3D Printed Drone Mounts and Accessories: 20 Must-Print Designs for FPV Pilots
A 3D printer loaded with TPU filament is the FPV pilot’s ultimate customization tool. Beyond the obvious GoPro mounts, there is an entire ecosystem of printable accessories that protect your quad, improve ergonomics, and solve problems that manufacturers have not addressed. Here are 20 essential 3D-printed drone parts, ranked from indispensable to niche.
Camera and Action Cam Mounts
1. GoPro TPU Mount (Adjustable Angle): The single most-printed drone accessory. A good GoPro mount angles the camera between 15-35 degrees (matching your FPV camera angle), absorbs vibrations through TPU’s natural damping, and includes tether points. The “Brain3D Universal GoPro Mount” on Printables is the standard design — print it in 95A TPU with 3-4 perimeters for crash durability. Print multiple angles for different flying styles.
2. ND Filter Holder: A slim ring that clips onto your GoPro or action camera lens, holding neutral density filters for cinematic motion blur. The “TBS ND Filter Mount” design accommodates standard 28mm camera filters and snaps securely onto most FPV camera cages. Print in 85A TPU for the best grip.
3. Insta360 GO / SMO 4K Mount: For pilots using lightweight 360 cameras instead of GoPros. These mounts position the camera above or in front of the battery, balancing weight distribution. The “Flywoo Insta360 Go Mount” is a popular remix available on Thingiverse.
Antenna Mounts and Protectors
4. Immortal-T Antenna Mount (ELRS): Holds the popular ELRS receiver antenna at the optimal 45-degree angle for both horizontal and vertical polarization coverage. The mount protects the fragile PCB antenna from crash damage while maintaining RF transparency. Print in 90A TPU — too soft and the antenna wobbles in flight.
5. VTX Antenna Strain Relief: A simple collar that slides over the SMA connector, providing a transition from the rigid connector to the flexible antenna. Prevents the most common antenna failure mode — the cable snapping at the SMA crimp during a crash. The “SMA Saver” design takes 10 minutes to print and saves $20 antennas.
6. GPS Module Mount: Positions the GPS module with a clear sky view, away from the carbon frame that can block satellite signals. Includes a slight forward tilt to match the quad’s cruising angle, maximizing satellite lock. The “HGLRC M100 GPS Mount” is widely remixed for different frame geometries.
Protection and Durability
7. Arm Guards / Skid Plates: TPU sleeves that snap onto the carbon arms, protecting motor wires from prop strikes and providing a sacrificial wear surface for landing. Essential for bottom-mount battery builds where the arms contact the ground. The “Source One Arm Guard” set on Printables covers all four arms with integrated wire channels.
8. Motor Wire Protectors: Small TPU caps that cover the motor wire exit point at the base of each motor, preventing the wires from being cut by spinning props in a crash. Particularly important for builds where motor wires run externally along the arms.
9. Stack Protector / Dust Cover: A simple cover over the flight controller stack that prevents dirt, grass, and moisture from reaching the electronics. Vented designs allow airflow for cooling while keeping debris out. Especially useful for pilots who fly in damp grass or dusty environments.
10. GoPro Lens Protector: A TPU frame that surrounds the GoPro lens, extending slightly forward to absorb impact before the lens glass hits. Combined with a tempered glass screen protector, this dramatically reduces the frequency of lens replacements — the most expensive consumable in FPV.
Battery and Power Accessories
11. Battery Pad / Anti-Slip Mat: A textured TPU plate that adheres to the top plate, providing grip for battery straps. Prevents the battery from sliding during aggressive maneuvers. The texture can be customized — hexagonal patterns grip best without adding significant thickness.
12. XT60 Connector Holder: A mount that secures the XT60 battery connector to the frame, preventing it from dangling into props during flight or getting ripped out during a crash. Provides a clean, professional wiring solution for rear-exit battery leads.
13. Battery Strap Keeper: A small TPU clip that prevents battery straps from sliding off the frame when no battery is mounted. Simple but eliminates the annoyance of lost straps during transport.
Frame and Structural
14. Standoff Covers / Soft Mounts: TPU caps that fit over aluminum standoffs, both protecting them from scratches and adding vibration damping between frame plates. Available for most standard standoff diameters (20mm, 25mm, 30mm, 35mm).
15. Frame Spacers / Wedges: Custom spacers that tilt components at specific angles — FC wedges for racing, GPS module tilt for cruising, or camera angle adjustments. These are among the simplest parts to design yourself in Fusion 360.
Tools and Workshop Accessories
16. Soldering Jig / Helping Hands: A 3D-printed frame that holds XT60 connectors, wire splices, and small PCBs in position for soldering. More stable than alligator clips and customizable for specific connectors. The “FPV Soldering Jig” on Thingiverse includes holders for XT30, XT60, and balance connectors.
17. Prop Wrench: A compact tool for tightening prop nuts, sized specifically for M5 lock nuts. Prints in 15 minutes and lives in your field kit. Much harder to lose than a standard 8mm wrench.
18. Motor Bell Pliers: A specialized tool for gripping and straightening bent motor bells after crashes. The curved jaws match the bell profile without scratching the surface. Print in PETG for rigidity — TPU is too flexible for this application.
Fun and Functional Extras
19. Landing Skids: Extended landing gear that raises the quad off the ground, protecting the bottom-mount battery and providing clearance for bottom-mounted antennas. Useful for cinematic quads that take off and land on rough surfaces. Quick-release designs snap on and off for flight.
20. FPV Flag / Streamer Mount: A small mount for attaching streamers or flags to the back of the quad — useful for visibility during group flights, racing heats, or just personalization. The “FPV Race Flag Mount” on Printables clips onto standard standoffs.
Where to Find Designs
- Printables.com: The primary repository for FPV drone parts in 2026. Active community with rated and reviewed designs
- Thingiverse.com: The legacy repository — still enormous but less curated
- Thangs.com: Growing rapidly with an excellent search engine that indexes across multiple platforms
- Manufacturer sites: Many frame manufacturers (TBS, GEPRC, iFlight) publish official STL files for their frames on their download pages
Printing Tips for Accessories
- Material: 95A TPU for 90% of parts. Step down to 85A for grip-dependent parts (battery pads). Use PETG for tools (wrenches, jigs)
- Layer height: 0.2mm for most parts. 0.12mm for press-fit precision parts like ND filter holders
- Perimeters: 3-4 for strength, which is more important than infill for TPU parts
- Infill: 20-30% gyroid — balances strength, weight, and print time
- Supports: Rarely needed for TPU drone parts due to simple geometries. Use tree supports when required
A well-stocked 3D-printed accessory collection transforms your quad from a collection of purchased parts into a personalized machine. Every mount, guard, and tool you print is one less thing to buy — and one more reason your quad flies exactly the way you want.