I believe I simply discovered the greatest finances body in 2024—the AxisFlying Manta 5 SE! This freestyle FPV body package 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 overview, we’ll dive into the design, options, and the way it stacks up towards the favored TBS Supply One V5.
New to FPV, study concerning 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 package from these distributors:
The packaging is spectacular for a finances body, rivalling and even surpassing frames that price twice as a lot. The eye to element units the Manta 5 SE other than its opponents.
One of many greatest 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 Measurement: 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
- Prime 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 greatest finances 5-inch FPV drone frames. Whereas many challengers have emerged, none have matched its affordability and person expertise—till now, with the AxisFlying Manta 5 SE.
Supply One’s Stagnant Growth
Though the Supply One is an open-source undertaking, this comes with inherent drawbacks. As an example, there hasn’t been any replace on the body previously couple of years. Many within the FPV neighborhood, 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 suitable 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 neighborhood ardour somewhat than revenue, which sadly means unpredictable final result.
Manta 5 SE vs. Supply One V5
The TBS Supply One V5 continues to be the least expensive model identify body in the marketplace, priced at $29.99. Nonetheless, the AxisFlying Manta 5 SE, priced at $39.99, presents considerably extra options that, in my view, make it nicely value the additional $10.
Why the Manta 5 SE is Higher, to sum it up:
- Native DJI O3 Assist: No want for modifications or additional components—the Manta 5 SE helps the DJI O3 system proper out of the field.
- 3D Printed TPU Elements Included: The package comes with arm guards, VTX and receiver antenna mounts, and a GPS holder—no have to supply or print these individually.
- Built-in Buzzer: Comes with a small buzzer, which is a useful addition for finding your drone after a crash.
- Lovely Carbon Fiber End: The carbon fiber is fantastically crafted, with chamfered edges requiring no extra sanding or preparation.
- Full {Hardware} Equipment: Contains lengthy stack screws, motor screws, and battery straps—gadgets lacking within the Supply One package.
- Consumer Pleasant VTX Mounting: Helps each 20x20mm and 25.5×25.5mm mounts with M2 holes, providing better compatibility for contemporary VTX methods.
- Easier Meeting: Barely simpler to construct, with meeting directions included (a considerate contact absent within the Supply One package).
- Premium Packaging: Is available in safe {and professional} packaging, guaranteeing all components arrive in good situation.
Benefits of the Supply One V5:
- Extra 3D Printed Accent Designs Accessible: Due to its open-source nature and enormous person 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’ll be able to minimize your individual alternative components (i.e. arms and plates) in case you have 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 minimize corners with the Manta 5 SE body design. Its gorgeous aesthetic, that includes blue aluminium accents and carbon plates with a singular blue sample, makes it a visually hanging addition to any construct.
The floor of the carbon plates has a tremendous sprayed “blue marble” end, including a contact of sophistication. All arms and plates have chamfered edges, offering a easy and premium really feel whereas eliminating sharp edges.
The underside plate incorporates black threaded inserts (press nuts), which not solely make meeting straightforward, but in addition preserve a clear {and professional} look.
I additionally admire the similar arm design, which makes constructing easy and reduces confusion through the meeting/restore course of.
Design
The AxisFlying Manta 5 SE adopts an identical “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 additional area 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 dearer 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 completely different standoff sizes which I at all times discover barely annoying.
The digicam cage on the Manta is roughly 23.5mm huge. With the suitable rubber inserts, you possibly can set up FPV cameras of both 19mm or 20mm width, together with customary 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 probability of propellers showing within the digicam’s view in case your digicam angle is low, notably with huge 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 presents each 20x20mm and 25.5×25.5mm mounting choices to 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 suitable with most VTX methods, that are sometimes designed for M2 {hardware}.
Arm Design and Rigidity
Every arm on the Manta is secured with three screws, making arm alternative fast and simple. The arms interlock, offering ample rigidity; nevertheless, the addition of an arm locking wedge (just like the one on the Supply One) may additional improve total energy and rigidity.
The body helps motors with 16x16mm mounting holes, that are suitable 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 additional safety for the electronics. Whereas the arms on the Manta are 0.5mm thinner, they’re additionally wider, which ought to steadiness out the sturdiness.
On the subject of 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 by way of a gap in the course of the highest plate. This design minimizes the chance of the facility wires being minimize by propellers. Nonetheless, the Manta 5 SE doesn’t have a high plate cutout for this function, so the pigtail should exit from the rear.
Tips on how to Assemble
The Manta 5 SE body package makes use of numerous kinds of screws, which may be complicated at first. Whereas there may be an meeting handbook included, it may gain advantage from extra diagrams to additional make clear the meeting steps.
On the brilliant facet, the handbook color-codes the screws within the diagrams and matches them to the accent listing, making identification a lot simpler. Nonetheless, including shade 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 easy, whereas nonetheless sustaining the required 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 Performed Higher
- Provide Spare Elements: Provide spare arms and high/backside plates individually for restore with out shopping for an entire package once more.
- Embody Further Screws: The body comes with simply the precise variety of screws and no spares in any respect, so be sure to don’t lose them. Together with additional screws could be a considerate addition.
- Enhance Arm Rigidity: Whereas the arms interlock nicely sufficient to keep away from main rigidity points, incorporating some kind of arm locking mechanism, just like the arm locking wedge within the Supply One, may additional improve energy and stiffness.
- Share TPU Mount Designs: Sharing the 3D-printable TPU mount designs could be an enormous assist for builders who need to print replacements or modify them for his or her particular wants.
- Assist Bigger GPS Modules: The included GPS mount solely helps 18x18mm modules. Including a mount for 20x20mm or bigger GPS items, that are additionally widespread, would improve flexibility.
- Extra Detailed Guide: Whereas the body features a easy meeting leaflet, extra detailed directions with step-by-step diagrams could be invaluable, particularly for rookies.
Conclusion
The AxisFlying Manta 5 SE body package is a no brainer, particularly for many 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 enchantment, making it stand out as a premium freestyle possibility.
You should buy the Manta 5 SE body package from these distributors:
Its Squashed X design gives glorious agility for freestyle flying whereas retaining 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 purpose is to maintain prices as little as doable and you’ve got entry to a 3D printer, the Supply One stays a strong different. Nonetheless, for these searching for a completely geared up, hassle-free body, the Manta 5 SE is undoubtedly one of the best finances body in 2025, good for each rookies and skilled pilots.
