3D-Printed Bionic Eye

by Bill Earl

published October 13, 2014, last edited January 22, 2025

Beginner

Project guide

Assemble the Eye Mechanism

These little servos have some variability in response from sample to sample. Since the tilt servo will have a limited range of motion, you may need to adjust either the physical orientation or the code to keep it operating within that range. The steps below should get you pretty close.

Use a servo horn to turn the shaft of the tilt servo fully counter-clockwise.

Slide the servo into the eyeball and align the shaft with the hole.

Position the motor assembly so that it is fully clockwise inside the eyeball and press the shaft into the hole.

Insert one of the longer screws into the hole from the outside and tighten it into the shaft.

Arrange the wires around the servo to avoid snags when turning.

Feed the wires through the slot in the eye-cup insert and align the other servo shaft with the hole.

Insert another long screw through the back of the eye-cup insert and tighten.

Note: The holes are sized for a friction fit, but printer tolerances will vary. If the shafts are loose, add a drop of glue to the servo shafts to keep them in place.

Page last edited October 11, 2014