Ever wanted to build your own version of an established manufacturer’s drone? California-based drone manufacturer 3DRobotics has joined forces with 3D printing marketplace MyMiniFactory to release a 3D printable version of the IRIS+.
Back in 2014 the IRIS+ launched to plenty of acclaim, and was at the time one of the most advanced consumer drones ever released. It was the first consumer drone to come with true Follow Me technology, and now 3DR are effectively open-sourcing its design to see what the 3D printing community can come up with.
3DR has long been a big supporter of open source development, so in some ways it’s no surprise that it’s decided to release all of the 3D printable files for the IRIS+. They can be found exclusively on MyMiniFactory, where they can be downloaded for free. But keen 3D printers will need to do more than that to get their IRIS+ in the skies. Users will also need to purchase the electronic components from 3DR directly in order to finish off their own IRIS+ drone. This is the first time that 3DR has released a version of one of their drones to the 3D printing community, and they are keen for users to customize and adapt IRIS+ components to see what might come out the other side.
MyMiniFactory designer Kirby Downey has recorded the progress of his own build, right the way from 3D printing to assembly and a full testing process. You can also see that he has created a set of optimized 3D printable parts that are half the weight of the standard parts and require 80% less support material.
It’s definitely cheaper than buying an official drone, and as the total 3D print time will be around seven hours, it’s faster than delivery too. 3DR has created a page with their own build and assembly instructions to help printers wire and program the electronics, along with a full troubleshooting guide.
Malek Murison is a freelance writer and editor with a passion for tech trends and innovation. He handles product reviews, major releases and keeps an eye on the enthusiast market for DroneLife.
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