3D printers open up whole new vistas of creativity for photographers. Whether or not you’re into cosplay and creating costumes and props to your portraits or seeking to obtain authentic pictures utilizing intricate rigging and mounting setups which might be solely bespoke to your use case, the flexibility to take a spool of plastic fiber and switch it into a fancy and sturdy half utilizing an equipment that may match on a benchtop is, for my part, one of the thrilling developments within the at-home maker motion in years.
Personally, I’ve totally embraced the flexibility to unravel issues and experiment with what is feasible utilizing this expertise, and as a frequent consumer of GoPro cameras, whether or not mounted on the strap of my backpack, my helmet whereas using my grime bike, or the highest of certainly one of my FPV drones, I’ve discovered an extremely fertile panorama within the ecosystem of equipment supplied on websites like Printables and Thingiverse. I’ve taken the freedom of cherry-picking a few of my favourite GoPro equipment which you could make proper now, to be sure you can seize and share your reminiscences proper.
Whereas this record gained’t be in any explicit order, and definitely gained’t embrace a model of each accent you’ll be able to consider, I hope it serves as supply of inspiration for both attempting to find the proper gizmo to your wants, and even modeling and making it your self. I’m additionally going to be specializing in fashions that don’t require any instruments or components to assemble which you could’t discover at a neighborhood ironmongery store. There are some superior designs on the market, like sliders that use Arduino-controlled stepper motors (very, very cool), however these are actually extra of a venture in and of themselves fairly than a general-purpose accent.
With that mentioned, let’s leap in.
Instances and Safety
Arguably a very powerful class. GoPros are designed to go the place different cameras can’t go, and as such, they encounter risks that different cameras don’t. Contemplating we’re coping with a $300-$400 piece of apparatus, you actually ought to kind out some technique of safety. Clearly, you’re in all probability going to wish to print these out of a versatile materials like TPU, as this may take up shock and shrug off abrasion the perfect of the generally obtainable supplies.
Don’t let the title idiot you. This full case, created by Printables consumer @Lau_ris_42473, is a superb possibility for the Hero 9 by Hero 12, as they’re precisely the identical so far as exterior dimensions go. It’s designed as a slip-in case that makes use of the lens cowl of the digital camera itself to safe it whereas surrounded by a really thick bumper. It nonetheless affords entry to each the entrance and rear screens, although the battery door is blocked whenever you insert the digital camera. The value you pay for cover, I suppose.
Should you’re nonetheless rocking the Hero 8, this case by Printables consumer @Carloski_302340 is a good decide. It’s a full wraparound design, the place the digital camera is inserted from the rear. It does block entry to the entrance display, however that is much less of a difficulty on the older fashions because the info proven there may be not as instantly helpful as on the Hero 9 and up. Should you intend to mount the digital camera utilizing a buckle, you’ll need to both modify the file to depart a gap for the mounting tabs or minimize some small slits to slide them by.
For these of us of a extra aquatic disposition, right here’s a neat possibility from consumer @fermit_369703 that mixes affect safety and floatation in a single, once more for the Hero 9 and up. For this one, you’re completely going to wish to check it in a bucket of water prior to make use of to make sure it’s watertight. TPU is understood for its wonderful layer adhesion, however a few minutes price of testing is price not dropping your good digital camera.
Basic-Goal Mounts
Among the best issues about GoPro is their standardization of the buckle mounting system, to the purpose that even competing manufacturers like Insta360 now use it. Typically, although, GoPro itself leaves conspicuous holes in its accent lineup. Let’s see what we are able to discover.
This can be a easy wraparound shell from @JWP763_164704 to will let you mount your GoPro 9-12 vertically on a normal buckle mount. One thing like that is actually useful to have as a result of a lot of the GoPro fashions have limitations on their recording decision or body price when recording within the 4:3 or 8:7 modes which might be meant for extra versatile framing in put up. I’d print this both in PETG for walkaround use, or a stiffer TPU when you’re meaning to rise up to one thing extra rigorous and will use a bit of additional safety from bumps.
Should you’d like to mix vertical mounting with one of many instances I confirmed earlier, you’ll be able to as a substitute print one thing like this. @DStehlik_102460 has designed a really strong right-angle arm that does precisely what it says on the tin. PETG is really helpful, and also you’ll want a heat-set threaded insert or nut to mate with the threads on the GoPro thumbscrew.
