Weekly Roundup: Ten 3D Printable Things – The Coolest GoPro Attachments

While searching for 3D printable models to share this week I was pretty amazed at the amount of GoPro attachments, mounts and accessories that I kept coming upon, many of them wonderfully creative and unique. It seems that 3D printer owners love making toys for their GoPros almost as much as they love making Yoda heads. There are 3D printable GoPro accessories for just about every use that can be imagined, and probably a few that I hadn’t even imagined there being a need for. The GoPro is already incredibly versatile, and clearly with 3D printing it can do just about anything.

If you’re not familiar with GoPro cameras, they are compact and durable video and still digital cameras that are often used to film extreme sports and action shots. They were created to make professional quality cameras affordable for the average user, and since their introduction in 2004 have been used to film thousands of sports and driving videos, several movies, TV commercials and one was once even mounted on the back of a bald eagle. They’re pretty fantastic cameras, and thanks to 3D printing they are probably the single most versatile camera available on the market.

So for this week’s Ten 3D printable Things I decided to scour Thingiverse for the strangest, coolest and most unique GoPro accessories that I could find.

T-REX GOPRO MOUNT

T-Rex Ate my GoPro (Mount) by gratten

Found on: Thingiverse
Cost: Free

Your first question may be “exactly why do I need to mount my GoPro in the jaws of a T-Rex skull?” but I think a better question would be “why wouldn’t I need to mount my GoPro in the jaws of a T-Rex skull?”. I mean, there are certainly odder places to mount a GoPro. Like in a real skull for instance, which would be weirder, grosser and probably illegal. Just stick with the 3D printed skull for all of our sakes, it is way cooler because T-Rex.

Printed T-Rex courtesy of Thingiverse user Mudaseem.

TIME LAPSE RIG

Time-lapse motion control rig for GoPro by DavidNewman

Found on: Thingiverse
Cost: Free

A little more useful than a dinosaur skull is this clever project to build a working motion controlled time-lapse rig for a GoPro camera using 3D printed parts and G-Scale toy train tracks. The rig has a controllable speed ranging from 15mm per minute up to 90mm per minute, although the exact speeds are limited to the model train gearbox that is used in the build.

DavidNewman includes some great assembly instructions, a shopping list and he even included several videos showing how the rig works:

360 VIEW VR RIG

360 Spherical Video Mount for GoPro Hero 3/4 by RaymondHOPK

Found on: Thingiverse
Cost: Free

You can print out this crazy looking mount and use it to create some pretty spectacular 360 degree videos using several GoPros and some video stitching software. The 360 view video is perfect for capturing massive spectacles like a fireworks display or an airshow, or it can be used to create virtual reality video that allows users to feel like they are actually watching what is being recorded.

Here is some video of a fireworks show filmed with several GoPros:

ZIP LINE RIG

Harrope Cable Cam GoPro v1.0 by guillermomaroto

Found on: Thingiverse
Cost: Free

You can use your GoPro to capture some amazing action shots from just about any height when you build this cool cable rig that will send your camera racing along a zip line. You’re pretty much limited only to a place where you can run cables from two points, with some elevated higher than the other. Then just click record and send it along.

This rig is perfect for filming action from just about any angle, being it rock climbing, sports, running or biking. The Thing page includes full assembly and use instructions, and in the comments it sounds like people are already talking about ways to power it so it can be driven like an RC car. It also includes a rope with a pulley systems attached to the bottom of it so the rig can be pulled along to capture the action, or just set up so it runs downhill.

Here is some video of the Harrope Cable Cam in action. It isn’t in English, but it has understandable captions:

FLOATING GOPRO MOUNT

Floating Mount for GoPro by paoloboni

Found on: Thingiverse
Cost: Free

And if you have a waterproof case for your GoPro then you can get some amazing video or pictures right from the waterline with this cool floating rig. Although depending on the movement of the water, this might leave viewers a little seasick. Even the floating part is 3D printed, however it would be possible to use a buoyant tube of some kind and just attaching the rig to it. This mount could either be used to get above water footage or it can be flipped over with the GoPro submerged to get some amazing near-surface footage.

GRADUATION CAP MOUNT

GoPro Graduation Cap Mount by CoryH

Found on: Thingiverse
Cost: Free

What better way to remember your graduation day than by filming the experience from the top of your head? Thingiverse user CoryH designed this mount to sit on top of his grad cap so he didn’t miss any of the action. It is held in place with three pairs of powerful magnets so it can be easily removed for some quick group shots or selfies. And best of all, it won’t destroy the cap, just in case you need to return it after the ceremony.

You may look a little silly with a big camera on your head, but you’re already wearing a full-length gown and a square hat, so you might as well complete the look.

BRASS KNUCKLES STYLE GOPRO HANDLE

GoPro Knuckles by suatbatu

Found on: Thingiverse
Cost: Free

When you want to look dangerous while filming with your GoPro just print out this cool hand hold that is styled after a set of brass knuckles. Of course unless you use a brass filament, this hand hold probably won’t be very dangerous, but it has the added benefit of allowing for a secure grip that is perfect for any wild activities with a lot of moving.

You should be careful however, even plastic brass knuckles are banned in certain countries and states, so make sure that this hand hold is legal before you print it.

FOLDING COUNTERBALANCE STICK

GoPro Counter Balance Folding Stick by UltiArjan

Found on: Thingiverse
Cost: Free

This is probably one of the more useful and versatile GoPro accessories on this list. The counterbalance stick attachment will give you dozens of uses. It can be hung off of all sorts of objects, used to film wide angles in a room or close up steady shots. And of course if you weight the bottom of the stick it can be used as a counterweight to steady and smooth out moving video shots. It will also double (triple?) as a basic tripod, so it is a perfect way to eliminate multiple tools and attachments and replace them with a single one.

YODIX GOPRO CART

Yodix for GoPro by Datheus

Found on: Thingiverse
Cost: Free

This cool and versatile cart is basically a GoPro mount on what amounts to a plastic roller skate, but it can provide a ton of great and interesting shots that would be a lot harder to achieve if the camera was hand held. The wheels can be locked into place to control the movement of the camera, or they can be loosened and left to roll wherever gravity or momentum takes it. All of the parts are completely 3D printable, all you need to do is buy a few metal bolts to hold everything securely together.

Here is some video showing off the Yodix:

GOPRO HOVERBOARD MOUNT

Hoverboard GoPro Mount by adafruit

Found on: Thingiverse
Cost: Free

Okay, before we start, yes hoverboard should be in quotes, because these so-called hoverboards neither hover or look like skateboards. They really look more like a baby Segway than anything else, but that doesn’t stop them from being fun to ride. Beyond being rideable however, they are also great for capturing some smooth and controllable video footage from the ground level. 3D printing and tech wizards Adafruit decided to design a cool 3D printable rig that will hold a GoPro in place.

Like all of their projects they include easy to follow instructions, printer settings and a great tutorial video. And here is some video of the mount in action:

Honestly, this list only scratches the surface of the amazing GoPro mounts and accessories that are available. If you have a GoPro then the next thing that you need to buy is a 3D printer, because it is going to provide you with more toys, tools and cool rigs than you would ever be able to buy in stores.

Thanks for reading! On behalf of myself and the entire staff of 3DPrint.com we’d like to wish you a safe and happy New Year!