They change pixel color according to the temperature of the particles being shot

Apr 25, 2014 12:59 GMT  ·  By

Pistols and magnifying glasses might not be the first thing you think about when considering the matter of 3D printing technology, but that's exactly what Adafruit created, or at least emulated, shape-wise.

See the picture up there? That's not actually a weird kitchen installation the type you think Katy Perry might have at home, even if it does show a great deal of purple and pink.

No, that's actually a heatmap photograph taken with a pistol. Or a magnifying glass. Or both, since it's always fun to combine data for more complete results after an analysis.

Granted, Adafruit's inventions aren't actually a pistol and a magnifying glass. They're only shaped that way. And, okay, the pistol has a trigger and everything.

They don't shoot any projectiles though. Instead, they have certain circuits that can point and view the heat radiating from anything within the field of view.

So, you don't just have to snap a picture and hope for the best. You can actually search around for the best perspective snapshot of what would normally be invisible to the naked eye.

The ray gun, so to speak, is made of 10 3D printed parts that are “optimized” for the MakerBot Replicator 2. You should be able to use any other 3D printer though.

The magnifying glass, or light handle as it is otherwise dubbed, is composed of four parts. Because of that, it can be printed in 4-5 hours instead of 12.

Adafruit has published the instructions for how to create both devices, as well as what circuits to use along them and how to combine them once you have everything.

If you're not into electronics and engineering though, you might find it all too troublesome. It's not too difficult with all the instructions laid out, but it could be a bit tedious.

After all, the devices need you to layer and connect resistors, a slide switch adapter, a battery power button, etc. The gun is especially reliant on wires.

The result should be worth it though. So if you're a tinker, you might get some pretty good points at your next science project.

The most interesting thing about the new temperature-mapping 3D printed devices is that they don't just use an image sensor, but a whole circle to shoot an image, a heatmap as it were. The cost of making such an object, however, is a bit troublesome to estimate, because the prices of the individual parts aren't the same everywhere.