FPV and 3D printing go together better than almost any two hobbies we sell. Quads crash, parts break, and the bits that break most often are exactly the sort of small, custom-shaped parts a 3D printer is good at making.
We print a lot of our own FPV parts, and sell plenty more in our 3D Printed FPV Stuff range. The question we get most from pilots who've just bought a printer is simple: which filament should I use?
The Quick Version
| Part | Best filament | Why |
|---|---|---|
| GoPro and action cam mounts | TPU | Soaks up vibration and survives crashes |
| Antenna mounts and receiver holders | TPU | Bends on impact instead of snapping |
| Arm guards, bumpers, battery pads | TPU | Flexible and tough |
| Canopies and covers | TPU, or ASA for a rigid shell | Depends whether you want flex or stiffness |
| Goggle and radio accessories, cases, charger stands | PETG or ASA | Stiff, heat tolerant, not taking hits |
| Tools, jigs and bench helpers | PLA+ is fine | Stays indoors, doesn't crash |
Why TPU Rules on the Quad Itself
TPU is a flexible filament. Printed parts feel rubbery and bend instead of breaking, which is exactly what you want on something that's going to hit a tree at speed.
It also damps vibration. A rigid camera mount passes every motor buzz straight into your footage as jello. A TPU mount soaks a lot of that up before it reaches the camera.
A few tips for printing it:
- Slow down. TPU likes slow, steady printing. Rushing it causes stringing and jams.
- Direct drive helps. Printers with the extruder right on top of the hotend handle flexible filament far better than long Bowden setups.
- Walls over infill. More perimeters make a stronger, springier part than cranking up infill.
- Keep it dry. TPU soaks up moisture, and wet filament prints stringy and weak.
PETG and ASA: For the Stiff Stuff
Not every part should flex. Goggle strap holders, radio stands, charger brackets and battery cases need to hold their shape.
PETG is the easy all-rounder: tougher than PLA, more heat tolerant, and simple to print.
ASA is the pick for anything that lives outside or in a car. It handles sun and heat better than PETG and holds its colour under UV. It does want an enclosed printer, since it doesn't like draughts while printing.
For parts that need real strength and a bit of give, nylon is worth a look, but it's fussier to print and very sensitive to moisture.
Why Not PLA?
PLA is lovely to print, but it starts softening at temperatures a North Queensland car interior reaches before lunch. Leave a PLA GoPro mount on the dash and it can droop out of shape. It's also brittle, so it shatters in a crash where TPU would just bend.
Keep PLA for things that stay indoors: tools, jigs, organisers and prototypes you'll reprint in something tougher later.
Where to Find Files
Most frames have community-designed mounts and guards ready to download, and many manufacturers publish their own. We've written about where to find 3D files if you're just getting started. Always check the file is made for your exact frame and camera.
No Printer? No Problem
You don't need your own printer to get printed parts. Browse our ready-made 3D Printed FPV Stuff and frame prints, or send us a file through Rising Sun 3D and we'll print it in the right material for the job.
And if you're new to filaments in general, our guide to filament types and uses covers the rest of the range.
Bring Your Quad In
We fly what we sell. If you're not sure what will fit, bring your quad into the shop at 22 Castlemaine Street, Kirwan, and we'll help you find or print the right part.