Unleash your adventure: The ultimate guide to 3D printing your own GoPro mount
Action cameras like GoPro have revolutionized the way we capture the adrenaline-fueled moments in our lives. But stock mounts often fall short—either too generic, too expensive, or simply not strong enough for your specific needs. 3D printing is the perfect DIY solution for creating custom GoPro mounts that are affordable, custom-made, and highly rewarding to build. This guide will walk you through designing, printing, and improving your mount while ensuring safety and performance—all backed by expert insight.
Why 3D print your GoPro mount?
- custom made: Uniquely designed mounts to suit your activities – whether it’s a bike handlebar grip, helmet clip or underwater drone attachment.
- Cost savings: Retail installations range from $20 to over $100. PETG filament costs only $2 to $5 per installation.
- Rapid prototyping: Testing and tweaking the design overnight. don’t be satisfied with "good enough"——Engineer’s perfection.
Create your mount: a step-by-step blueprint
1. Precise design
Get started with free CAD tools like Fusion 360 or Tinker CAD. Pay attention to key features:
- compatibility Equipped with GoPro’s folding thumb lock system (standardized since Hero 5).
- Load distribution: Use ribbing to reinforce stress points (for example, joints or clamping areas).
- Failsafe: Integrated safety tether – printed loop for spare strap.
Pro tip: Get printable files from Thangs or Printables. Modify them as needed.
2. Material selection: matching requirements with filament
Choose wisely based on your activity:
| Material | Best use cases | Advantages and Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| People’s Liberation Army | indoor/low impact | Easy to print; fragile when cold/hot. |
| polyethylene terephthalate | outdoormultipurpose | UV/impact resistant; moderately flex. |
| Nylon/CF | High load (e.g. MTB) | Extremely powerful; requires all-metal hot end. |
| Metal | Professional/Severe Use | Unbreakable; requires industrial printer |
3. Print like a pro
Dial in these settings for an unbreakable installation:
- Floor height: 0.15–0.2mm detail.
- filling: 40–60% (hexagonal pattern).
- wall: ≥4 layers thick.
- Adhesion: Use edges/rafts as tiny contact points.
- direction: Vertical print fixture maximizes Z-axis strength.
4. Durability post-treatment
Convert raw prints into professional-grade parts:
- Polishing: Smooth with 80→400 grit paper.
- Chemical fusion: PETG benefits from an epoxy coating; ABS/ASA uses acetone vapor.
- assembly: Heat-set inserts for removable screws – plastic threads won’t crack.
Security: a non-negotiable priority
Action mounts can withstand tremendous amounts of force. A failed installation could mean a lost camera, or worse. Rigorous testing of new designs:
- Static load test: Hang 5 times the weight of the camera overnight.
- Field test: During the first run, wear goggles and mount the camera loosely.
- Regular inspection: Hairline breaks can kill plastic brackets. Replace when signs of fatigue appear.
in conclusion
3D printing your GoPro mount combines creativity and functionality to create a rig designed for your adventures. PETG or metal composite materials offer reliability worthy of mountaineering or ocean diving. But DIY requires patience. If you need a titanium grade elastic mount for drone cinematography or industrial use –huge light Bridging the gap.
As a leader in rapid prototyping, we will SLM 3D printing (Direct Metal Laser Sintering) with CNC finishing. Our aircraft-grade aluminum or titanium brackets can withstand forces never dreamed of in PLA – designed, printed and polished in days. Because when failure is no longer an option, professionalism shouldn’t be either.
FAQ: Answers to your DIY installation questions
1. Are 3D printed braces really reliable for sports?
Premium prints on PETG/nylon can withstand intense action if designed correctly. Metal printed brackets are beyond the capabilities of the factory. Always include auxiliary securing devices (e.g. safety ropes).
2. Can PLA withstand the high temperatures inside a car?
Won’t. PLA will deform above 60°C. Use PETG or ASA in hot environments.
3. How to fix the plastic bracket to the metal surface?
Design slots for M3/M5 bolts, glue with automotive epoxy, or clamp to straps.
4. Where can I find installation design I can trust?
Explore from CGTrader, GrabCAD or our proven Instagram ready templates [GreatLight Community Library].
5. What if I lack a printer or need titanium?
Services such as huge light Solve this problem: Upload your design, select material (AlSi10Mg/Stainless Steel/Titanium) and receive machine polished parts within days.
invention. Print. Dominate. With expert DIY skills, or a partner in bulletproof metal prototyping, your next adventure deserves an unparalleled perspective. What will you capture next?
Ready to prototype beyond plastic? [Explore GreatLight’s Rapid GoPro Solutions]
