Animatronic Eye

thingiverse

A cutting-edge 3D printed animatronic eye harnesses the power of Arduino. The eyeball can move fluidly from left to right, a feat achieved without any up-and-down motion. The eyelid can open and close with ease, showcasing a variant inspired by the pioneering work at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:319978. However, I have reimagined the mechanism entirely to create a more streamlined construction. Gone are the levers; instead, the moving eyeball and eyelid are directly attached to the servo's. This innovative design eliminates the need for additional mechanisms or levers altogether. Eyeballs and eyelids are primed with precision, then coated in a layer of filler. After two coats of filler and meticulous sanding, they will be perfectly smooth. Ready to be painted with brush or airbrush, or even applied using a rattle can for a seamless finish. A servo horn is carefully cut and glued into the axles, while both axles are securely attached to the Tower Pro SG90 servos using a screw typically used for mounting. These screws provide a better fit for this application, making it easier to assemble the eye. However, users should be prepared for an abundance of sanding and fiddling to ensure everything fits together seamlessly. This project also involves Arduino code, although it serves as more than just a reference point for the eye itself. The code is actually part of a larger system, where the eye is integrated into a 'secret box' that can only be opened with an NFC card. When knocked on, a sensor triggers and the eye opens, scanning its surroundings. Therefore, this code should not be altered; instead, users are encouraged to learn Arduino programming for themselves. A detailed demonstration of this innovative project can be found at https://youtu.be/KJej4KMdsuY