Design and Multi-Faceted Validation of UAV Arm Clamps, Landing Gear and Motor Mounts via Generative Design in Autodesk Fusion 360

2026-26-0734

To be published on 06/01/2026

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Abstract
Content
This study presents a comprehensive methodology for optimizing critical UAV structural nodes—specifically Arm Clamps, Landing Gear, and Motor Mounts—using Generative Design (GD) tailored for Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) with PLA+. Traditional “plate-and-standoff” UAV constructions often utilize orthogonal geometries that induce stress concentrations and fail to leverage the geometric freedom of additive manufacturing. Furthermore, reliance on expensive CNC machining or injection molding creates supply chain bottlenecks for custom or short-run UAV production. While FFF offers geometric freedom, applying it to structural airframe parts introduces challenges regarding anisotropy, layer adhesion, and material brittleness. This research optimizes these components for standard commercial 3D printers by strictly enforcing manufacturing constraints, including a 40-degree maximum overhang and a 0.4 mm nozzle size, to ensure printability without internal support structures. A significant challenge addressed in this work is the “stiffness hogging” artifact observed in hybrid assembly simulations; to resolve this, a rigorous “Isolated Component Analysis” workflow was developed and implemented using high-fidelity Finite Element Analysis (FEA) in Ansys. The results demonstrate that the optimized geometries significantly mitigate stress concentrations found in sharp-cornered baseline parts. Notably, the optimized Arm Clamp maintained a Factor of Safety (FoS) exceeding 3.0, and the optimized Motor Mount demonstrated a 19% increase in stiffness compared to the baseline design, despite using the same material mass. The study validates that with correct geometric optimization, rigorous process control, and conservative safety factors, low-cost PLA+ is a viable structural material for UAVs, offering a reliable, decentralized alternative to traditional manufacturing methods.
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Citation
Krishna Bansal, V., "Design and Multi-Faceted Validation of UAV Arm Clamps, Landing Gear and Motor Mounts via Generative Design in Autodesk Fusion 360," AeroCON 2026, Bangalore, India, June 4, 2026, .
Additional Details
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Published
To be published on Jun 1, 2026
Product Code
2026-26-0734
Content Type
Technical Paper
Language
English