3D DESIGN
Creating Your Own 3D Printed Parts
Design, print, and fly your own custom drone parts — from camera mounts to antenna holders.
Why Design Your Own Drone Parts?
Designing your own drone part is one of the best ways to customize a build, reduce weight, solve weird mounting problems, or create something nobody else has. The process is easier than most people think.
Section 1
Start With the Problem
Before opening CAD software, define exactly what the part needs to do. A clear problem statement leads to a better design first time.
Questions to Ask First
- What does the part need to do?
- What is it attaching to?
- Does it need flexibility or rigidity?
- Will it take impacts?
- Is weight critical?
- Does airflow matter?
- Will wires need routing?
Good Beginner Drone Parts
- GoPro mounts
- Antenna holders
- VTX mounts
- GPS holders
- Battery protectors
- Receiver mounts
- TPU arm guards
- Landing feet
Section 2
Measure Everything
Precision matters in drone building. A tiny measurement mistake can ruin a print. Always measure before you model.
Tools You Need
- Digital calipers
- Ruler
- Existing parts for reference
What to Measure
- Hole spacing
- Screw sizes
- Standoff diameter
- Camera width
- Frame thickness
- Wire clearance
Common FPV Measurements
- M2 screw holes
- M3 standoffs
- 19mm / 20mm / 30.5mm patterns
- 5-inch prop clearance
Section 3
Choose Your CAD Software
The right tool depends on your experience level and the complexity of the part. Start simple and upgrade as you need more control.
Tinkercad
Browser-based, free, and the easiest way to get started. Perfect for simple brackets, mounts, and holders with no prior CAD experience required.
Onshape
Browser-based parametric CAD with no installation required. A strong step up from Tinkercad with full sketch-based modeling.
Fusion 360
Free for hobbyists and the most-used tool in the FPV 3D printing community. Powerful parametric modeling with excellent STL export.
FreeCAD
Open-source and fully featured. A capable alternative to Fusion 360 that runs locally without an account or subscription.
Which Should You Use?
- TPU mounts → Fusion 360 or Onshape
- Simple brackets → Tinkercad works fine
- Complex mechanical systems → Fusion 360
Section 4
The Basic Design Workflow
Most drone parts follow the same five-step process from sketch to STL. Master this workflow and you can design almost anything.
Section 5
Design Rules for Drone Parts
Follow these four rules and your drone parts will be stronger, lighter, and more printable right out of the gate.
Keep Weight Low
Every gram matters. Use hollow sections, thin walls, honeycomb structures, and remove unnecessary material wherever possible.
Avoid Sharp Corners
Sharp corners crack easily under impact. Use fillets of 1–3mm radius, especially around screw holes and high-stress areas.
Reinforce Screw Areas
Mounting holes fail first. Add extra wall thickness around screw holes, washer recesses, and rounded supports to spread the load.
Think About Print Orientation
Design parts so they print strong. A camera mount printed sideways may snap easier than one printed upright — layer direction affects durability dramatically.
Section 6
Pick the Right Material
TPU — Most Common for FPV
RECOMMENDEDFlexible and impact resistant. The go-to material for any drone part that needs to survive crashes — camera mounts, antenna holders, and arm guards.
Pros
- Durable and absorbs crash energy
- Flexible enough to survive hard impacts
- Long lasting across many flights
Cons
- Harder to print than PLA or PETG
- Can wobble under sustained load
PLA — Easy to Print
PROTOTYPINGThe easiest filament to work with. Ideal for prototyping and fitment testing before committing to TPU or PETG for the final part.
Pros
- Very easy to print
- Great for prototypes and test fits
Cons
- Brittle and cracks on impact
- Warps in heat — avoid in sun-exposed areas
PETG — Balanced Material
STRUCTURALA strong middle ground between PLA and TPU. Good for structural accessories and mounting brackets that need rigidity with some impact resistance.
Pros
- Stronger than PLA
- Heat resistant and outdoor durable
- Easier to print than TPU
ABS / ASA — Advanced Materials
ADVANCEDStrong and heat resistant but require an enclosure to print reliably. Best for parts near heat sources or exposed to outdoor UV long term.
Pros
- Strong and heat resistant
- Outdoor durable with good UV resistance
Cons
- Requires a print enclosure
- More difficult to dial in print settings
Section 7
Slicer Settings for Drone Parts
Your slicer settings are as important as your design. Wrong settings can make a well-designed part weak or unusable in the field.
TPU Recommended Settings
- Speed: 20–40 mm/s
- Layer height: 0.2mm
- Walls: 3–4 perimeters
- Infill: 15–40% gyroid
- Retraction: low or disabled
PLA Recommended Settings
- Speed: 50–80 mm/s
- Layer height: 0.2mm
- Walls: 2–3 perimeters
- Infill: 10–25%
Section 8
Prototype Fast, Iterate Often
Do not try to make the perfect version on your first print. Professional drone designers go through multiple revisions — embrace the cycle.
Section 9
Test Real-World Conditions
A part that fits on the bench may fail in the air. Test against every condition your drone actually experiences before calling a design finished.
Pro Knowledge
Pro Tips From FPV Builders
Let TPU Mounts Flex
TPU camera mounts should flex slightly on impact. Too rigid means broken camera tabs. Design in some give — it protects your expensive electronics.
Add Zip-Tie Slots Everywhere
FPV builders always need more mounting options. Add zip-tie channels and slots to every part — they cost nothing in weight and save you in the field.
Design for Repairability
Parts will break eventually. Design them to be easy to replace — avoid glued assemblies and use standard screw sizes (M2, M3) throughout.
Use Standard Hardware Sizes
Stick to M2, M3, 20×20, and 30.5×30.5 patterns. Standard sizes mean you can source hardware from your existing kit instead of ordering special fasteners.
Save Every Version
Small changes can accidentally ruin a part's strength. Save numbered versions in your CAD tool and keep at least the last three iterations before overwriting.
Try It Yourself
Beginner Project: Simple SMA Antenna Mount
This is the perfect first FPV CAD project. Small, practical, and it teaches the core skills every drone designer needs — hole spacing, extrusion, fillets, and real-world tolerances.
Part Features
- Mounts to rear standoffs
- Holds antenna vertically
- Includes zip tie support slot
- TPU printed for impact resistance
Skills You Will Learn
- Measuring and applying hole spacing
- Extruding sketches into 3D bodies
- Adding fillets for strength
- Designing for flexible TPU printing
- Testing real-world tolerances on hardware
Section 10
Share Your Designs
Sharing your designs helps grow the FPV and maker community. Upload your STL files and help other builders solve the same problems you just solved.
Final Thoughts
3D printing changed FPV forever. Some of the best drone innovations started as rough prints made by hobbyists solving their own problems. Start simple, break things, improve them, and keep designing — that is how great drone builders are made.
- Start simple — one small functional part is worth more than a complex unfinished design
- Break things deliberately — crashing your prints is how you find the limits
- Keep designing — every part you make teaches you something the next one benefits from