3D Printed FPV Accessories: 10 Must-Print Upgrades for Your Drone Setup

3D Printed FPV Accessories: 10 Must-Print Upgrades for Your Setup

If you fly FPV drones and you don’t own a 3D printer, you’re leaving free upgrades on the table. A budget 3D printer pays for itself in saved GoPro mounts, antenna holders, and arm guards within the first season. And if you’re already printing, you know the satisfaction of solving a quad problem with a custom part that costs cents in filament. Here are 10 essential 3D printed FPV accessories — every single one with tested STL sources, recommended materials, and print settings.

Filament Selection: TPU vs PETG vs PLA

FPV parts get crashed — hard. Your filament choice matters enormously:

• TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane): The king of FPV printing. Flexible, indestructible, absorbs impacts. TPU parts bend instead of shattering. Perfect for mounts, bumpers, and anything that takes a hit. Print slow (20-30mm/s) with no retraction. Shore hardness 95A is the sweet spot for most FPV parts.
• PETG: A good middle ground. Stiffer than TPU, tougher than PLA. Good for structural parts that need rigidity but still see occasional impacts. Easier to print than TPU but less impact-resistant.
• PLA: Stiff and easy to print, but brittle. Avoid for anything that takes crash forces — it will shatter. Use only for non-structural items like landing pads, prop tools, and bench accessories.

Material	Nozzle Temp	Bed Temp	Print Speed	Retraction	Part Cooling	Best For
TPU 95A	220-240°C	40-60°C	20-30 mm/s	Off or 0.5mm	30-50%	Mounts, bumpers, antenna holders
PETG	230-250°C	70-85°C	40-60 mm/s	2-4mm @ 40mm/s	50-70%	Skids, structural parts
PLA+	200-220°C	50-60°C	50-80 mm/s	4-6mm @ 40mm/s	100%	Bench tools, non-impact parts

1. GoPro / Action Camera Mounts

A rigid, vibration-dampened GoPro mount is the single most printed FPV accessory — and for good reason. The best designs use TPU for the flexible portion where it grips the camera and a rigid TPU or PETG base bolted to the frame.

• Recommended STL: “FPV GoPro Mount v2” by Brain3D on Thingiverse — adjustable angle, fits Hero 5-12 with TPU inserts, includes ND filter slot. Available on Thingiverse (thing:3072098) and Printables.
• Material: TPU 95A for the whole print, or PETG base with TPU camera cradle
• Print settings: 3-4 perimeters, 20-25% gyroid infill, no supports for well-designed models
• Notes: Add a small strip of soft-side velcro between the mount and frame if you see jello in footage. Replace after hard crashes even if it looks fine — micro-cracks in TPU can cause vibration issues.

2. Antenna Holders and Mounts

A floppy antenna equals inconsistent video. TPU antenna mounts hold your VTX and receiver antennas at the optimal angle — typically 45 degrees back for freestyle, vertical for long range.

• Recommended STLs: “FPV Antenna Mount Collection” by kwadkenna on Thingiverse — includes SMA, MMCX, and direct-solder variants. Also check “TBS Triumph Antenna Mount” for TBS-style antennas with the reinforced stem.
• Material: TPU 95A — flexibility lets it absorb impacts without snapping
• Print settings: 3 perimeters, 15-20% infill, no supports
• Pro tip: Print two — one for the quad, one for your goggles. Matching mounts ensure consistent antenna angle in your FPV feed.

3. Skid Plates and Bottom Armor

The bottom of your quad takes the most abuse — landing on concrete, sliding across gravel, scraping asphalt. A TPU skid plate protects your frame’s bottom carbon plate, motor screws, and the edges of your arms from abrasion and impact.

• Recommended STLs: Frame-specific skid plates from the manufacturer’s Thingiverse/Printables page. For universal options: “Universal FPV Skid Plate” by alex_m on Printables fits most 5-inch arms.
• Material: TPU 95A — the flexibility absorbs landing shocks
• Print settings: 4 perimeters, 25-30% infill (heavier is better here — it’s protection)
• Notes: Replace when the TPU wears through to the carbon. A worn skid plate is a skid plate that did its job.

4. Landing Pads / Feet

Taller landing pads lift your quad off the ground, keeping the battery and bottom plate clean and protected. Essential if you fly from dirt, grass, or gravel — and surprisingly helpful even on concrete to prevent battery-scraping landings.

• Recommended STLs: “FPV Landing Skids (Modular)” by dronebru on Printables — modular design fits most arm widths, can be scaled for different sizes. Also: “Low-Pro Landing Feet” on Thingiverse for minimalist setups.
• Material: TPU 95A or PETG — TPU for grip on slippery surfaces, PETG if you want stiffer feet
• Print settings: 3-4 perimeters, 20% infill
• Pro tip: Add stick-on rubber pads (the kind used for furniture feet) to the bottom of 3D printed landing pads for extra grip on smooth surfaces.

5. GPS Module Holders

A dedicated TPU mount for your GPS module keeps it flat, protected, and away from the VTX antenna (which can interfere with GPS reception). Most frames don’t include GPS mounting — a printed mount solves this cleanly.

• Recommended STLs: “Modular GPS Mount” by MadsTech on Thingiverse — fits BN-220, BN-880, and Matek M8Q modules, includes a mast option for better satellite reception. “TBS M8 GPS Mount” for TBS GPS units.
• Material: TPU 95A
• Print settings: 3 perimeters, 15% infill, no supports
• Important: Mount the GPS as far from the VTX antenna as possible — ideally on the rear arm or a dedicated mast. Carbon fiber between the GPS and the VTX antenna helps with isolation.

