The Launch of KDE Direct - Trex 600 Aluminum Bottom Bracket Upgrade!

[KDE Direct]

Hey All HeliFreaks -

After a lot of work and design effort, I'm pleased to announce the launch of my new design company KDE Direct (www.kdedirect.com). One of the first products available to you is the Trex 600 Aluminum Bottom Bracket upgrade and I'm proud to offer this to HeliFreaks. As you'll find on the website, here's a summary of the design:

Item Description:
Precision, CNC machined and clear anodized Aluminum 6061-T6 bottom bracket upgrade for the Align TREX 600E line of helicopters. This upgrade is a direct replacement for the stock Align part, with no modification required to the frame or landing gear. All standard hardware required is included for installation and is U.S. Made! No cheap materials or machining; this is the highest quality RC upgrade product on the market bar-none! The upgrade provides incredible frame stiffness with tremendous benefits – no more broken landing gear tabs, ability to use steel or nylon screws (to prevent landing gear breakage), optimized strength and weight characteristics, increased toughness in case of a crash, and aesthetic appeal for your helicopter!

Includes:
- One (1) Aluminum Bottom Bracket Upgrade
- Four (4) M3 x 0.5 x 10 Socket Head Cap Screws (Class 12.9 Black Oxide Alloy Steel)
- Two (2) M3 x 0.5 x 12 Socket Head Cap Screws (Class 12.9 Black Oxide Alloy Steel)
- Four (4) M3 x 0.5 x 16 Socket Head Cap Screws (Class 12.9 Black Oxide Alloy Steel)
- Ten (10) M3 (3.2mm ID, 7mm OD) Washers (Zinc-Plated DIN 125 Steel Flat)
- Four (4) M3 x 0.5 Nylon-Insert Locknuts (Zinc-Plated Class 8 Steel)
- Installation diagram with hardware callouts

Weight:
~77 g (design is FEA optimized for maximum strength and minimum weight – only ~30 g heavier than stock plastic frame)

The first production run will be available on 5/27/2008 and we are currently accepting preorders through the website. All parts will ship the following day via USPS Priority Mail (Free shipping for the celebration of the launch)! No more plastic parts - it can't get any better than that! I've attached additional images of the design.

Thanks again for everyone's support!

[Yardape]

will you ship to canada? if so i want two of those beauty's! Nice work! Top shelf.

[bullaculla]

WOW! that is much nicer than I expected!
I'm glad I bought one

:edit:
Hey, wait a minute!
whats that cool little rear tray I see hiding under there?
With all that extra bracing in there, you must have the stiffest Trex frame ever!

[cbergen]

Nicely done!!

[KDE Direct]

Yes, I will ship to Canada via First Class Mail International for free (introductory offer). If you would like the items faster, we can discuss other methods of shipping for you at different price rates (send me an e-mail ot PM if you'd like to discuss this).

Thanks everyone for the support! I'm truly excited to offer this to us RC Helicopter addicts and I'm looking forward to everyone's response and seeing these at the Fun Flys. I'll continue working on other concepts and possibly release the gyro tray next (as Bullacula is hinting towards). Yes, I've added stiffeners throughout the frame and my Trex 600E is now crazy rigid - the crash rigidity has been outstanding (which is what I primarily need it for! LOL ). I put it in hard a few months ago and all I broke were the landing gear!

[KDE Direct]

Quick Update -

I've received a few e-mails concerning the premium price of the new upgrade part. I wanted to explain my design philosophy on this and what you can expect from KDE Direct:

I tried to keep the pricing as low as possible, but I wanted to keep manufacturing in the U.S. and not reduce material or machining quality in anyway. My goal for this new company is for customers to know they are buying a premium product that represents some of the best work out there. I know I could reach a larger target audience with a lower cost, lower quality design, but I don't want my business model to be based around that. I used the highest grade Aluminum 6061-T6, which offers incredible strength at a very minimal weight increase over the stock plastic frame. Also, I'm confident you'll be impressed by the CNC machining work - I worked hard to find a highly skilled machinist and I'm confident you'll see his work is represented in the part. All edges are chamfered and tolerances are being held to +/- 0.001", so you'll get an exact part everytime. I'm also using MIL-spec, clear anodizing to provide excellent corrosion resistance and a brilliant shine. I want to offer us helicopter addicts the best quality available, as I've been very frustrated with low quality parts and upgrades that cause headaches and trouble once installed in the past.

As part of the sale, I wanted to start an industry first crash warranty for RC hardware. If a serious crash occurs and the part is damaged in anyway, I'm offering a 30% discount on a replacement part. This is my commitment to you and the quality of my work, and I want to help out us HeliFreaks in anyway possible.

Thanks again for your support!

[Aptar]

One item sorely needed for the Trex 600 in aluminum is the tail slider bellcrank. I have searched and searched and there just aren't any available from anyone!

[eightythree]

nice work keg!

what other products will you be releasing? i love supporting US machined parts, cant get any better than that!

