Chimera 7 Pro GoPro Mount with spacers

thingiverse

This concept was sparked by a video shared by Joshua Bardwell some time ago. In his discussion, he mentioned the typical issue with GoPro TPU mounts on most quadcopters. They typically rely on a pressure fit, with the top screws directly applying force onto the TPU. Over time, this constant pressure can cause the TPU to tear. A potential solution Bardwell proposed was to introduce a small brass tube into the TPU mount. This tube would effectively distribute the majority of the pressure back down to the frame, thus reducing the stress on the TPU. With this build, I decided to experiment with creating the tube from a more durable filament such as Polycarbonate (though I speculate PLA could also suffice). The tubes I've fabricated are marginally shorter (by 0.2mm) than the TPU mount holes. As such, when the screws are tightened, a fraction of the pressure remains on the TPU, but the majority is transferred through the tubes down into the frame. I'm keen to see how this approach will pan out in the long run. I plan to conduct some tests on my own quad and observe the results. It's crucial to stick with the original screws that have an integrated washer, or perhaps even try a screw combined with a slightly larger washer. Just a side note: The print turns out to be a tad smaller than the original, yet this variation creates a snug fit when attached to the drone, an aspect I think might be beneficial. This design is a remix from the original found here: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:4888524.