I feel 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 evaluation, we’ll dive into the design, options, and the way it stacks up towards the favored TBS Supply One V5.
The place to Purchase
You should buy the Manta 5 SE body equipment from these distributors:
The packaging is spectacular for a funds body, rivaling and even surpassing frames that value twice as a lot. The eye to element units the Manta 5 SE other than 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 for the reason that launch of the TBS Supply One V5, and it had been one of many finest funds 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 Improvement
Though the Supply One is an open-source mission, this comes with inherent drawbacks. For example, there hasn’t been any replace on the body prior to now couple of years. Many within the FPV neighborhood, together with myself, have been eagerly ready for a brand new model with native DJI O3 assist for a very long time, and now even the O4 is on the horizon, hope is fading. The open-source nature means improvement is pushed purely by neighborhood ardour moderately than revenue, which sadly makes outcomes and progress unpredictable.
Manta 5 SE vs. Supply One V5
The TBS Supply One V5 remains to be the least expensive body from a model identify in the marketplace, priced at $29.99. Nonetheless, the AxisFlying Manta 5 SE, priced at $39.99, affords considerably extra options that, for my part, make it properly value the additional $10.
Why the Manta 5 SE is Higher
- 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 Components 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 useful addition for finding your drone after a crash.
- Stunning Carbon Fiber End: The carbon fiber is fantastically crafted, with chamfered edges requiring no extra sanding or preparation.
- Full {Hardware} Package: Contains 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 techniques.
- Less complicated 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 Accessible: Due to its open-source nature and enormous person base, there’s a variety of 3D-printed accent designs obtainable on-line—however you’ll want entry to a 3D printer to make use of them.
- Open Supply Flexibility: You possibly can reduce your individual substitute components (e.g., arms, plates) if in case you have entry to CNC gear.
- Spare Components Availability: Spare arms and plates are extensively obtainable.
Components High quality
Regardless of the low value, AxisFlying didn’t reduce 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 positive sprayed “blue marble” end, including a contact of sophistication. All edges, together with the arms and plates, are chamfered, offering a easy and premium really feel whereas eliminating sharp edges.
The underside plate incorporates black threaded inserts, which not solely simplify meeting but in addition keep a clear {and professional} look.
I additionally recognize the equivalent arm design, which makes meeting easy and reduces confusion throughout the construct/restore course of.
Design
The AxisFlying Manta 5 SE adopts an analogous “break up deck” design to the Supply One V5, the place the arms are sandwiched between two plates. Nonetheless, in contrast to the Supply One, the plates solely overlap within the heart. This reduces weight whereas permitting for extra room within the entrance, offering additional area to mount an 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 carbon fiber plates for mounting the FPV digicam, and requiring two completely different standoff sizes which I’ve all the time discover barely annoying.
The digicam cage on the Manta is roughly 23.5mm vast. With the suitable rubber inserts, you may set up FPV cameras of both 19mm or 20mm width, together with normal 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 enhance the chance of propellers showing within the digicam’s view, significantly with vast 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 assist 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 affords 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 appropriate with most VTX techniques, that are usually designed for M2 {hardware}.
Arm Design and Rigidity
Every arm on the Manta is secured with three screws, making arm substitute fast and simple. The arms interlock, offering ample rigidity; nonetheless, the addition of an arm locking wedge (just like the one on the Supply One) might additional improve total energy and rigidity.
The body helps motors with 16x16mm mounting holes, that are appropriate with almost all in style 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 stability out the sturdiness.
Relating to weight, the 2 frames are almost equivalent. The Supply One V5 weighs 128g, whereas the Manta 5 SE weighs 130g (excluding 3D-printed components).
With out 3D-printed components:
With 3D printed components:
XT60 Pigtail Placement
A rising development in FPV body design is routing the XT60 pigtail by means of a gap in the midst of the highest plate. This design minimizes the chance of the ability wires being reduce by propellers. Nonetheless, the Manta 5 SE doesn’t have a prime plate cutout for this goal, so the pigtail should exit from the rear.
Tips on how to Assemble
The Manta 5 SE body equipment makes use of varied kinds of screws, which will be complicated at first. Whereas there’s an meeting handbook included (a rarity for funds frames), it may benefit from extra diagrams to additional make clear the meeting steps.
On the intense aspect, the handbook color-codes the screws within the diagrams and matches them to the accent listing, 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 excellent—not overly tight, making meeting and repairs easy, whereas nonetheless sustaining the mandatory stiffness for vibration-free efficiency. It is a testomony to the wonderful 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 aspect plates.
Connect the six standoffs to the underside plate.
Right here’s how the body appears from the underside:
Stick the battery pad onto the highest plate, then safe 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 load as little as attainable.
Right here’s how the body appears from above:
What Can Be Finished Higher
- Provide Spare Components: Provide spare arms and prime/backside plates individually for restore with out shopping for a complete equipment once more.
- Embrace Further Screws: The body comes with simply the precise variety of screws and no spares in any respect, so be sure you don’t lose them. Together with additional screws can be a considerate addition.
- Enhance Arm Rigidity: Whereas the arms interlock properly sufficient to keep away from main rigidity points, incorporating an arm locking wedge, just like the one on 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.
- Assist Bigger GPS Modules: The included GPS mount solely helps 18x18mm modules. Including a mount for 20x20mm or bigger GPS models, that are additionally widespread, would enhance flexibility.
- Extra Detailed Handbook: Whereas the body features a easy meeting leaflet, extra detailed directions with step-by-step diagrams can be invaluable, particularly for rookies.
Conclusion
The AxisFlying Manta 5 SE body equipment 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 and lengthy vary. This body combines options, ease of use, and aesthetic attraction, making it stand out as a premium freestyle choice.
You should buy the Manta 5 SE body equipment from these distributors:
Its Squashed X design gives wonderful agility for freestyle flying whereas protecting 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 attainable and you’ve got entry to a 3D printer, the Supply One stays a strong different. Nonetheless, for these searching for a totally geared up, hassle-free body, the Manta 5 SE is undoubtedly one of the best funds body in 2025, good for each rookies and skilled pilots.
