FPV4LIFEFPV4LIFE

MAKE YOUR OWN PARTS

3D Printing for FPV

Custom mounts, guards, and accessories that make your builds cleaner and more capable.

FPV + 3D PRINTING

Why FPV and 3D Printing Are a Perfect Match

Custom parts, faster repairs, and builds no one else has. 3D printing gives FPV pilots a serious edge.

Perfect Fit Every Time

Print camera mounts, antenna holders, and guards sized exactly for your specific frame and components — no compromises.

Fast Field Repairs

Reprint a broken arm brace or mount overnight instead of waiting weeks for a replacement part to ship.

Lighter, Better Builds

Design parts with only the material where you need it — custom geometry means you save weight without sacrificing strength.

Protect What Matters

Print TPU bumpers, motor guards, and battery straps that absorb crash energy and keep your expensive electronics safe.

GET STARTED IN CAD

Design Your Own Parts

You don't need an engineering degree to design FPV parts. These tools make it accessible for any pilot willing to put in a few hours.

Fusion 360

Free for hobbyists and the most widely used tool in the FPV community. Parametric modeling means you can tweak dimensions without rebuilding from scratch.

OpenSCAD

Code-based 3D modeling — perfect for pilots who prefer defining measurements precisely in text rather than clicking and dragging geometry.

Onshape

Browser-based CAD that runs on any machine without installation. Great for quick designs and collaboration with other pilots.

Thingiverse & Printables

Browse thousands of community-designed FPV parts before designing your own. Most popular frames already have existing mount libraries.

FROM IDEA TO FLIGHT

The Design-to-Flight Workflow

01

Measure Your Components

Use calipers to measure your camera body, motor holes, frame mounting points, and clearances before opening CAD. Accurate measurements mean parts that fit first time.

02

Sketch Your Design

Start with a 2D sketch of the part profile in your CAD tool. Define all dimensions as parameters so you can tweak them easily without starting over.

03

Extrude and Refine

Extrude your sketch into a 3D solid and add mounting holes, fillets, and cutouts. Keep wall thickness at 2–3mm minimum for structural parts.

04

Export as STL

Export your design as an STL file at high resolution. Most CAD tools have a one-click STL export — use a deviation of 0.01mm or lower for clean curves.

05

Slice for Your Printer

Open your STL in Cura or PrusaSlicer. Set material-specific settings — TPU needs slower speeds and direct drive, PETG needs slightly higher temps than PLA.

06

Print, Test, Iterate

Print a test piece at 50% scale first to verify fit and dimensions before committing to a full print. Iterate quickly — cheap filament beats wasted time.

CHOOSING YOUR MATERIAL

Materials That Matter

FPV parts need to survive crashes. Material choice is critical.

TPU (Flexible)

RECOMMENDED

The go-to for camera mounts, bumpers, and anything that needs to absorb impact. Flexible enough to survive crashes, tough enough to last.

PETG (Semi-Rigid)

STRUCTURAL

Good balance of strength and impact resistance. Better than PLA for structural parts that need some flex.

PLA (Rigid)

NON-STRUCTURAL

Fine for non-structural parts like battery labels or display mounts. Brittle under impact — avoid on anything that will crash.

ABS (High Heat)

HIGH HEAT

Heat resistant and sandable, but warps without an enclosure. Useful for VTX mounts near heat sources. Requires more dialed-in print settings than TPU or PETG.

TPU Slicer Settings

  • Print speed: 25–35 mm/s
  • Walls: 4+ perimeters
  • Infill: 30–40% gyroid
  • Temp: 220–240°C nozzle

PETG Slicer Settings

  • Print speed: 45–60 mm/s
  • Walls: 3–4 perimeters
  • Infill: 40–50% gyroid
  • Temp: 230–250°C nozzle

FIELD-TESTED ADVICE

Printing Tips

Print TPU at 30-40mm/s — slower speeds produce stronger, more consistent flexible parts.

Use 4+ perimeters for drone parts — more walls means more strength without heavy infill.

Always print a test piece before committing to a full build part — fit-check before flying.

Acetone smoothing works on ABS but not TPU — finish flexible parts with a heat gun for cleaner surfaces.

Use tree supports in Cura for overhanging features — they are easier to remove than standard supports and leave a cleaner surface finish.

Keep your filament dry in a sealed container with desiccant — moisture causes popping, weak layers, and stringing, especially in TPU.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Where to Find Parts and Inspiration

Thingiverse

The largest free STL library. Search your frame name and find camera mounts, guards, and accessories already designed for your build.

Printables

Prusa's community file hub — better quality control than Thingiverse and a growing FPV section with remixes and user-tested prints.

GitHub

Many frame manufacturers publish official 3D files on GitHub. Check your frame's repo for factory-spec mounts and accessories.

r/fpv & r/3Dprinting

Two communities that overlap heavily. Share your prints, get feedback on designs, and find pilots who have already solved your exact problem.