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Naked GoPro 10 3D printed case

Jerome

Table of Content

Introduction

I got the hero10 for its frame rate (4K 120fps, 5.3K 60fps). I love it! It’s too heavy for sub 250g drone so we take it apart. Once apart you soon realize that overheating is an issue. Since lots of pilot use this camera for work and we want reliable and consistent gear. Since we all live and fly in different environment and temperature we all different experience with naked hero 10. This case will make this experience consistent.

I design this 3D printed case that has build in fan to blow air directly onto PCB. To prove this design, I place the entire GoPro into a heat chamber at 40C (100F) and let the camera rise to that temperature before pressing record. I was able to record 33min. I thought that was max record time until I saw my SD card was full! 🙈 Go check the testing section to see my setup.

—This article is still work in progress.—

To do:

  • improve part list
  • show initial prototype (small fan)
  • GoPro hero10 teardown video
  • heatsink vs fan explanation and heating the back vs the front of the GP2 chip
  • Show pictures and results of heat chamber test
  • work on front LCD mount options
  • explain little bit about recording settings use during my tests
  • flat hero 10 design
  • back LCD slot

Parts List

  • 1 x Fan 25x25mm 5V I use this one from Digikey but I think you can easily find some elsewhere like aliexpress.
  • screws (I need time to make the list of all the screws needed for this build) Mostly M1.4 plastic screws
  • 4 x M3 11-12mm long screws to attach the fan

3D printing

The most important thing with this project is to be easy to print. I work hard to figure out a clean way to design this case and be super easy to print with NO support!! https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:5080770

You can download all of there here
I qalso have a removable protective lens. Please note that still testing some glare issue I have. White PLA is very useful to see holes during development but reflects light inside that protective lens. Hence the black sharpie.
Here is the GoPro hero 8 lens attach to the mount. You can see the lens flare. This is because of dirty lens and black sharpie on white PLA. I need to run more test.

Assembly

Here are the steps to assemble it.

Here are all the parts.
  • This screw is very tricky. You need to gently bend the camera lens cable.
The lens needs to be installed with 3 screws. You are actually making a sandwich
Time to attach the motherboard to the main housing. There is 6 screws.
Solder the fan to the 5V on the BEC. I use the decoupling capacitor.

now it’s time to install the camera to frame mount.

Initially it was made of PLA. I had some vibrations. The moment I switch to TPU it flew better and had no vibrations.
Here we assemble the entire top section to the bottom section. Don’t forget the screw under the fan.
Screw the fan. You don’t need to install all 4 screws. You can also use plastic screws.
Lens cover. This cover needs 4 screws but makes this easy to print.

Here are some pictures of the final assembly.

  • Have you notice that hole over the SD card? That is for the record red LED.

Weight

Those 4 m3 screws that hold the fan are the most heavy on this setup.

With hero8 lens protector

test result

Testing

50min room temperature test
test chamber
40C (100F) and where the SD card was full
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