Easy custom Eyes!

Technician · Post by **Technician** » Mon Jun 05, 2023 8:54 am

I got some eyes from PandaHall on Amazon, and was doing my poseable eye mod to them when I realized they were different construction from other eyes!

Normally they are a transparent inner and outer orb made of plastic, with the visible parts sandwiched between, but the PandaHall eyes are a Silicone back!

The last few weeks I've been looking for some very light blue eyes for Bubbles and haven't had much luck so having access to the iris was immediately exciting to me.

I grabbed another one and pryed the silicone back out with ease (there is a little lip to get under).

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Beyond the clear silicone is a layer of white glue of sorts, nothing seemed to thin or remove it so I left it in place. Having failed at removing the white layer I decided on the prototype to use an endmill, by hand to cut through the white layer right behind the iris, not a stellar choice, looking back because it didn't cut clean. In the future I want to try sharpening a piece of 1/2" tubing to make a cutter (unless somebody suggests a better tool). The iris and pupil came right out with a little pick.

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From there I simply printed out an iris and pupil I liked (13 mm or 150px in Gimp) and put it in. The novelty faded when I realized the new one didn't seal the same as the original and was not viewable at an angle, grrr! So I cleaned the lens well with alcohol and a Q-Tip, and dropped a couple drops of alcohol in the seal it, and viola! A near perfect eye! Not bad for as clumsily done as it was.

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And my blue eye is as viewable as the original at an angle!

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So now I need to do a set with a nicer cutting tool, and do a nicer job with cutting out the new image, and I'll have whatever eyes I want! Using highly evaporative alcohol to seal the image to the lens might not be the best long term solution so I think a drop or two of mineral oil will be the solution for the next ones.

Those of you who are also into tech, like me, are probably already realizing the possibility of putting cameras or other sensors in a hollow pupil, I'm curious how the molded lens would hurt / benefit those things.

Technician · Post by **Technician** » Mon Jun 05, 2023 11:09 am

Just ordered a set of leather punches, won't be here for over a week.

Socratus · Post by **Socratus** » Mon Jun 05, 2023 4:38 pm

Technician wrote: ↑Mon Jun 05, 2023 8:54 am I got some eyes from ....

I have a spare pair of eyes that are the wrong color collecting dust. Thanks!

Technician · Post by **Technician** » Tue Jun 06, 2023 4:15 am

Socratus wrote: ↑Mon Jun 05, 2023 4:38 pm
Technician wrote: ↑Mon Jun 05, 2023 8:54 am I got some eyes from ....
I have a spare pair of eyes that are the wrong color collecting dust. Thanks!

Most eyes are a plastic back and can't be opened so easily. I suppose if one were determined and careful they could cut a 13 mm hole right down the middle and access the iris. Then maybe seal the backup with silicone.
The novelty item in this thread is the PandaHall eyes with the easy to remove silicone back

Technician · Post by **Technician** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:07 am

My leather punch set came in and of course they were too dull, so I spent a considerable amount of time sharpening the ones I needed only to find that they made a terrible hole.
But then I remembered I had that superpower now, CAD!
So I just made the perfect cutter for it in CAD and printed it out with my 3D printer.

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My new cutter made a perfect hole, I'm sure that even without a 3D printer one could manage to cut a 13 mm hole through latex caulking with something. Anyone wanting my 3mf files for the cutter just message me.

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One thing that caught me off guard, my very nice laser printer would not print the light blue the way that I wanted it to. So I actually had to print these with an inkjet printer. They came out perfect, photo editing and color correction we're done in the Gimp.

Then I hopped into Cad and I made a little plug for behind the image.

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Shown in this picture, the two eyes on the left were cut out with my new cutter. The two eyes on the right were cut out with that stupid leather hole cutter thing. It's absolutely noticeable which one made a cleaner cut.

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I may experiment some more in the Gimp and make some more eyes. In fact I know I will, but I think Bubbles looks fantastic with her new ice blue eyes.

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Now I need to get better at doing eyebrows, maybe somebody will do a thread on it!!

NoFrillsmoreFrills · Post by **NoFrillsmoreFrills** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 11:48 am

damn good work, I look forward to seeing what you make of it

NFmF

Technician · Post by **Technician** » Fri Jun 23, 2023 5:45 pm

Eyes that light are not visible in low light. In the middle of the night last night I turned to face Bubbles and her eyes were all white.
Just a little shocking.

JohnGold · Post by **JohnGold** » Mon Jul 24, 2023 12:50 pm

Technician wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:07 am But then I remembered I had that superpower now, CAD!
So I just made the perfect cutter for it in CAD and printed it out with my 3D printer.

IMG_20230623_013924_324.jpg

My new cutter made a perfect hole, I'm sure that even without a 3D printer one could manage to cut a 13 mm hole through latex caulking with something. Anyone wanting my 3mf files for the cutter just message me.
IMG_20230623_013900_533.jpg
IMG_20230623_021958_288.jpg
IMG_20230623_021946_179.jpg

Hello.
That's an awsome idea to modify the PadaHall eyes, will try that for myself.
Which material did you print your cutter? Is it just made out of plastic or do you put in some blade in or something?
Best greetings.

Technician · Post by **Technician** » Wed Jul 26, 2023 2:38 pm

JohnGold wrote: ↑Mon Jul 24, 2023 12:50 pm
Technician wrote: ↑Fri Jun 23, 2023 3:07 am But then I remembered I had that superpower now, CAD!
So I just made the perfect cutter for it in CAD and printed it out with my 3D printer.

IMG_20230623_013924_324.jpg

My new cutter made a perfect hole, I'm sure that even without a 3D printer one could manage to cut a 13 mm hole through latex caulking with something. Anyone wanting my 3mf files for the cutter just message me.
IMG_20230623_013900_533.jpg
IMG_20230623_021958_288.jpg
IMG_20230623_021946_179.jpg
Hello.
That's an awsome idea to modify the PadaHall eyes, will try that for myself.
Which material did you print your cutter? Is it just made out of plastic or do you put in some blade in or something?
Best greetings.

Thank You, I made my cutter from PLA, but I just got some PETG in so I will make more from PETG and see if they can last a little linger, I get about 1 pair cut before the PLA is too dull. If you want my 3mf files PM me and I can Email them to you.

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timetraveler1 · Post by **timetraveler1** » Thu Aug 17, 2023 12:49 pm

i would say to use some off white so the eyes don't look so bright and glowing . also if you wanted to for more realism you could add veins in the eyes . others wise a good job on creating them . the camera in the pupil is a cool idea to.