A drone printed using 3D printing technology takes to the skies.

Posted by FIT THAI on January 28, 2026

Mathieu Johnsson, an aerospace engineer, has a very ambitious goal – to develop a turn-key, commercially available unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for 2D and 3D mapping. He, along with four other engineers, founded a startup called Marble , which aims to deliver high-performance, cutting-edge drones. A camera mounted on the underside of the drone will allow UK customers to quickly create customizable, high-resolution maps in real-world settings.

With his high-resolution Form 1+ 3D printer, Mathieu and his team can quickly test, verify new ideas, and create prototypes.
“No matter what we design, we can produce it in just a few hours with the Form 1+,” said Mathieu.
"This allows designers to try out unconventional or risky ideas without spending hours on initial analysis."

For example, Marble printed small prototypes of their designs before creating the final model for review with potential customers.

Marble Aero has printed numerous custom-made parts for their drones, including engine housings, winglets, and even miniature models to help them visualize the final product more clearly.

As the development process progressed, parts became more specialized. Their first design, the Marble MRB-1, featured numerous custom components, including flush mounting screws, wingtips with internal reinforcement, and engine mounts designed to reduce weight while maintaining strength.

The MRB-1 features detachable wings and a composite fuselage, allowing it to remain airborne for longer periods than quadcopter drones while remaining easily disassembled for transport.

Marble innovates by employing a blended wing design, crucial for aerodynamic and structural performance. This is achieved by combining composite materials with 3D-printed parts using stereolithography (SLA) technology. By integrating advanced aerodynamic design with these manufacturing techniques, the team was able to reduce air resistance and increase flight time. This results in a more efficient drone for mapping tasks, as longer flight times allow for greater area coverage.

Having a tool like Form 1+ helps Mathieu efficiently improve his prototyping process.
"Now we can produce interchangeable modules with geometric precision without the need for molds."
The team was also able to work quickly, taking just four weeks from a blank sheet of paper to a fully functional, flightable prototype. And the team continues to develop the design, producing several test models to further refine the aircraft's design.

Marble drone wings 3D printed with a Form 1 printer.
Inside Marble's workshop, reinforced wings printed with Form 1+ are mounted onto a molded foam fuselage, with the internal bracing visible through the thin walls of the piece.

Modular Pitot tube for Marble drone.
The modular Pitot tube design allows the Marble team to quickly replace different parts.

Beyond prototyping, Form 1+ enables Marble to manufacture complex jigs and accessories in small batches, reducing the cost of expensive tooling.

“It gives us the opportunity to produce small quantities of entry-level products to sell to customers before we decide on manufacturing methods suitable for larger-scale production. In fact, for most components, we may not be able to produce them any other way if we don't want to compromise on weight or functionality.”

Want to see a prototype of Marble with your own eyes? Come see the model on display at the Spacetech Expo , May 19–21, at the Long Beach Convention Center.