6. Battery Straps and Pads

Wait — print a battery strap? Not the strap itself, but grip-enhancing pads and strap tensioners. TPU battery pads with ridges prevent the battery from sliding during aggressive maneuvers, and printed strap tensioners make it easy to get straps tight without shredding your fingers.

• Recommended STLs: “FPV Battery Pad (Grippy)” by flightclub on Printables — textured surface pattern prevents battery slip. “Battery Strap Tool” by fpv_parts for easy strap tightening.
• Material: TPU 95A for pads (needs grip), PETG or PLA+ for strap tools
• Print settings: 100% infill for grip pads (solid), 3 perimeters for tools
• Notes: Apply the printed pad to your top plate with double-sided tape or zip ties through mounting slots.

7. Arm Guards / Bumpers

Arm-end bumpers protect the most vulnerable part of your frame: the motor and the arm tip. A direct arm-first impact that would delaminate a carbon arm is absorbed by a sacrificial TPU bumper. They cost pennies and take 20 minutes to print.

• Recommended STLs: “Universal Arm Guard” on Thingiverse — clip-on design that fits 4-7mm arms. Frame-specific versions from manufacturers (ImpulseRC, Armattan, GEPRC) are even better if available.
• Material: TPU 95A — must flex to absorb impact energy
• Print settings: 4 perimeters, 30-40% infill, no supports
• Design note: The best arm guards extend slightly past the motor bell to take the hit before the motor does. If your guard doesn’t do this, scale the model 5-10% in the Z axis.

8. FPV Camera Protectors

FPV cameras are expensive and their lenses are exposed. A TPU camera protector is a must-print first upgrade — it surrounds the camera with impact-absorbing material and often includes a lens hood to reduce sun flare.

• Recommended STLs: Frame-specific camera cages from the manufacturer. For universal options: “FPV Camera Protector Collection” on Printables includes mounts for Micro (19mm), Mini (21mm), and Nano (14mm) cameras.
• Material: TPU 95A — must deform on impact to protect the camera
• Print settings: 3 perimeters, 20% infill
• Pro tip: Many camera protectors double as mounts. Look for designs that integrate a GoPro-style mounting pattern so you can attach action camera mounts directly to the protector.

9. HDZero / Walksnail / DJI Vista Mounts

Digital FPV systems have specific mounting requirements that most analog frames don’t accommodate. A printed mount adapts the Vista, O3 Air Unit, or Walksnail VTX to standard 20×20, 25.5×25.5, or 30.5×30.5 mounting patterns.

• Recommended STLs: “Caddx Vista Mount Collection” by flightclub on Printables — includes soft-mount and hard-mount options. “DJI O3 Mount Universal” on Thingiverse for O3 Air Unit compatibility. “Walksnail Avatar Mounts” by MadsTech.
• Material: TPU 95A for vibration isolation, PETG if you need a rigid mount
• Print settings: 3 perimeters, 20% infill
• Critical detail: Digital VTX units need airflow. Make sure your mount doesn’t block the ventilation holes on the Vista/O3/Walksnail unit. A overheated digital VTX will drop to low-power mode mid-flight.

10. Prop Tools and Wrenches

Not every print goes on your quad — some make working on your quad easier. A printed prop removal tool, M5 nut driver, and motor bell press are bench essentials that cost cents to print versus $10-20 each to buy.

• Recommended STLs: “FPV Prop Tool v3” on Printables — slides under the prop hub and levers it off without bending the motor bell. “FPV Toolkit” collection on Thingiverse includes nut drivers, motor shaft press tools, and SMA wrench.
• Material: PETG or PLA+ — needs rigidity for tool applications. TPU is too flexible.
• Print settings: 5-6 perimeters, 50%+ infill, print solid if the design allows
• Smart move: Print two prop tools — keep one in your field bag, one on your bench. You’ll always need one when you can’t find it.

TPU Printing Quick-Start Guide

If you’ve never printed TPU before, here’s what you need to know:

• Direct drive extruder strongly recommended: Bowden setups can print TPU, but it’s frustrating. The flexible filament compresses in the long tube, making retraction nearly impossible.
• Dry your filament: TPU is hygroscopic. Wet TPU prints with bubbles, pops, and terrible layer adhesion. Dry at 50-55°C for 4-6 hours before printing.
• Disable retraction or use very short retractions: 0.5mm max. TPU stretches — long retractions just pull molten filament around without actually retracting it.
• Slow down: 20-30mm/s for all print moves. TPU doesn’t like speed.
• Loosen the idler tension: Too much extruder tension squishes TPU and causes jams. Adjust until the filament feeds without slipping but isn’t deformed by the gear.
• Use a textured PEI bed or glue stick: TPU sticks almost too well to smooth PEI and glass. A textured sheet or a layer of glue stick makes removal easier without damaging the bed.

Where to Find More STLs

The FPV 3D printing community is massive and generous. Bookmark these sources:

• Printables.com: Search “FPV” and sort by popular — the Prusa community has excellent FPV content. Many designs include print profiles.
• Thingiverse.com: The original repository. Search by your specific frame name for custom-fit parts.
• Thangs.com: Geometric search lets you find similar designs. Great for remixes and variations.
• Manufacturer pages: ImpulseRC, Armattan, Diatone, iFlight, GEPRC, and most major frame brands publish official STLs for their frames. Always check the manufacturer first for frame-specific parts.
• FPV YouTubers: Many creators (MadsTech, UAV Tech, Joshua Bardwell) publish their designs on Printables and Thingiverse.

The best FPV pilots treat their 3D printer as essential pit equipment. Start with the camera protector and antenna mount — those alone will save you money on your first crash. Then work through the list as your printer frees up. Every gram of TPU on your quad is a gram of protection between your expensive electronics and the ground.