That is an superior little print-in-place tripod from @winter0is0coming. All you’ll want is a little bit of glue to affix the highest half that features the mounting buckle to the underside half that features the legs, and a heat-set threaded insert or nut. PETG is the apparent selection, however you can go for one thing actually powerful like PA-CF in case your printer can deal with it.
Should you already personal one thing like a Joby GorillaPod that you simply’d like to make use of together with your GoPro, @Spock has created a superb 1/4”-20 buckle adapter which you could screw onto any regular tripod. The underside has the threads modeled into the half, however for the highest, you’ll need an M5 nut. Print in PETG, and you realize what, simply print a bunch of those to have readily available. They’re actually cents every and also you by no means know whenever you may want one thing like this, particularly contemplating that this precise product sells for a number of {dollars} every (in case your native retailer even shares them in any respect).
Typically, that you must stick a GoPro to one thing that doesn’t fairly match the profile of any of the first-party GoPro clip baseplates, those with the adhesive on the underside. Fortunately, all that adhesive is is 3M VHB tape! Seize a roll, print a versatile, flat-bottomed mount like this one from Thingiverse’s Dave_B, apply the tape to the underside, and abruptly you could have a really sturdy mount that can conform to no matter form you need-windshields, boat hulls, you title it. Rating!
Particular Makes use of
A small assortment of mounts and equipment for particular conditions.
A easy mounting plate from @Josef_16914 that can will let you slip a GoPro onto commonplace MOLLE webbing. Initially meant for navy use, this commonplace has grow to be very fashionable for purposes that want a versatile, modular storage answer — there’s even some on my photograph backpack. Print in one thing powerful because of the small load-bearing surfaces-PETG at minimal, ideally one thing like PC-blend or PA-GF.
Planning on performing some biking however don’t wish to pony up the $40 for the first-party tube clamp? Right here you go! The creator, @HD_Creator, experiences that PLA labored simply high-quality for them, however I’d advocate sticking with PETG, as PLA is understood to degrade over time with publicity to UV gentle. You can too add some rubber bits to the within of the clamps for some additional grip.
Typically that you must have a bit extra positional flexibility in your digital camera mounting. This big package from @6d6178 contains tons of arms of various lengths and orientations to allow you to put your GoPro precisely the place you need it. What’s extra, the included recordsdata are totally parametric, which means you’ll be able to simply customise their dimensions to your precise wants in a program like OnShape. This package would require some M5 nuts and screws to assemble the additional fasteners, and I’d strongly recommend printing this in as inflexible a cloth as you can-any of the PA composites could be an amazing selection, however PETG-CF or -GF could be substitute.
Should you’re planning on performing some images, strive a GoPro sizzling hoe mount like this one from @DR3D_Prints. These are superior for gathering content material, both for social media or simply as a memento of your photographic exploits. I really use certainly one of these myself after I’m working — time sync a number of photographs to the footage off the GoPro and also you’ve obtained a cool little behind-the-scenes video of your work. PLA has labored high-quality for me right here.
Instruments
Let’s face it-GoPros is usually a huge ache to work on. Their compact measurement means elements are fiddly, and in case your palms are big like mine, it may be a nightmare to work in tight areas or with small components. Listed here are a few instruments to assist with that.
By design, the lens covers on the previous couple of generations of GoPro are actually tough to take away. They’re not very deep, which suggests you don’t get a lot buy when attempting to twist them off. Right here’s a wrench from @dave818_12303 designed to make that simpler. PLA would in all probability be high-quality for this, simply watch out to not snap it off in case your lens cowl occurs to be actually caught.
Now right here’s a novel idea-glue a giant knob to a thumbscrew to get it out from underneath the digital camera and make it simpler to tighten. Thanks, Jonathan_K1906!
…or, when you don’t wish to try this, simply print off this recreation of the official GoPro “The Device”, that doesn’t should be caught to the screw, and also will work on the shorter ones as a bonus.
Go Get Your Personal!
The 3D printing neighborhood is nice to be part of. If we see an issue, likelihood is somebody has already created a repair for it and we are able to go get it free of charge, and even iterate and enhance on it ourselves. There are actually 1000’s of various designs for all method of equipment, not just for the usual GoPro however for different cameras just like the DJI Osmo Motion or the Insta360 X collection of 360 cams, that allow solely new makes use of for one thing we already personal. That’s fairly superior, when you ask me.