Summary

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Welcome to 2022. The Toothpick size is now very common and widespread so it's time for me to refresh a bit my designs on this class. You may already know the OG Pickle (released in early 2019) and the PicklePick (autumn 2019). Those are still relevant today but a few changes had occurred meanwhile that call for a refresh.

This is still a work in progress and i will phase out more versions. For now the versions are :

• 5" DIGI : 198mm wheelbase with extra holes for wider than stack canopy (~26g in 4mm carbon, go 5mm for heavier setups)
• 4" DIGI : 153mm wheelbase with extra holes for wider than stack canopy (~16g in 3.5mm carbon, go 4mm for heavier setups)
• 3.5" DIGI : 135mm wheelbase with extra holes for wider than stack canopy (~11.5g in 3mm carbon)
• 3" DIGI : 120mm wheelbase with extra holes for wider than stack canopy (~10.5g in 3mm carbon)
• 3" Lite : 116mm wheelbase and canopy on top of stack screws (~9g in 3mm carbon)
• 2.5" Lite : 103mm wheelbase and canopy on top of stack screws (~6.5g in 2.5mm carbon)
• 2" : 87mm wheelbase and canopy on top of stack screws (~4.5g in 2mm carbon)

First the now common HD setups. Toothpicks are still quite inconvenient for those builds but a lot of things can be done though. Second one is all the structural design principles put into clear light by Chris Rosser. Not that most of the designers were unaware of them or didn't use them but it's somehow easier to determine when to use some design features to achieve some specific goals. Like those strut alike arms you'll see in this new Pickle frame generation.

So yes i used those struted arm version here to counter torsion of the arm and limit vibrations. It wasn't necessary on a spec analog 3" toothpick that was fitting in Kabab's formula. Vibrations and torsion were not a thing. But now if you add some naked vista and cam it starts to matter. Those struts don't come with new annoyances, i cannot fit my classic TPU battery holder so i have to make new ones plus it adds a bit on the "tree hangability" of the frame but i hope that advantages are outclassing the annoyances though.

I still believe that unibody is the most convenient when you stay around 3". The frame is simpler, lighter and when you break (which shouldn't happen that often) it just takes a few more minutes to swap the frame.

What's changed on those Pickle frames compared to previous generation :

• the struted arms
• 16x16 fc mount is gone (aio should be the goto for those builds)
• return of the rear usb hole. I use an excellent old Flywoo 13A FC that have 2 physical uarts but a usb facing down usb so there's still a use for that i guess. At least i was very pissed not to have it.
• digital builds in mind (at least for the first versions). Added those extra outer holes to fit wider canopies that cover the whole electronic stack. Like what you see on Twigs or Betafpv setups.
• the HD oriented frames are obviously heavier ~10g (from 7.5g for the 3" PicklePick for ex). The new ones being stronger and bigger that's normal. It's a tradeoff.

What haven't changed

• It's a Pickle !
• It's still a free design given to the community for it's very own benefit.
• it fits 25.5x25.5 mm AIOS
• it can take motors with 9x9mm mounts (2.5", 3", 3.5" versions at least)
• 4 and 5" versions take 9mm or 12mm motor mounts !
• 2" version takes 3 hole motors with 6.6mm mount

recommended motors

• 2 inch : 0802 - 1102 with 3 hole / 6.6mm mounts
• 65mm : 1103/1202.5/1203
• 3" : 1204/1303/1304
• 3.5" : 1304/1404/1505/16xx
• 4" and 5" : from around 1404 to 2203.5 depending of the type of setup (cruise/race/etc.)

recommended electronics

• for 1-2S AIO with built in elrs (be modern and light :))
• for 2.5"/3.5" setups a 12/15A AIO would be fine
• 4"/5" setups a 20A AIO is fine (tested up to 300g on 4S setups without issues)

getting the frame cut

My go to places are www.cncmadness.com (CA/US/Worldwide) and www.carbon-posten.de (EU). Great quality cuts and fair pricing/delivery time.

you need to send the provided DXF files with the following instructions :

• 5 inch frame : 4mm thick Carbon Fibre (5mm if you want a more powerful/heavy setup)
• 4 inch frame : 3.5mm thick Carbon Fibre (4mm if you want a more powerful/heavy setup)
• 3.5 inch frame : 3mm thick Carbon Fibre (3.5mm if you want a more powerful/heavy setup)
• 3 inch frame : 3mm thick Carbon Fibre (for DIGI & lite version) (if you make a 1S setup 2mm should be fine)
• 2.5 inch frame : 2.5mm thick Carbon Fibre
• 2 inch frame : 2mm thick Carbon Fibre

You can optionally ask for a light chamfer on the frame