This week’s selection is the creepy Animatronic Eyeball by Enza3D.
This could be the creepiest Design of the Week yet, as this eyeball can look at you from its disembodied perch.
Enza3D is a small two-person maker venture run by two engineers. Their launch involved heavy use of 3D printing via 3D Hubs (Now Hubs / Protolabs). They explain:
“Enza3D was founded in the summer of 2016, as a simple way to make some extra income on 3D Hubs while in grad school. It has since grown into so much more than that (both physically and metaphorically), as we’ve grown along with it.”
They explained the eyeball project:
“Who doesn’t love a creepy little eyeball following you around? This will be the base build of some upcoming props we’ll be releasing, and was designed to serve as a starting platform for your wildest ideas! This was also designed to be really accessible, and can be made using only a 3D printer and electronics sourced easily online! It can be printed using either FDM or resin printers.”
The company provided a very detailed seven minute video explaining the entire process to develop the creepy eyeball:
As you’ll see in the video the majority of the work here is electronic, rather than 3D printing. Enza3D describes the process of identifying the electronic and electromechanical components used in the design, as well as a quick overview of the software code developed to run the eyeball.
There is also a 14 minute video showing the detailed assembly instructions:
Operation of the eyeball is done via a Nunchuck controller: you can shift the eyeball’s gaze left or right, as well as cause a blink.
I’m imagining how this could be either fun or disastrous at parties.
There are eleven carefully designed 3D printed parts involved in this project. Enza3D apparently used Autodesk Fusion 360 to create their designs.
The files for this project are available at MyMiniFactory for the ridiculously low cost of US$10.
This project might not be for everyone, but it is nevertheless a really interesting — and creepy — 3D print project.
Via MyMiniFactory and Enza3D
