14 DAY TRIAL // Google may have copyrighted its Google Glass augmented reality headset and the actual name, but for now the company has to live with people referring to all augmented reality headsets as a “Google Glass.”
That said, one such “Google Glass” has been 3D printed. In fact, a guide to 3D print your own headset has been posted on the Adafruit website, and there's even a video you can watch to learn to do it, which we included below.
The Adafruit member who put together the 3D printing and assembly guide goes by the name of Noe Ruiz, although he did take care not to refer to the device as a “Google Glass.” Instead, he selected the trademark-safe “DIY Wearable Pi with Near-Eye Video Glasses” moniker.
The 3D printed augmented reality headset
It's more of a mount-on monocle really, which you are supposed to attach to whatever glasses you own or to a normal clear-lens frame.
You may or may not be surprised to learn that the basis of the device is none other than the Raspberry Pi mini PC, which we've been closely following ever since its first emergence back in 2011.
In addition to the Pi, Ruiz also used a Miniature Wireless USB Keyboard with Touchpad and NTSC/PAL Video Glasses (which are actually the only hardware you use in the DIY eyewear device itself).
First you disassemble the video glasses, then remove the video display, power circuits, and video processing components, including the audio input jacks and USB port.
Then you use a 3D printer to produce an enclosure for the display. Once you've done that and extended the wires of the display circuits, you can assemble everything into a device that can be attached to a pair of glasses.
You'll have to modify the CAD files to fit your own frames though, since Ruiz' walkthrough has them fit for his.
The cost
The project will set you back by less than buying a Google Glass would, and you still get the ability to connect the display to AV composite cables and, thus, any device like the Raspberry Pi itself or some other display interface.
In case you don't know, the Google Glass has a price of around $1,500 - $2,000 / €1,162 - €1,549. Getting all the components mentioned above individually will cost a lot less, though it somewhat depends on where you are and what prices retailers demand for them.
