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May 22, 2015 | By Alec

You might have forgotten about it due to the endless hordes of insecure teens using them all day, but GoPro cameras were actually developed a tool for surfing. Attached to the front of a surfboard, they are widely used by surfers to check their movements and improve their board time. But they’ve been around for six years now, and that’s a long time in terms of technology. It’s thus no wonder that the next-gen surfing camera application has already been developed: the GoPro Mouth Mount. And what’s more, this clever creation has been realized through 3D printing technology.

GoPro Mouth Mounts have only been available for a few months now, and have been developed by surfing-mad developer Steve from Ho Stevie. ‘I grew up in Wisconsin, and I moved to California (San Diego) about 5 years ago so I could surf. I love surfing, and I try to go every day!’ he tells us. ‘I pay attention to everything going on in the surf world, and I saw a new trend start a couple years ago. Pro surfers were playing around with different ways to hold their GoPro cameras. The default place to mount your GoPro used to be on the nose of your surfboard, with the camera pointing back at you.’

Just compare the results of a mounted GoPro vs a mouthpiece version.

But the big downside to this approach is that the surfer can hardly see the cool surroundings and the water crashing around him. It’s also quite dangerous, as you can seriously injure yourself or damage your board if you slip up against it. ‘So a couple years ago, the pro surfers started rigging up their own mouth mounts, often times just biting on a piece of plastic or foam that was attached to the GoPro. Not comfortable, but it provided some amazing shots,’ Steve explains. But as this was constantly falling apart, Steve started exploring some design options to improve it.

 ‘Last summer I started talking to some of my engineering friends, and they said it wouldn't be too difficult or expensive to manufacture a mouth mount. I had one of my friends draw up a rough design in SolidWorks, and then I started searching for places to 3d print the design,’ Steve says. Taking this to a free 3D printing lab in the local library in San Diego, Steve quickly found himself with a custom-made 3D printed prototype to experiment with. After some tinkering and iterations he eventually hired a professional designer to complete the Mouth Mount.

While 3D printing technology was key throughout the design process, Steve eventually opted to produce the final model through injection molding. ‘[The 3D printed prototype was] incredibly weak, and just cannot withstand the abuse of physical activities like surfing. That is why we made our mounts from virtually indestructible polycarbonate. Our mouth mounts are designed to last as long as you surf,’ he explains. The final products are made in China to keep the production costs as low as possible.

Available in just about every color.

And while a mouth mounted camera might seem a bit odd at first, they are lightweight and comfortable. With a mouthpiece made from soft silicone, you won’t be left with sore teeth or jaw after surfing, while good air channels ensure that breathing is no problem at all. The GoPro mouth mount is priced at $29.99. If you’re interested, go to Steve’s website for more information.

While the final product thus isn’t 3D printed, 3D printers played a key role in the design process – illustrating just what can be done with a good idea and a single 3D printer. The GoPro Mouth Mounts, meanwhile, have been a huge hit over the past few months. ‘We have sold hundreds of mouth mounts already. Mostly to surfers, but some people use them for parkour or other sports,’ Steve says. And who can blame them? Just look at the clips below, the results are wonderful.

 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Applications

 

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