[KDE Direct]

Thanks eightythree,

I don't have my plans all laid-out yet, as funds are very tight for me and my family right now, but I'm hoping to get working on the Aluminum Tail Slider Crank (as Aptar is hoping for) and some other ideas I'll think you'll like that I don't want to disclose quite yet. I'll keep you posted as best I can and keep watching the website, I'll keep that updated on a regular basis with progress.

BarnOwl - I actually think it will minimize the damage to the frame, as the aluminum will support the shock and prevent flexing of the carbon frames, which causes the breakage. In the event of a crash, the stock plastic frame flexes tremendously and provides no support to the carbon structure, which quickly causes the carbon to shatter. Carbon-fiber weave is very good in symetric and smooth loading, but is horrible in sudden shock-type impacts, which shatters the epoxy within the carbon lay-up and results in cracks and breakage. Of course, if you put it in hard enough, things could still break and that's why I wanted to offer a crash-replacement program. On the other hand, in my own experience and multiple hard crashes with the frame I've had installed for over a year, I've had no damage to the frames and electronics tucked inside for protection. Also, to prevent breaking the landing gear as well, you can use nylon screws in this design to secure the landing gear, which will shear off in the event of a crash and prevent further damage.

I hope this helps!

[KDE Direct]

Also, I don't want HeliFreak.com to feel like I'm hijacking their website or promoting my products without returning the favor to the forum, so who should I contact concerning advertisement on this site? I want to be fair to this awesome forum and not take advantage of anything in announcing new developments in the future.

[BarnOwl]

That is one fine piece of engineering! Actually one of the things that goes in a big crash is the bottom plate.
I have one question though: Because the Align bottom is plastic it sort of acts like a crashing zone to protect the rest of the frame.
In a really heavy crash (Like I experienced last week because I started a big loop too low and crashed it full speed nose down in the Dutch clay ) the frames will damage even with the plastic bottom. But with your beautiful strong rigid bottom is there not a possibility it will cause more damage to the rest of the heli because it lacks the absorption of the plastic?

[rdlohr]

Originally Posted by kegerator

Also, I don't want HeliFreak.com to feel like I'm hijacking their website or promoting my products without returning the favor to the forum, so who should I contact concerning advertisement on this site? I want to be fair to this awesome forum and not take advantage of anything in announcing new developments in the future.

Congrats on the new business and hope it works out for you. The part looks high quality. My 450 could use one! If the extra weight is an issue for anyone they could lop off the front.

PM WillJames for your advertising needs.

Rick

[KDE Direct]

Great News! The TREX 500 Aluminum Bottom Bracket design is almost out of production and will be shipping on July 2, 2008. The design is available for preorder on my website, so check it out (www.kdedirect.com). It is a direct retrofit for the flimsy, stock plastic frame and the quality is again the best available for HeliFreaks. I've attached a few images of the new design (the images are of a first prototype part from the CNC mill and have not been finished or anodized, Final production parts have a much cleaner finish and a clear anodize).

[rdlohr]

SWEEEEEEET!

Rick

[KDE Direct]

Check out Finless's video of the TREX 600E Aluminum Bottom Bracket install! Exciting stuff for the new company! Thanks a ton Bob - I truly appreciate the help!

http://www.helifreak.com/showthread.php?t=79329

[Wyldman]

Just received my 600e bottom bracket and I must say it's a class piece of work! Pricey, but definitly seems worth it. This will definitely stiffen the bottom end of the chassis.

[KDE Direct]

That's great to hear, I'm glad you like the product. If you'd like, please attach images of the installed unit when you have time. I enjoy seeing the product installed in other people's helicopters.

[KDE Direct]

I'm pleased to announce the new TREX 500 Aluminum Bottom Bracket Upgrade is available for immediate shipping and a third vendor (www.readyheli.com) is now carrying the KDE Direct line. The new design came out awesome, with a satin-brushed Aluminum finish and a MIL-spec clear anodize to show off the CNC machining. I'm confident the new design is one of the best upgrades available on the market and I'm looking forward to the response and seeing them on HeliFreak's heli's at the Fun Flys!

[KDE Direct]

Additional online vendors are now supporting the KDE Direct brand line, with five online stores now offering the TREX 600, 500, and soon the 450 designs. As always, products can be purchased directly through the website (www.kdedirect.com) and through these vendors:

www.modefosheli.com
www.deeteeenterprises.com
www.readyheli.com
www.helihobby.com
www.tammieshobbies.com

Thanks to everyone's support and the new TREX 450 design is soon coming, hopefully by the end of the month when the parts arrive from the machinist and anodize facility.

[KDE Direct]

Designs for the TREX 600E, 500, and 450 are now available through the website and online vendors! Thanks for HeliFreaks and everyone's support, I'm proud to see these upgrades at the FunFlys and hearing the success people are having with the new designs. I've attached a few new images of 500 and 450 designs, which are now available!