This is a guest blog of our SainSmart x Makers series.
I must start with a thankyou – it’s been a genuine privilege to be asked to write an article for the SainSmart blog; a brand whom I have grown to respect enormously for the quality of their filaments and the service they provide.
15 years in the mechanical, structural and materials industry I wrongfully assumed taking on the challenge of printing my own FPV drone parts was going to be fun and a breeze…..I was woefully mistaken (face palm emoji)!
Many will accept one of the most rewarding FPV printing experiences is to print and build your very own Shendrone Squirt/Slammed Squirt (high fives to Andy Shen and Chris Teal for sharing your hard work with us!)
It was a terrible start – printing the ducts time and again with varying speeds and temperatures returned the same problem; upon reaching the overhangs of the duct it would immediately begin to warp from the top. After several failed prints and countless advice from filament wholesalers, I was incredibly close to throwing in the towel and calling it a day on my wish to build my very own ‘Slammed Squirt’…..until, that was, I happened across SainSmart TPU.
I was sceptical with the advice I was given by Mr Chris Teal himself; ‘use SainSmart and you will thank me later’. As if by magic, the duct printed first time with zero warping.
With a first of type built I couldn’t help but set about the unthinkable; remixing the Slammed Squirt for which it was controversially received. Some loved it…..others saw it as blasphemy!
Up until March 2021, the stalwart and go to for 3D Prints was (and still is) Ben of ‘FPV 3D Prints’ – he was incredibly gracious in the initial weeks of my printing journey by giving the most helpful and transparent advice.
With an ever-growing attention on my own personal quads and requests for 3D Prints, I thought it right to establish FPV 3D Print Shop armed with my trusted range of filaments - SainSmart TPU.
What genuinely sets SainSmart apart from the rest was the reliable manner with which you can chop and change between colours and you needn’t make ANY changes to the Slicer settings – this is something I have found truly unique to SainSmart.
The world of 3D printing is one that branches out into almost every other sector and whilst mixed with FPV the opportunities are truly endless. Within the last 6 months alone I have branched out into the development of FPV for military applications, developing mounts TPU for hobby drones and, most exciting of all, has been the establishment of ‘Colada Film LLP’ for which myself and 2 crazy cool pilots (FPV G and Ryderfpv) have recently established.
Colada seeks to push the physical boundaries of what modern drone technologies can offer in the film production sphere, we’re at ease with putting our beloved drones in harm’s way and take calculated risks to nail that gnarly shot.
WATCH….THIS….SPACE...The journey with SainSmart has only just begun – ‘to the moon!’
About the Author (Matthew Keogh):
Matthew is a military engineer of 15 years and he also runs the British Army printing facility in Tidworth. If you want to learn more about Matthew and how he uses 3D Printing for FPV, follow him on Instagram: @crux_fpv.
