UAVs typically only have a frame, a flight controller, motors, propellers, speed controllers, and possibly first-person view (FPV) equipment. They are mechanically very simple in general.Flight and 3D printing are not new concepts. 3D printing can be an excellent technique to create a range of parts for hobby drones. They can range from useful add-ons to protective bumpers and camera mounts.

The ability to completely customize parts is the fundamental benefit of 3D printing. In addition, ideas may be quickly iterated from the initial to the final version, and they’re typically inexpensive (assuming you already own a printer and filament).

The attachment would be ideally printed in TPU since it would dampen frame vibration and firmly secure the GoPro, whereas strong nylon can deflect impacts and safeguard both the propeller and the object being struck. Airframes, canopies, and camera gimbals might even be made from more robust materials, including reinforced nylon.The comparatively low density of 3D printed items provides an additional benefit. With the use of 3D printing, parameters like the number of perimeters and the infill percentage can be changed to drastically reduce weight, with the former having a greater overall effect.

Parts are completely customized, lightweight, and easily iteratable. For instance, when constructing a canopy, a preliminary version can be printed (presumably in a cheap material like PLA), and any necessary adjustments can then be quickly made in the subsequent version. The model can then be printed in more expensive materials like carbon-fiber nylon or, if money is not an issue, carbon-fiber PEEK once it has been determined to be complete.