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Build 3D printed animated eyes with an ESP32

Build a desk buddy for under $20: open Slab eyes on PrintPal Projects, buy the linked ESP32 screen, print the case and flash the board from your browser. The eyes blink, react to pokes and change style.

Tutorials Beginner 0:21 7 views Nov 02, 2026
#animated eyes #esp32 projects #desk buddy #esp32-c6 #arduino projects #diy electronics #robot eyes #3dprinting #esp32 #arduino #electronics #diyprojects

About this video

A desk buddy that watches you work

Slab eyes is a pair of animated cartoon eyes in a small 3D printed case. They glance around, blink, wink and get sleepy when nobody plays with them. Everything you need is in the free Slab eyes guide on PrintPal.

Steps

  1. Go to PrintPal Projects and open Slab eyes.
  2. Buy the linked Waveshare ESP32-C6-LCD-1.47 screen (about $18 total build cost).
  3. Print the two case parts. It takes about 10 g of PLA, with no supports.
  4. Press the board into the frame and snap on the back lid.
  5. Plug in a USB-C data cable and click Flash to board in Chrome or Edge. The eyes appear within seconds.

Interact with it

  • Short press on BOOT: poke it. It jumps, looks surprised, then smiles.
  • Long press: change its style. There are nine looks, from glowstick green to ghost.
  • Upload your own code: the Arduino source is in the guide, so you can change colors, moods and blink timing.

Why it's a great first project

No soldering, no wiring and no software to install. The guide also teaches real coding ideas: game loops, screen coordinates and random timers. That makes it a good STEM project for kids. Watch the full desk buddy walkthrough for more detail.

FAQ

Does it have a camera?
No. The eyes "come alive" using timers and random numbers.

Can I reuse the screen?
Yes. The same board runs the Lucky slab slot machine and the Desk command slab.

Full Transcript

Here is how to build a desk buddy. Under $20, go to PrintPal and in the projects, click on slab eyes. Buy the ESP32 screen that is linked and print the included files. Flash the board straight from the browser and the eyes should appear. You can interact with him and change his style or even upload your code. Try it out on PrintPal.