First Designed FPV Drone

The Goal

I wanted to design my own drone frame and 3D print it instead of buying a carbon fiber one. I used PLA plastic and salvaged the motors and flight controller from a small 2S drone I already had.

Why it didn't work

It flew, but it was a vibrating mess.

• Flexibility: The 3D-printed arms were too bendy. When the motors spun up, the whole frame would wobble and vibrate, making it almost impossible to control.
• Strength: PLA is fine for desk toys, but it’s not stiff enough for a drone frame that needs to handle high-speed turns.

Lessons Learned

Don't use PLA for drone frames. This project proved that if you want a drone that actually flies well, you need the rigidity of carbon fiber. It was a failure in terms of flight performance, but it’s what pushed me to start building the carbon fiber 3-inch and 5-inch quads you see elsewhere in this portfolio.