Although it is not yet common to 3D print electric parts such as motors, sensors, or perhaps electronic equipment, it is completely feasible to 3D print drone components such as the frame, landing gear, and propellers. Usually, these are the components that are easy to break. Manufacturing these parts using 3D printing technology can be more affordable. And there are plenty of rapid prototyping suppliers providing high-quality yet competitively-priced 3D printing service. Drones are rapidly becoming a standard fixture in skies across the world. Although currently, most drones are small and mobile - similar to the radio-controlled toy airplane - aerospace companies and tech companies are engineering bigger, stronger drones to take over many human jobs, from shipping to security.

3D printing plays a significant role in how drones are built in the long run. And if the predictions are right, there will be a significant increase in demand for 3D printed drone parts and accessories.

Benefits of 3D Printed Drone Parts and Accessories

What is the advantage of 3D printed drone components? If you are not an experienced drone operator, then crashing and breaking parts of your drone can be costly. Rather than purchasing new components at a hobby store, you can simply get new parts from rapid prototyping suppliers, which is quick and economical.

You can buy yourself a 3D printer, and then you can print a new drone part whenever you need it. You can even get drone parts by outsourcing your 3D printing needs to professional and experienced rapid prototyping suppliers. This way is fast and more economical and reliable as a 3D printer can be costly, and the 3D printing process requires certain expertise.

Things to Consider

Firstly, the 3D printing of drone parts requires some time. It may take several hours or even days to print parts of a small size. The required time varies from materials, the complexity of geometries, post-processing requirements, quantity, size, as well as the experience of your rapid prototyping partner.

Besides, 3D modeling and 3D printing of parts require certain skills and experience. If you are a beginner, you may experience problems like inaccurate design and poor quality of printed parts.

But do not worry. There are many 3D rapid prototyping suppliers online (>>>> Considerations When Selecting Your Prototyping Partner). You can consult their expertise and outsource your needs to them and get high quality 3D printed parts at affordable prices.

Drone Parts that can be 3D Printed

If you would like to use 3D printed parts for your drones or if you simply wonder what drone parts can be 3D printed, here are some of the key drone components listed that can be created by a 3D printer:

l Propellers

l Frame and housing

l Landing gear

l Protective guards

l Battery pack casing

l Antenna holders

l Camera mounts and other payloads

Besides cost-effectiveness, there are many other advantages of getting 3D printed drone parts from rapid prototyping suppliers, such as short printing time, high printing quality & accuracy, flexibility in design& production.

Drone Accessories that can be 3D Printed

Aside from critical parts of drone, there is a wide variety of drone-related accessories can be 3D printed, including:

l Carrying cases

l Radio signal enhancers

l Tables and Screens

l Repair tools

l Sunshades

l Remote controller casings

l Landing gear extenders

Based on the actual application and the unique design of your drones, using 3D printing technology, you can easily customize the desired accessories for your drones.

Materials Used in 3D Printing of Drones

PET/PETG - This material is stable and shockproof. But in its printing process, a relatively expensive heated print bed is needed.

PLA - This material is easy to print and produce no odor in the process. It is low cost and widely used. The disadvantage is that it is not resistant to UV and high temperature.

ABS - This material is tough, stable, and light-weight. It also has excellent heat resistance. It is also low cost, but if you need finer-finished parts, a heated print bed is needed.

Nylon - It has good temperature resistance and an outstanding strength-to-weight ratio. However, it is not easy to work with.

In general, if you are an absolute rookie, PLA material is more suitable. And when you become more experienced, then you could transition to use ABS materials. If you are making a profession drone, then nylon is the best. Partnering with experienced and professional rapid prototyping suppliers, you can consult their expertise to make the right decision. (>>>> 3D Printing Materials Guide: ABS or PLA)

Start 3D Printing of Your Drone Parts

With more and more diverse kinds of drones are coming to the markets, and the continuous development of 3D printing technology, the application of 3D printing technology in the drone industry is expanding. Whether you are a drone manufacturer or you are a service provider using a drone, you can benefit a lot from adopting 3D printing services from reliable rapid prototyping suppliers to create your drones spare parts or accessories.

Here are five key benefits:

l Reduced costs

l Reduced time

l Reduced errors

l Flexibility in design

l On-demand production

No matter what kinds of drone business you are engaged in, it is necessary to think about 3D printing. By tapping into 3D printing at an early stage, you will have more chances to gain more benefits from it.