Understand the load paths first
Motors, payload, battery, and landing gear all push loads through the frame in specific directions. Before removing material, map those paths so you know where stiffness must remain non-negotiable and where it can give.
Where lightweighting pays off
The best gains usually come from thinning non-load-path regions, simplifying connection zones, and replacing over-engineered brackets. Not every member deserves the same treatment — design intent matters more than uniform material removal.
Balance with manufacturability
A drone frame that can't be rapidly iterated in prototype doesn't help development velocity. We keep geometry manufacturable through the design pass so that prototype builds stay predictable.
