3D Printed Drone Parts: Custom Frames and Mounts

Which Drone Parts Can You 3D Print?

Commonly printed drone components include:

• Frames: Custom structural platforms for mounting motors and electronics.
• Camera mounts: Brackets designed for specific cameras, FPV systems, or action cameras.
• Landing legs: Lightweight supports that protect the frame and electronics during landing.
• Battery mounts: Custom holders and straps for securing batteries.
• GPS mounts: Raised brackets that position GPS modules away from electrical interference.
• Antenna mounts: Small brackets for positioning radio or FPV antennas.
• Propeller guards: Protective structures for smaller drones and educational robots.
• Electronics brackets: Mounts for flight controllers, receivers, ESCs, and other modules.

The most useful 3D printed drone parts are usually components that need a specific shape or mounting arrangement rather than parts that demand extremely high mechanical strength.

Why 3D Print Drone Parts?

Traditional drone components are usually designed around standard sizes and mounting patterns. That works well for common builds, but custom projects often introduce unusual requirements.

For example, a maker might need:

• A camera mounted at a particular angle
• A battery positioned to improve weight distribution
• A GPS module raised above the frame
• A custom mount for a non-standard sensor
• Landing legs that fit around an existing component

3D printing allows these dimensions to be changed directly in the design.

The process becomes:

Measure → Design → Print → Test → Modify → Reprint

This makes 3D printing particularly useful for prototypes and experimental builds.

How to Design a 3D Printed Drone Frame

Start With the Motor Layout

The frame needs to accommodate the drone's motor positions and propeller clearance.

For a quadcopter, the four motors must be positioned symmetrically enough to maintain predictable flight characteristics. The motor mounting holes should also match the selected motors.

Before designing the frame, record:

• Motor mounting-hole pattern
• Motor diameter
• Propeller size
• Flight-controller dimensions
• Battery dimensions
• Required arm length

The frame should provide enough clearance for the propellers while leaving sufficient space for electronics.

Keep the Frame Lightweight

Adding material doesn't automatically make a drone frame better.

Every extra gram increases the amount of thrust required to keep the drone airborne. A heavier frame can therefore reduce flight time and increase the workload on the motors.

Use structural ribs, appropriate wall thicknesses, and reinforcement around mounting points rather than making every section unnecessarily thick.

For many DIY prototypes, the goal is to find the right balance between weight, rigidity, and printability.

How to Design Custom Camera Mounts

Camera mounts are among the easiest 3D printed drone parts to customize.

The important dimensions include:

• Camera width and height
• Screw-hole spacing
• Lens clearance
• Mounting angle
• Attachment points on the frame

A camera mount can also incorporate vibration isolation or an adjustable tilt mechanism.

For FPV drones, camera angle can significantly affect the flying experience. A steeper angle may suit faster forward flight, while a lower angle can be more comfortable for slower flying.

A 3D-printed mount allows this angle to be changed without redesigning the entire frame.

Designing Landing Legs and Battery Mounts

Landing legs are relatively simple but useful components to print.

A good design should provide enough clearance between the ground and:

• Camera
• Battery
• Flight controller
• Other sensitive electronics

Battery mounts require more attention because the battery can shift during acceleration or flight.

A printed holder can provide a defined mounting location, while straps can provide the actual retention force.

Avoid relying on a small printed clip alone for securing a heavy battery.

Material Choices: PLA vs PETG and Real-World Lessons

What Filament Should You Use?

The choice of material depends on what the printed component needs to withstand.

PLA

PLA is easy to print and provides good dimensional accuracy.

It works well for:

• Prototypes
• Camera mounts
• Electronics brackets
• Indoor educational drones

However, PLA can soften at relatively low temperatures and can become brittle in some conditions.

PETG

PETG provides greater toughness and better temperature resistance than PLA.

It can be useful for:

• Mounting brackets
• Landing legs
• Battery holders
• Outdoor prototypes

TPU

TPU is flexible and useful when some impact absorption or vibration isolation is desirable.

It can work well for:

• Camera bumpers
• Flexible mounts
• Landing pads
• Protective covers

ABS and ASA

ABS and ASA can be useful for more demanding outdoor applications because of their greater temperature resistance and, in ASA's case, better UV resistance.

However, they are more difficult to print than PLA or PETG and may require an enclosed printer and better environmental control.

For a broader comparison of materials, see Best Filaments to Use with Bambu Lab Printers.

Reference Designs for 3D Printed Drone Parts

You don't always need to design a component completely from scratch.

Model repositories such as MakerWorld, Printables, and Thingiverse contain thousands of community-designed drone components.

Useful search terms include:

• "FPV camera mount"
• "drone landing gear"
• "quadcopter frame"
• "GPS drone mount"
• "drone battery holder"
• "motor mount"

For example, MakerWorld has downloadable designs for components such as drone camera mounts and drone landing gear that can be adapted to different builds.

Before printing a downloaded model, check its dimensions, mounting-hole pattern, material recommendations, and printer compatibility. A model designed for one drone frame may not fit another without modification.

How to Make 3D Printed Drone Parts Stronger

Print settings can have as much influence on strength as the filament itself.

Increase Wall Thickness

For structural parts, increasing the number of perimeter walls often provides more useful strength than simply increasing infill.

Use Appropriate Infill

Higher infill can increase strength and weight. For many brackets and mounts, moderate infill combined with strong outer walls is a better compromise.

Consider Print Orientation

Layer direction matters because FDM prints are generally weaker across layer boundaries than along the printed layers.

When designing a mount, orient it so that the expected load does not constantly try to separate the layers.

Reinforce Stress Points

Motor mounts, screw holes, and arm connections experience concentrated loads.

Adding fillets, ribs, and additional material around these areas can improve durability without making the entire part much heavier.

What Shouldn't Be 3D Printed?

Not every drone component is a good candidate for FDM printing.

Avoid treating printed plastic as a direct replacement for components that require:

• High electrical conductivity
• High heat resistance
• Extremely precise manufacturing
• High fatigue resistance
• Critical structural reliability

Motors, ESCs, batteries, flight controllers, and propellers are generally better purchased as purpose-built components.

3D printing is most useful for the custom structural and mounting components around these parts.

For a complete overview of what the major drone components do, see Drone Parts Explained.

A Practical Workflow for DIY Drone Parts

A simple workflow can make custom printing much more efficient:

1. Measure the existing components.
2. Create the mounting geometry in CAD.
3. Check clearances and screw locations.
4. Print a low-cost prototype.
5. Test the fit before flying.
6. Modify the design where necessary.
7. Print the final component using an appropriate material.

This approach avoids wasting time and filament on a highly detailed final print that turns out not to fit.

 

 

Final Thoughts

The biggest advantage of 3D printed drone parts is customization. A maker can design a frame, camera mount, landing gear, battery holder, or electronics bracket around the exact components being used.

For most DIY projects, start with simple mounts and brackets before attempting a complete structural frame. PLA is useful for quick prototypes, while PETG, TPU, ABS, and ASA can be considered when the application demands different mechanical or environmental properties.

Used thoughtfully, 3D printing turns drone building into an iterative design process: design, print, test, improve, and build again.