3D Flight Lab: The Printable Drone Gyro Transforming Flight Testing
Drone calibration and testing have long been a challenge for enthusiasts and professionals alike. The 3D Flight Lab Printable Drone Gyro is changing that, offering a cost-effective, customizable, and accessible solution for testing flight stability in a controlled environment.
Unlike traditional test rigs, 3D Flight Lab leverages carbon fiber PLA 3D printing, making it modular, user-friendly, and fully customizable. Whether you’re a hobbyist fine-tuning a personal project or a researcher developing next-gen flight platforms, this open-source solution removes the risks of real-world testing while allowing for precise calibration.
In this exclusive interview, Jesse Kloberdanz from 3D Flight Lab shares the inspiration behind their revolutionary test platform, how it empowers drone builders worldwide, and what’s next for automated flight-testing technology.
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The Inspiration Behind 3D Flight Lab
Michael (GizmoCrowd): Many drone enthusiasts struggle with safe and precise calibration. What inspired you to develop the 3D Flight Lab Printable Drone Gyro, and how does it revolutionize drone testing?
Jesse Kloberdanz: Great question. The inspiration behind 3D Flight Lab came directly from that challenge. As a company, we were focused on developing new drone platforms designed for specific tasks, beyond just flying for fun. During that process, we faced numerous costly crashes. When you’re building a flight platform from scratch, you need a safe and controlled environment for testing, something typically only available to well-funded companies or specialized labs.
As tech enthusiasts, we didn’t have access to that kind of infrastructure. After losing thousands of dollars in failed tests and spending countless hours fine-tuning and troubleshooting, we started looking for a safer, more efficient way to evaluate our drones’ performance without unnecessary risk.
Real flight testing can only happen in the field, but most of the time, we’re at our computers, solving problems and running simulations. Having to constantly move to a “safe” testing area was a time-consuming hassle, not to mention the unexpected failures that could happen there. We even found ourselves running late-night test flights just to check small adjustments, which disrupted our workflow.
All of this pushed us to create a more “user-friendly” solution for drone testing. It started as an in-house tool for our own workshop, but soon we realized it was something worth sharing with the world.
3D Printing & Customization
Michael: Unlike traditional test rigs, 3D Flight Lab is built with carbon fiber PLA 3D printing, making it customizable and accessible. How does this benefit both hobbyists and professionals?
Jesse Kloberdanz: The benefits are huge. Having immediate access to a test platform completely changes the development process. Nowadays, I’d say nearly every design studio, tech lab, university, and drone enthusiast has access to a 3D printer. That made it clear to us that 3D printing was the right manufacturing method for this project.
Of course, every production method has limitations, but in our case, the advantages far outweigh any downsides. Lower costs, fast production, instant accessibility, and ease of modification make this the best possible approach. If you look at it from that perspective, it’s all upside.
Safe Testing Across Yaw, Pitch & Roll
Michael: Testing drones manually can be risky and unpredictable. How does 3D Flight Lab’s full rotational freedom provide a safer and more controlled environment for drone calibration?
Jesse Kloberdanz: I can answer that with an example. A while back, a well-known drone software company released a feature called “hold position.” In theory, if set up correctly with the right hardware, the drone should remain steady in the air. But when it was first introduced, some drones shot up uncontrollably. The community even nicknamed it “rocket mode” (googled) because they would take off like missiles.
This kind of issue has led to the loss of countless drones, especially for those developing their own flight controllers. One wrong line of code, a small syntax mistake, and you’re done. We’ve learned this the hard way through broken fingers, shredded propellers, and a drawer full of destroyed parts.
With 3D Flight Lab, those risks are drastically reduced. Our system allows for critical testing without putting the drone or the person testing it in danger, creating a controlled and predictable environment for calibration.
Accessibility & Open-Source Innovation
Michael: The 3D Flight Lab V1.2 is designed for a global audience, allowing users to print and modify parts. How does this open-source, modular approach empower drone builders and makers?
Jesse Kloberdanz: We know how difficult and expensive it can be to access proper calibration and testing tools in different tech fields. There are countless talented designers, engineers, and developers working from home or small workshops who have the potential to make real advancements. But many of them are limited by the lack of access to proper testing platforms. 3D Flight Lab helps remove that barrier by letting anyone focus on innovation instead of worrying about how to get the right tools.
Our goal is to provide total freedom for users. We want anyone regardless of experience or budget to have access to a test platform that adapts to their needs.
The Future of Drone Testing Technology
Michael: With 3D Flight Lab V1.2 making drone calibration safer and more efficient, what’s next for your team? Are there plans to expand into additional flight-testing tools or automation solutions?
Jesse Kloberdanz: 3D Flight Lab V1.2 is just the beginning. Right now, we’re working on a new version we call “E.” This next iteration is based on even more advanced calibration methods, both physical and electronic. It will be a test platform equipped with multiple sensors, allowing for precise measurements not just for PID tuning, but also thrust testing, wind tunnel analysis.
One of the key aspects of this version is that it will integrate with its own software, creating a closed ecosystem while still maintaining an open-source spirit. We want this tool to go beyond static testing—it should also help users choose the right hardware, making informed decisions before even building their drones.
Additionally, we’re exploring ways to make the platform scalable for larger drones. Ultimately, our goal is to completely revolutionize the way drone testing and calibration are done.
Michael: Thank you to the 3D Flight Lab team for sharing this exciting innovation. It’s inspiring to see a solution that makes drone calibration safer, smarter, and more accessible. Wishing you great success as you continue to revolutionize drone testing!
3D Flight Lab Printable Drone Gyro V1.2 – a Kickstarter campaign by 3D Flight Lab
Drone calibration has long been a complex and risky process, but 3D Flight Lab is changing the game. By offering a fully printable, modular test rig, it removes barriers for hobbyists, engineers, and researchers alike.
With its open-source design, customizable framework, and next-gen automation solutions in development, 3D Flight Lab is paving the way for safer, smarter, and more efficient drone testing worldwide.
About 3D Flight Lab
3D Flight Lab is a pioneering drone technology company focused on accessible, open-source flight-testing solutions. By leveraging 3D printing and modular design, they aim to empower drone enthusiasts and professionals with safer, more precise calibration tools.
