How to Make a Compact Animatronic Eye Mechanism with 3D Printing and Arduino

This project is an upgraded version of my previous design, a highly compact and robust animatronic eye mechanism which uses 3D printed components and an Arduino microcontroller. If you are able to get hold of servo ball-links and pushrods, and are reasonably competent with 3D printing, this is the eye mechanism project I'd recommend most!

My Setup/Recommendations:

- Around *40** *M2 x 6mm* screws
- *6* 10mm M2* screws
- Hobby Components
- Electronics

[DanielHernandez-eyvl]

every time i see you make something new or make a previous creation better, it inspires me to try to make my own creations as good as a can and that there always is a better way to do something than the way i am doing it already. keep doing great things.

[Zlopez]

Thank you for putting together this amazing tutorial.

[travissmith]

This is absolutely fantastic! It's great to see intricate and compact contraptions like this!

[joneken]

Thank you so much for sharing! Ever since your first DIY eye mechanism 2 years back I really enjoyed your make and design. And now this version! And the most realistic diy eyes on youtube. It will be a fun challenge to make this!

[JorgeJimenez]

I made it! Used an Arduino Nano. SDA and SCL are on A4 and A5.

[veisystems]

@11:00 I lightly heat screws (by touching a soldering iron against it), then thread screws into it, and it makes great threads without cracking the part

[Sharkerp]

Excellent design, just finished my prints and am starting assembly!

[yoashuain]

I love this design. Easy to convey a more Animatronic design by replacing lids with wire to connect to silicone exterior shell. Well done mate!😁😁😁😁😁

[moonlighttech]

I want to build your eye mechanism for my robot! Seems I should view all of your videos! Your creative talents are obvious, your skills speak for themselves! Thank you for your selfless contributions! Subscription was a no brainer, I’m in!

[EvanWhitaker]

Thanks for sharing this project! I have been wanting to build it since it first came to my attention a couple of years ago. It turned out great! I am anxious to try some of your other projects.

[patrickfox-roberts]

Works great - I have it in a pumpkin just now - spooky like you wouldn't believe :)

[schrotti]

Thank you very much, Will. I bought the previous Animatic Eye. I changed the design a little bit. But when I saw this video, I intend to built this one here. Thank you again.

[RevvyTeva]

I'm tempted to try and modify this design to make it work for costuming, with eye tracking or a controller, depending on what ends up being plausible. Really brilliant design! I'm looking forward to the controller and being inspired by all your future videos!

[Rancrom]

Awesome video! Thanks so much for being so thorough with your instructions. I really want to get into mechatronics and I think this will help a lot!

[markgreco]

THANK YOU!!!! Can’t wait for the controller. Everyone loves the eyes I made from the last video.

[davidholmgren]

Wonderful engineering. A very well designed apparatus.

[angelgonzalezclariot]

Try to make a eye tracking mechanism, with cameras integred inside each eyeball

[lycankid]

I've made this design. I love all of jt. I'm having an issue tho. The upper lids work with the blink and the up and down movement. Won't move with the potentiometer squint though. I'm possitive it's in the control but can't figure it out

[Waltkat]

Very nice design, but the next iteration of this design should be the separation of movement between the two eye balls and lids to allow for a much wider variety of eye movements such as winking and going cross-eyed. One of my favorites things to creep people out is to look left then cross-eyed then right and back the other way.

[THEOGGUNSHOW]

Great maker video and in-depth explanation. Those eyeballs are very realistic 👌