3D Printed Drones: From DIY to Commercial

Drones are small aircraft without a pilot or passengers that are controlled remotely or automatically. They serve several purposes in the modern world, including for surveillance, reconnaissance, photography, among other applications.. They are also popular with individuals who use them as gadgets. There is therefore a wide range of drones on the market today, and as you might expect some are even 3D printed! From commercial drones to DIY projects, 3D printing makes it possible to produce certain parts of the device, or even the whole thing. The use of AM allows for lighter, customizable solutions in record time. So we’ve selected a few 3D of the currently available printed drones for you, whatever your needs.

AldoraTech Makes Drones to Deliver Goods

Spanish startup AldoraTech is dedicated to the manufacture of functional drones that integrate 3D printed parts with composite materials. Specifically, its solutions are used for various types of missions, including the delivery of goods and packages. One of the objectives that the company wants to achieve through its drones is to reduce by 80% the carbon emissions emitted through logistics transport. What is striking about these drones is that they are modular, i.e. they can be adapted to the needs of each customer. In addition to shortening delivery times, they can create larger aircraft for specific goods. And this can be achieved thanks to the versatility and flexibility offered by 3D printing technology.

Photo Credits: AldoraTech

X VEIN, the 3D Printed Drone with an Optimized Design

X VEIN is an open-source 3D printed drone project developed in Japan by Yuki Ogasawara, Ryo Kumeda, Yuji Fujimura and Tetsuya Konishi. What is particularly interesting about this 3D printed drone is how its creators relied on design rules specific to additive manufacturing. They used generative design and topological optimization to combine strength, safety, lightness and scalability. We can see that the frame of the drone has been optimized in terms of materials, the goal being to create a lighter drone that can still resist certain constraints. You can download the parts on Autodesk’s website and install a camera in the center of your drone to take unseen videos!