good situation.
Benefits of the Supply One V5:
- Extra 3D Printed Accent Designs Obtainable: Because of its open-source nature and huge consumer base, there’s a variety of free 3D-printed accent designs out there on-line—however you’ll want entry to a 3D printer to make use of them.
- Open Supply Flexibility: You possibly can lower your individual alternative components (i.e. arms and plates) when you’ve got entry to CNC tools.
- Spare Elements Availability: Spare arms and plates can be found to buy.
Elements High quality
Regardless of the low worth, AxisFlying didn’t lower corners with the Manta 5 SE body design. Its beautiful aesthetic, that includes blue aluminium accents and carbon plates with a novel blue sample, makes it a visually hanging addition to any construct.
The floor of the carbon plates has a high quality sprayed “blue marble” end, including a contact of sophistication. All arms and plates have chamfered edges, offering a clean and premium really feel whereas eliminating sharp edges.
The underside plate incorporates black threaded inserts (press nuts), which not solely make meeting straightforward, but additionally preserve a clear {and professional} look.
I additionally recognize the similar arm design, which makes constructing simple and reduces confusion in the course of the meeting/restore course of.
Design
The AxisFlying Manta 5 SE adopts an analogous “cut up deck” design to the Supply One V5, the place the arms are sandwiched between two plates. In a cut up deck design, the underside plates solely overlap within the middle, it reduces weight whereas permitting for extra room within the entrance, offering further house for mounting the FPV digicam. To accommodate for the additional peak within the entrance, the Manta makes use of customized made CNC aluminum plates, that are costlier to fabricate however avoids utilizing longer standoffs. In distinction, the Supply One V5 depends on an outdated style resolution – carbon fiber plates for mounting the FPV digicam, and requiring two totally different standoff sizes which I all the time discover barely annoying.
The digicam cage on the Manta is roughly 23.5mm large. With the suitable rubber inserts, you possibly can set up FPV cameras of both 19mm or 20mm width, together with commonplace micro cameras and the DJI O3.
Nonetheless, whereas the arms are barely extra stretched out than the Supply One, the digicam cage is positioned barely additional again. This might improve the chance of propellers showing within the digicam’s view in case your digicam angle is low, notably with large FOV cameras just like the DJI O3.
FC/VTX Mounting Choices
In the course of the body, each the Manta 5 SE and Supply One V5 help 20x20mm and 30.5×30.5mm FC stacks with M3 bolts. Neither body natively helps 25.5×25.5mm AIO boards, however this may be resolved with 3D-printed adapters.
On the rear, the Manta provides each 20x20mm and 25.5×25.5mm mounting choices on your VTX, whereas the Supply One solely gives 20x20mm mounting. The Manta makes use of M2 holes for VTX mounting, whereas the Supply One makes use of M3 holes. This makes the Manta extra appropriate with most VTX programs, that are usually designed for M2 {hardware}.
Arm Design and Rigidity
Every arm on the Manta is secured with three screws, making arm alternative fast and straightforward. The arms interlock, offering adequate rigidity; nevertheless, the addition of an arm locking wedge (just like the one on the Supply One) might additional improve general energy and rigidity.
The body helps motors with 16x16mm mounting holes, that are appropriate with almost all common motors. It accommodates propellers as much as 5.1 inches, providing flexibility for various energy setups.
Sturdiness and Weight
The highest and backside plates of the Manta are barely wider than these of the Supply One, offering further safety for the electronics. Whereas the arms on the Manta are 0.5mm thinner, they’re additionally wider, which ought to stability out the sturdiness.
In relation to weight, the 2 frames are almost similar. The Supply One V5 weighs 128g, whereas the Manta 5 SE weighs 130g (excluding 3D-printed components).
Right here’s how the assembled Manta 5 SE seems to be with out 3D-printed components:
Right here’s the way it seems to be with 3D printed components:
XT60 Pigtail Placement
A rising pattern in FPV body design is routing the XT60 pigtail via a gap in the midst of the highest plate. This design minimizes the danger of the ability wires being lower by propellers. Nonetheless, the Manta 5 SE doesn’t have a prime plate cutout for this function, so the pigtail should exit from the rear.
The best way to Assemble
The Manta 5 SE body equipment makes use of varied kinds of screws, which might be complicated at first. Whereas there’s an meeting guide included, it may benefit from extra diagrams to additional make clear the meeting steps.
On the intense facet, the guide color-codes the screws within the diagrams and matches them to the accent record, making identification a lot simpler. Nonetheless, including colour labels to the precise screw luggage would have made the method much more intuitive.
The tolerances for the carbon fiber and 3D-printed components are good—not overly tight, making meeting and repairs simple, whereas nonetheless sustaining the mandatory stiffness for vibration-free efficiency. It is a testomony to the superb execution of the design.
Start by putting in the buzzer on the underside plate.
Work out how you’ll set up the arms.
Safe the arms to between the 2 backside plates.
Set up the CNC aluminuim digicam facet plates.
Connect the six standoffs to the underside plate.
Right here’s how the body seems to be from the underside:
Stick the battery pad onto the highest plate, then set up the highest plate to the body.
Lastly, connect the 3D-printed equipment (e.g., GoPro mount, GPS holder, VTX/antenna mounts) as wanted. Solely set up the equipment you require to maintain the burden down.
Right here’s how the body seems to be from above:
What Can Be Carried out Higher
- Provide Spare Elements: Provide spare arms and prime/backside plates individually for restore with out shopping for a complete equipment once more.
- Embody Further Screws: The body comes with simply the precise variety of screws and no spares in any respect, so ensure you don’t lose them. Together with further screws can be a considerate addition.
- Enhance Arm Rigidity: Whereas the arms interlock properly sufficient to keep away from main rigidity points, incorporating some type of arm locking mechanism, just like the arm locking wedge within the Supply One, might additional improve energy and stiffness.
- Share TPU Mount Designs: Sharing the 3D-printable TPU mount designs can be an enormous assist for builders who need to print replacements or modify them for his or her particular wants.
- Help Bigger GPS Modules: The included GPS mount solely helps 18x18mm modules. Including a mount for 20x20mm or bigger GPS models, that are additionally frequent, would improve flexibility.
- Extra Detailed Guide: Whereas the body features a easy meeting leaflet, extra detailed directions with step-by-step diagrams can be invaluable, particularly for newbies.
Conclusion
The AxisFlying Manta 5 SE body equipment is a no brainer, particularly for individuals who don’t personal a 3D printer and wish a ready-to-go 5inch FPV drone body for freestyle, cinematic or lengthy vary. This body combines options, ease of use, and aesthetic attraction, making it stand out as a premium freestyle possibility.
You should buy the Manta 5 SE body equipment from these distributors:
Its Squashed X design gives glorious agility for freestyle flying whereas holding props out of the digicam’s view for clear HD footage. Using CNC aluminum and T700 carbon fiber delivers spectacular sturdiness with out compromising flight efficiency.
In case your aim is to maintain prices as little as attainable and you’ve got entry to a 3D printer, the Supply One stays a strong different. Nonetheless, for these on the lookout for a completely outfitted, hassle-free body, the Manta 5 SE is undoubtedly the perfect funds body in 2025, good for each newbies and skilled pilots.
