Seven Ways 3D Printed RC Cars Move From Idea To Track
- Tamara Arkhangelskaya
- 6 minutes ago
- 6 min read
From our work as a 3D printing service, we see more customers using FDM 3D printing to move RC projects from idea to running model. Instead of relying only on off the shelf chassis and hop up parts, designers now mix standard hardware with 3D printed RC car parts to test new layouts, repair damage and try different bodies without committing to a full production run.
In the sections below we highlight seven ways to 3D print RC car projects that show what is practical today, from fully printed drivetrains to hybrid designs that use printed structures with rubber tires and metal shafts.
3D Print RC Car OpenRC F1
OpenRC F1 is a Formula 1 style radio controlled car in roughly one tenth scale, designed by Daniel Noree as part of the OpenRC initiative. It is the third generation car in the series and was created specifically for desktop 3D printers, with a clear focus on straightforward printing and assembly.
Almost every structural component is a 3D printed RC car part, including chassis plates, suspension elements and body panels. The official build guide explains that you can print all of these parts in PLA, while the tires are made from a flexible material such as NinjaFlex.
OpenRC F1 comes with a full set of files and documentation, which reduces the guesswork for your first RC car 3D print. The designer links to STL files, a bill of materials and step files of the complete assembly on several major model repositories.
Hardware kit suppliers describe the OpenRC F1 as one of the most popular 3D printed RC cars in the community, and there are many completed builds, troubleshooting threads and tuning guides available.
Author: Daniel Norée
Files: Thingiverse
RC Car 3D Print OpenRC Truggy
OpenRC Truggy is a one tenth scale, four wheel drive off road concept car designed by Daniel Noree as part of the OpenRC project. It was the first major OpenRC model and served as a proof of concept for using desktop FDM printers to build a working 3D printed RC car.
Most of the chassis, suspension arms, drivetrain housings and body parts are 3D printed RC car parts, while standard RC components such as shocks, tires and metal shafts are used where they make the most sense for durability. The design targets rough terrain, so the layout and suspension are tuned for off road running rather than smooth track use.
OpenRC Truggy includes a full set of STL files and an assembly model, hosted on several major repositories.
Community posts on the OpenRC project note that the Touring car and Truggy together have been downloaded many thousands of times, and the Truggy appears frequently in build logs, upgrade parts and wheel or tire remixes. It remains a reference point for people who want to explore 3D printed RC cars and see how far a largely printed chassis can go in real off road use.
Author: Daniel Norée
Files: Thingiverse
3D Print RC Car Tarmo5
Tarmo5 is a fifth generation project by Engineering Nonsense, created to explore how far a mostly 3D printed RC car can go in terms of speed and durability. It is a two wheel drive street and rally style chassis that has reached close to forty miles per hour in testing, which makes it one of the faster community designed 3D printed RC cars available today.
The design focuses on reliable handling rather than pure complexity. Every printed part is arranged in a specific orientation so that the layer lines match the main loads on that part, which is important when you rely on 3D printed RC car parts for real driving.
Tarmo5 comes with a full pack of STL files and supporting documentation. The Printables project page provides the models, and the creator links to a bill of materials and a step by step build playlist, so you can follow along from the first print to the first run. Community builders have also published reinforced components and alternative bodies, which gives you options if you want to adapt the chassis for your own RC car 3D print experiments.
Author: Engineering Nonsense
Files: Printables
RC Car 3D Print Car iDrift Chassis
iDrift is a one tenth scale drift car chassis created by designer nik_poz for rear wheel drive drifting. It is presented as a mostly 3D printed RC car chassis, with printed main frame parts and geometry pieces combined with standard drift hardware where metal still makes sense.
The layout focuses on low weight and a low center of gravity so that the car stays predictable when you push it into long controlled slides.The front end uses a McPherson like suspension arrangement with fully adjustable settings.
The original iDrift chassis files were released as iDrift RC drift chassis V3 on Thingiverse, and index sites still list that version as a free download.
Author: nik_poz
Files: Thingiverse
3D Printed RC Car Parts for Ursa Bear Monster Truck
Ursa Bear is a fully printable monster truck by designer tahustvedt, created as a compact off road 3D print RC car that looks and drives like a real stadium style truck. It uses a four link suspension with four wheel drive and four wheel steering, plus three differentials, so all axles are powered and can steer for tight turns and good traction on rough ground. Most chassis and suspension parts are 3D printed RC car parts, combined with standard bearings, screws and electronics.
You can download a complete STL pack for Ursa Bear from the original Thingiverse project and mirrored model sites, then choose from reinforced gearboxes, alternative bodies and tire options shared by the community.
Author: tahustvedt
Files: Thingiverse
RC Car 3D Print KendinYap Pickup
This fully 3D printed RC car by KendinYap is a compact pickup style model where the main structure, gearbox, wheels and tires all come from a 3D printer. The project was designed as a low cost 3D print RC car, so it relies on a brushed 380 motor, a simple electronic speed controller and a small steering servo, with the option to use either a handmade radio system or a standard RC transmitter and receiver.
The build uses a mix of PLA and TPU, with rigid chassis pieces and flexible tire sections. All STL files are available as a free download on Printables. This makes the KendinYap pickup a clear example of how far 3D printed RC cars can go as a complete, accessible project rather than just a cosmetic body shell.
Author: KendinYap
Files: Printables
3D Printed RC Car Parts for Lizard Race Car
Lizard is an on road race car created by maker TRDB to explore what a performance oriented 3D print RC car can do. The chassis and powertrain are printed, only the rubber tires stay non printed for grip. The car uses rear wheel drive with an open differential, independent double wishbone suspension and double Cardan joints, and testing reports a top speed close to forty eight kilometres per hour with a standard three cell pack.
The project is fully documented as an open build. The Instructables guide explains the design and assembly, while the linked GitHub repository hosts STL and STEP models, a bill of materials, PCB layouts and firmware for the car and its remote.
Author: TRDB
Files: Instructables
Practical Notes for 3D Printed RC Cars
3D printed RC cars work best when the design, the material and the printing method match the way you plan to drive. Chassis and suspension parts need enough stiffness to hold geometry, gears and driveline parts need strength in the right directions, and bodies need a balance of detail and impact resistance. Thinking through these points before you print saves time later and reduces the risk of cracked arms or stripped teeth on the first serious run.
If you are planning a new RC project and want help choosing materials, layer settings or tolerances, our dedicated 3D printing service Boston can review your models and discuss options. The same approach applies whether you are nearby or working from elsewhere in the country, so you can focus on testing and driving while knowing that the printed parts match the demands of your track and your style of use.
