CAD · printable parts for the DIY rig
3D printed parts.
Every STL we print for the DIY 5-inch rig and the Archer shell. Slicer settings, material guidance, and the reasoning for each geometric choice. All sources live in cad/ as STL + STEP + FreeCAD source.
Printer
Prusa MK4 · 0.4 mm · PETG
our reference
Material
PETG for structural · TPU for props
no ABS
Source
cad/ tree · STL + STEP + FCStd
FreeCAD 1.0
Total time
~18 hr to print the full kit
unattended
§ 01Parts list
| Part | Purpose | Qty | Material | Print time |
|---|
| Orin Nano bracket | Mount Orin on top plate of DIY frame | 1 | PETG | ~2 hr |
| Camera tilt mount (30°) | RPi Cam 3 Wide, down-tilt to match sim | 1 | PETG | ~1 hr |
| Battery strap guide | Keeps 1300 mAh pack centered | 2 | PETG | ~45 min |
| ESC heat-shield vent | Redirects airflow over Tekko32 | 1 | PETG | ~30 min |
| Prop guards | Indoor training only | 4 | TPU 95A | ~5 hr |
| Antenna holder (ELRS) | Tight angle · low signature | 1 | PETG | ~15 min |
| Archer inspection shell | Inspection-friendly carrier (placeholder) | 1 | PETG | ~6 hr |
| Gate target (mockup) | Indoor practice gate · 1.5 × 1.5 m | 4 corners | PETG + PLA dowels | ~3 hr + hardware |
§ 02Slicer defaults
Slicer: PrusaSlicer 2.7
Nozzle: 0.4 mm
Layer: 0.20 mm (Quality)
Infill: 20% gyroid (structural) · 30% (camera mount)
Walls: 3 perimeters
Top / Bottom: 5 / 5 layers
Supports: "Tree" for overhangs > 45°
Brim: 4 mm (PETG only)
Speed: ~60 mm/s perimeters · 100 mm/s infill
Cooling: 40% part cooling fan
§ 03Material notes
| Material | Use | Why |
|---|
| PETG | Brackets, shells, camera mount | Impact-tough, dim stable at 60°C, glues with superglue |
| TPU 95A | Prop guards, vibration isolators | Crash-absorbent, flexible; saves motor mounts |
| ABS | Avoid | Stinky, warps; PETG wins everywhere we'd use ABS |
| PLA | Only for non-structural gate mockup dowels | Melts in sun, brittle. OK indoors. |
| Nylon (PA-CF) | Overkill for this application | More money + time than PETG wins in drone impact |
§ 04Orientation & supports
- Orin bracket: lay flat, standoff holes pointing up. No supports needed.
- Camera mount: print with tilt face down on plate. Tree supports at overhang lip.
- Prop guards: print flat one at a time for max bed adhesion. TPU hates peeling.
- Archer shell: longest axis flat on plate, inspection window upward (reduces support mess on the viewing face).
- Gate mockup corners: corner pointing up, hollow interior, 15% gyroid. Sand + paint for color consistency.
Gate mockup calibration: paint the printed gate corners the exact HSV target color we use in sim (saturated mid-green, like a VQ1 highlighted gate). This lets the detector fine-tune on real imagery that matches the sim's visual style while we capture real-flight dynamics.