To film my sessions around the ocean, I regularly use a GoPro in a waterproof case.
The problem is that depending on the mount used, the camera isn’t always oriented the way I want. I needed a simple way to mount my GoPro vertically, mainly to make it easier to produce videos suited for social media.
Rather than buying a new adapter, I decided to design my own and 3D print it.
A simple mount for filming vertically
The goal was deliberately simple:
build a compact adapter that mounts a GoPro waterproof case vertically onto a standard mount.
The mount is an angled piece that sits between the mounting system and the camera’s case.
The purple part in the photo is the one I 3D printed. It has two mounting interfaces:
- one side for the mount itself;
- one side for the GoPro waterproof case.
The assembly stays fully removable and uses the standard GoPro screw hardware.
To secure the case, I also use a 5 mm nut, seated directly in the housing designed for it on the part.
Why film vertically?
Most action cameras are naturally used in landscape format.
But a large part of the content I publish today is meant for:
- Instagram Reels;
- TikTok;
- YouTube Shorts.
Being able to position the camera vertically from the start means filming in the right format from the get-go, without having to heavily crop a landscape video in editing.
It also keeps more resolution and makes it easier to frame the subject while filming.
The case I use
I currently use a FitStill waterproof case for GoPro Hero.
The mount was designed around this specific case, but the principle is simple enough to adapt to other housings or mounting systems.
The goal wasn’t to design a complex part, but rather a small accessory that’s easy to print, replace or modify as needed.
3D printing
For this prototype, I used the following settings:
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Printer | Creality CR-10 Smart Pro |
| Material | PETG |
| Layer height | 0.20 to 0.25 mm |
| Infill | 20% |
| Supports | No |
| Raft | No |
I picked PETG because it suits this kind of accessory well, being used regularly near water.
For a part used outdoors, it’s also better to avoid a material that’s too sensitive to heat or mechanical stress.
From prototype to field test
Once printed, the part could be mounted directly with the waterproof case and the mounting system.
The first goal was simply to check:
- that the camera was held securely;
- that the vertical orientation was stable;
- that the mount didn’t get in the way of using the case;
- that the part held up to handling and vibration.
The result is a very simple adapter, but one that does exactly what it was meant to do.
And that’s also what I like about 3D printing:
spot a small problem, design a part, print it, then test it directly in the field.
Video
Download the model
The model is available for free on Thingiverse. It just needs a 5 mm nut to properly secure the case onto the mount.
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:7412788
More Black Anchor designs are available on my Thingiverse profile:
https://www.thingiverse.com/blackanchor_974/designs
Conclusion
Not every Black Anchor project needs to involve building an autonomous robot or training an AI model.
Sometimes a small 3D printed part is enough to improve a piece of gear you use all the time.
This vertical GoPro mount is a good example: a few grams of PETG, a simple idea, and a part you can actually use on your next session.
More versions will probably come as testing continues.
Build. Ride. Explore.