3D Printing for FPV
A 3D printer is one of the best investments in FPV after your drone and goggles. Custom mounts, protective parts, and accessories that would cost $10-20 each from a shop cost pennies to print at home.
Why 3D Print for FPV?
Section titled “Why 3D Print for FPV?”- Camera mounts: Custom GoPro/action camera mounts for your specific frame and angle
- Antenna mounts: VTX antenna holders, GPS mast mounts, receiver antenna tubes
- Battery pads: Soft TPU pads to cushion the battery against the frame
- Bumpers and guards: Front bumpers, arm guards for proximity flying
- Replacement parts: Broken camera mount? Print a new one in 30 minutes.
- Custom designs: If you can imagine it, you can print it
Materials
Section titled “Materials”TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)
Section titled “TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)”The primary material for FPV parts. TPU is flexible and impact-resistant — it bends and absorbs energy instead of shattering.
Use for: Camera mounts, antenna holders, battery pads, bumpers, any part that needs to survive crashes.
Print settings (typical):
- Nozzle temp: 220-240°C
- Bed temp: 50-60°C
- Speed: 20-30 mm/s (slow for quality)
- No part cooling fan (or minimal)
- Direct drive extruder works best (Bowden can print TPU but needs slower speeds)
Common hardness: 95A is the standard for FPV. Firm enough to hold shape, flexible enough to absorb impact.
Rigid plastic, easy to print, but brittle on impact. Fine for non-crash parts.
Use for: Jigs, tools, stands, parts that don’t get hit.
Not recommended for: Anything on the drone that experiences crashes — it shatters.
A middle ground between PLA and TPU. More impact-resistant than PLA, rigid unlike TPU.
Use for: Structural drone parts, ducts, canopies.
Essential Prints for Every Build
Section titled “Essential Prints for Every Build”1. Action Camera Mount
Section titled “1. Action Camera Mount”The #1 FPV print. Holds your GoPro/action camera on top of the frame at the correct angle.
Considerations:
- Print angle that matches your preferred camera tilt (25° for cinematic, 30-35° for freestyle)
- Use TPU 95A for vibration dampening
- Some designs use a “wedge” that’s adjustable
2. VTX Antenna Mount
Section titled “2. VTX Antenna Mount”Holds the VTX antenna at the correct angle (usually vertical, pointing up from the rear of the frame).
- SMA or MMCX mount depending on your VTX connector
- Angled to keep the antenna protected behind the frame
- TPU so it bends on impact instead of breaking the antenna connector
3. Receiver Antenna Tubes
Section titled “3. Receiver Antenna Tubes”Thin TPU tubes that hold your receiver’s antennas at 90° angles from each other for optimal signal reception.
- T-shaped or V-shaped mounts for two antennas
- Keep antennas away from carbon fiber (which blocks signal)
- Zip-tie to rear standoffs
4. GPS Mount
Section titled “4. GPS Mount”A mast that holds the GPS module above the frame, away from electrical noise.
- 3-5cm above the frame is typical
- Fold-down designs for transport
- TPU base with a rigid GPS platform
5. Battery Pad
Section titled “5. Battery Pad”A soft TPU pad between the battery and frame. Prevents the battery from sliding and absorbs vibration.
Where to Find FPV Print Files
Section titled “Where to Find FPV Print Files”- Thingiverse (thingiverse.com): Large library, search “[your frame name] mount”
- Printables (printables.com): Growing collection, good quality
- Cults3D (cults3d.com): Mix of free and paid designs
- Frame manufacturer sites: Many frame makers provide official TPU part files
- Facebook groups: Frame-specific groups often share custom designs
Designing Your Own Parts
Section titled “Designing Your Own Parts”If you can’t find what you need:
Beginner: TinkerCAD
Section titled “Beginner: TinkerCAD”Free, browser-based, drag-and-drop 3D modeling. Good enough for simple mounts and brackets.
Intermediate: Fusion 360
Section titled “Intermediate: Fusion 360”Free for personal use. Parametric modeling lets you design precise parts with exact measurements. Most FPV designers use Fusion 360.
Tips for FPV Parts
Section titled “Tips for FPV Parts”- Measure twice, print once: Use calipers to measure mounting holes, camera dimensions, and frame geometry
- Add tolerances: Print a test fit piece before printing the full part. Holes often need to be 0.2-0.5mm larger than the screw diameter
- Orient for strength: Layer lines should be perpendicular to the stress direction
- Wall count matters more than infill for TPU parts — 3-4 walls with 20-30% infill is typical
Printer Recommendations
Section titled “Printer Recommendations”For FPV printing, you need:
- Direct drive extruder (or all-metal Bowden): Required for reliable TPU printing
- Heated bed: Required for TPU adhesion
- Build volume: 180x180mm minimum (most FPV parts are small)
Budget ($150-250): Creality Ender 3 V3 (with direct drive upgrade or SE variant) Mid-range ($300-500): Bambu Lab A1 Mini, Creality K1 High-end ($500+): Bambu Lab P1S (enclosed, multi-material capable)
The Bambu Lab printers are particularly good for TPU due to their direct drive systems and reliable auto-calibration.