My Best 3D Prints Part 2: Smartphone Camera Rig for Kids
Today, as part of my article series “My Best 3D Prints with the Bambu Lab X1C,” I’m introducing another useful model: a practical smartphone camera rig, perfectly suited for helping kids learn how to film in a fun yet professional way. This model ensures that even younger aspiring filmmakers can hold their smartphone steady and shoot stable videos.
The Model: Smartphone Camera Rig
The smartphone camera rig I found on Printables.com stands out thanks to its simple construction and clever functionality. It is specifically designed to hold smartphones securely and, with its ergonomic shape, offers an excellent way to capture smooth, shake-free video footage.
Smartphone Camera Rig
Why a Camera Rig Is Especially Useful for Kids
If you’ve ever watched young children filming, you know the problem well: the smartphone easily gets shaky or slips from their small hands. That’s exactly where this camera rig helps. The large, easy-to-hold grips give kids a much better handle on the smartphone, resulting in noticeably steadier video footage. This increases their enjoyment of filming and gives them the feeling of being real little pros.
If you don’t have a 3D printer yourself and would like to have an active stabilizer while filming with a smartphone, I recommend using a smartphone gimbal like the one below.
Here’s a slightly more advanced model:
Print Details & Experience with the Bambu Lab X1C
- Printer: Bambu Lab X1C
- Material: PLA
- Layer height: 0.2 mm
- Infill: 20%
- Print time: approx. 5 hours
As with previous projects, the Bambu Lab X1C once again delivered excellent results. All parts were printed cleanly and with perfect accuracy. Assembly was super easy, without needing any modifications or post-processing. I especially like that the smartphone holder is secure yet easy to operate.
Bright Colors for Even More Fun
Another great feature of the camera rig is the ability to print it in bright, fun colors. Kids love choosing their favorite color – or even combining several! I printed ours in bold blue with orange accents – a cheerful combo that instantly won my children over. This not only makes the rig visually appealing but also encourages curiosity and enthusiasm for tech.
Hands-On Test: Kids Learn to Film Through Play
The real-world test with the smartphone rig was a complete success. My kids were immediately excited and were able to record noticeably smoother, better videos right away. Handling was intuitive, and the two large grips made camera control much easier. Even younger children felt confident and proud to shoot their own little films.
Another benefit: thanks to its sturdy PLA construction, the rig has no sharp edges and feels great in small hands. For extra durability, you could print it in PETG or ABS, but PLA is more than sufficient based on my experience.
My Personal Conclusion
The smartphone camera rig is definitely one of my favorite prints with the Bambu Lab X1C. It’s not only practical and functional but also a fantastic way to introduce kids to technology and media in a fun, hands-on way. I highly recommend this model to all parents, teachers, or tech-savvy families who want to create cool videos together with their children.
In this article series, I’ll continue to showcase useful and outstanding 3D prints. If you have ideas, suggestions, or questions, feel free to share them in the comments!
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