Apr 30, 2016 | By Andre

There are things that go hand in hand in the world we live in. Peas and Carrots are something that have long been considered to be a perfect fit with one another. In the 3D printing world, there is little doubt that drones takes the cake when it comes to overlap from a hobbyist perspective. A recent addition to this space comes in the form of the 3D printed Firefly Racing Drone and its counterpart the Firefly Pro. Both of these 3D printable flyers are similar in look and function to the previously available Vortex 250 PRO but with an extra level of DIY thrown in.

Of course, just like every 3D print heavy drone project, not all of the parts are 3D printable. The electronics, motors, dampeners and bolts all have to be sourced independently but thanks to the world we live in, it doesn’t take a lot of effort to get the necessary parts (suggestions found at the bottom of this article). Just as is the case with many other 3D printable drones out there, the Firefly (with the racer being the speedy light-weight cousin of the two), all of the 3D printable STL files are completely compatible and sized to fit most any consumer friendly 3D printer build plate.

The assembly instructions found on both the instructables page and official Fire Fly assembly site are clear if you already have a background in drone construction but a little bit sparce for a new-comer to the drone game. I say this partially because it took me a while, as a novice, to figure out which electronics, motors and controller is best suited for either iteration of the drone.

This said, part of the reason the instructions for the elements that are not 3D printable are a little vague is the open-nature of drone construction. The savvy drone builder can take the Firefly files and incorporate his or her most familiar electronics for the most part. Ultimately what is provided in the assembly instructions has more to do with the frame, and less to do with what makes it fly.

In terms of slick and sexy looking drones, I haven’t seen a 3D printed option that offers as much as the Firefly. And the proof in the pudding in the below video. I feel this would make fore a great entry-level 3D printable drone if you’re in the market for one.


Print Specs:

  • Main Frame: 25% infill
  • Sies and Bumpers: 50% infill
  • Material: ABS, PLA, 

Electronics:

 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Application

 

 

Maybe you also like:


   






Leave a comment:

Your Name:

 


Subscribe us to

3ders.org Feeds 3ders.org twitter 3ders.org facebook   

About 3Ders.org

3Ders.org provides the latest news about 3D printing technology and 3D printers. We are now seven years old and have around 1.5 million unique visitors per month.

News Archive