As an FPV pilot and 3D designer, I often encounter the challenge of protecting action cameras during aggressive flights. The Insta360 GO 3S is an incredibly lightweight and capable camera, but its compact size requires a well-designed mount that can keep it secure while providing reliable protection against impacts.
For this reason, I designed a TPU mount that offers full camera protection while maintaining a lightweight profile and easy installation on FPV drones.
The Problem I Wanted to Solve
Many available camera mounts focus primarily on attaching the camera to the drone, while protection for the camera body and lens is often limited. During FPV flying, even a minor crash can result in damage to the camera or cause it to become dislodged from the mount.
The main goals of this project were:
- Maximum protection for the camera body
- Enhanced lens protection during crashes
- Secure retention of the camera inside the mount
- Lightweight design suitable for smaller FPV drones
- Compatibility with existing M2 mounting systems
Design Process
This mount went through several design iterations to achieve the ideal balance between protection, weight, and usability.
Special attention was given to the camera retention system. The camera is inserted into the TPU housing without the protective lens attached. Once the camera is in place, the lens is screwed back on, creating an additional mechanical lock that significantly reduces the possibility of the camera coming loose, even during hard impacts.
Since the mount is designed to be printed in TPU, the flexibility of the material helps absorb impact energy and provides an extra layer of protection during crashes.
Compatibility
The mount is designed for FPV frames that use M2 mounting screws for accessories and camera mounts.
Tested on:
- FlyFish Volador VX3
- FlyFish Volador VX3.5
It is also compatible with other frames that use a similar M2 mounting pattern.
Key Features
- Impact-resistant TPU construction
- Full protection for the camera body
- Integrated lens protection
- Additional camera retention system
- Compact and lightweight design
- Approximate weight: 12 g
Recommended Print Settings
For the best results, I recommend the following settings:
- Material: TPU
- Supports: Tree Supports
- Wall Line Count: 5
- Infill: 100%
On my Creality CR10 V3, the print takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes to complete.
Conclusion
This project was created to solve a real-world challenge faced by FPV pilots. The goal was to develop a lightweight, practical, and reliable mount that provides additional protection for the Insta360 GO 3S without compromising the drone’s performance.
If you use an Insta360 GO 3S on your FPV setup, I hope this design helps you fly with greater confidence while capturing amazing aerial footage.
Download the Model
You can download and print this model directly from my Cults3D page.
