For humans, life is in the eyes. Same deal with automatons. The more realistic the eyes, the more lifelike (and potentially disturbing) the automaton is. [lkkalebob] knows this. [lkkalebob] is so dedicated to ocular realism in his ultra-real eyeballs that he’s perfected a way to make the minuscule veins from a whisper of cotton thread.
First he prints an eyeball blank out of ABS. Why ABS, you ask? It has a semi-translucence that makes it look that much more real. Also, it’s easier to sand than PLA. After vigorous sanding, it’s time to paint the iris and the apply the veins. [lkkalebob] shaves strands of lint from red cotton thread and applies it with tweezers to smears of super glue.
Here comes our favorite part. To make the whole process easier, [lkkalebob] designed a jig system that takes the eyeballs all the way through the stages of fabrication and into the sockets of the automaton. The hollow eye cups pressure fit on to prongs that hold it in place. This also gives the eyeball a shaft that can be chucked into a drill for easy airbrushing. In the build video after the break, he uses the eye-jig to cast a silicone mold, which he then uses to seal the eyes in resin.
Don’t have a printer or any desire to make human automata? It doesn’t take much to make mesmerizing mechanisms.
That username really threw me off because I was just thinking this looks exactly like what Will Cogley presented a week or two ago – Turns out it’s the same person!
What about anime eyes for AI-powered, robotic waifu dolls?
Waifu?
I had to look that up.
Ugh! Silly otaku!
Sure, Anime can be cute but don’t you know that real people make better friends, better lovers and better meals!
You’re correct, real people do taste better!
What would it take to embed a tiny camera behind the iris?
This is a great clip from How it’s Made that can give some design ideas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0_0nyHRLL4
Just what I was thinking of… They even use the threads for capillaries!
If 2.0 adds the ability to make them dilate… we are truly in Bladerunner territory.
Fine threads for capillaries.
Genius!
This is interesting, but has anyone heard of a guy named Bill Masters? I read an article on OZY about how Masters developed the first 3D printing patent – then lost it. Anyone know anything about this? Here it is for reference: http://www.ozy.com/flashback/and-he-could-have-been-the-father-of-3d-printing/81198#.WeXu6REalHI.twitter