After losing my camera on a bus, I made this hidden AirTag mount for $0.51 so it couldn't happen again

Published Sep 29, 2026, 11:00 AM EDT Patrick Campanale has been in the tech space for well over a decade, specializing in PC/gaming news and reviews, as well as maker-focused products to build small businesses. With a start in technology back in 2010 surrounding the Palm/webOS ecosystem, Patrick spent his formative years developing mobile applications as well as blogging for various publications, eventually leading to starting his own website in 2014. After running a technology blog for a few years, he stepped out of that role and into the world of high-end custom PC manufacturing and building, with a focus on YouTube video production and overclocking. Then, in 2017, Patrick joined the 9to5Toys team as an editor/writer/reviewer with over 14,000 articles being published during his time there, ranging from deals and roundups to in-depth reviews on the latest technology, video games, 3D printers, and more. In his free time, Patrick loves to create projects from wood using various robots and methods, including leveraging the technologies of CNCs and lasers. If Patrick isn't working on a computer or playing video games, he's likely in his 2-car garage workshop creating something unique. In addition to all this, Patrick is also the media director at his local church where he feels God has called him to serve, and he loves every minute of it. One time when I was on a work trip years ago, I left my camera on a bus and never saw it again. I have since decided that would never happen again, so I 3D printed an invisible AirTag lens cap that simply attaches to my camera so I never have to worry about losing it ever again. Here's how I'm planning to keep my camera secure, and some other options you could consider if you don't want to use a 3D-printed lens cap. 3D printing lets me make things that otherwise wouldn't exist Sometimes a product doesn't exist because there's just not enough demand for it I absolutely love 3D printing because it enables me to make just about anything. For instance, a lens cap specifically designed for my Sony camera that can house an AirTag (or anything else). The thing is, without 3D printing, something like this would be expensive, if it were available at all. It's just not a high-demand item, and making things for mass production typically requires injection molding, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars to make a single mold. Instead, I was able to find a design that already existed online and just 3D print it. If there was no suitable design, then I could have designed it myself with free CAD (computer-aided design) tools and 3D printed it. That's probably my favorite part of 3D printing — being able to create something that otherwise wouldn't exist. An hour and $0.51 is all it took to make my camera secure The lens cap fits fantastically Once I found the model that I wanted to use, I loaded it up in Bambu Studio on my Mac and sliced it. Using Bambu's PLA Pure filament and default filament profiles, I was able to print the two-piece lens cap in under an hour. I printed it by object so I could use two colors without having to print it layer-by-layer or wait for one print to finish before starting the next. But if you printed both pieces in the same color, it could save a few minutes. Using Bambu PLA Pure, this print cost me $0.51 in total to make. That's using $21.99 per kg for the filament cost, so you could definitely get that cost down if you used something like SUNLU's PLA+ 2.0 that I love using. I used the supports that are built into the print profile for this project, and they removed easily. It was a bit tough to do the initial screw-in, but it definitely is tight and won't be coming apart. The best part is a thief wouldn't know that an AirTag was stored in the lens cap. It just looks like a third-party replacement lens cap that nobody would think anything about. I printed mine in white because that's the filament I had loaded in the printer, but it's also the aesthetic that I wanted from the project. The great part about 3D printing is you could make it whatever color you wanted, or even embed the Sony logo to make it look a bit more official. There are so many other options out there Camera rig battery covers, clips, and more If you don't want a lens cap to house the AirTag, or if you don't own a Sony camera, don't worry — there are a lot of other options out there! For instance, those with a Nikon Z30 could 3D print this adapter that goes over the battery compartment and hides an AirTag there. The same type of adapter exists for the Sony a6700 to hide an AirTag in the battery compartment of a cage. There's also a unique little box that screws to the bottom of any camera via a 1/4-20 bolt which houses an AirTag. Really, the options are endless here. You can find models for most major cameras, and if you can't find one, you could just design your own. At the end of the day, keeping your camera safe from being stolen is extremely important, and 3D printing allows you to do just that without spending an arm and a leg on a custom piece on Amazon. Bambu Lab X2D Combo Brand Bambu Lab Build Volume 256 × 256 × 260 mm Printing Accuracy 50 μm with optional Vision Encoder Connectivity Dual-band Wi-Fi Heated Build Plate Yes Feed Type Direct drive (main) and Bowden (auxiliary) The Bambu Lab X2D Combo is a mid-range 3D printer with dual-nozzle 3D printing for faster print speeds and better support printing. The nozzle reaches 300°C while the actively-heated chamber hits 65°C which is perfect for engineering-grade filaments. The printer comes with Bambu Lab's signature ease of use, AI fail detection, and has a maximum print volume of 256 × 256 × 260 mm. The combo package comes with the AMS2 multi-material system and filament dryer. Bambu Lab P2S Build Volume 256x256x256mm Printing Speed 600mm/s Brand Bambu Lab Max Hot End Temp 300C Max Bed Temp 110C Nozzle Hardened 0.4mm The Bambu Labs P2S 3D printer is ready to go out of the box and can have you printing within 15 minutes. It features up to 20-color printing with the AMS unit, has an upgraded built-in camera for remote monitoring and time lapses, and has an enclosed body for printing even high-temperature filament. 3D printing is the best photography upgrade you never considered 3D printing enables so much for photographers that you might never have considered. For instance, did you know you could 3D print a full cage for your camera? Or that you could make a custom mount for your lenses to attach to a SKÅDIS board from IKEA? If you haven't picked up a 3D printer for your photography setup yet, you definitely should. It'll change the game for how you organize and use your photography gear.