3D Printed optical illusion
I remember seeing a rendering of an optical illusion of a straight pole going through a curved hole and so I will be attempting to make this real with electronics such as a geared DC motor, and my 3D printer
Created by
The Geek
Tier 4
16 views
0 followers
m0.hid ⚡
approved 3D Printed optical illusion ago
Tickets awarded: 85 tickets
Tier: 4
Nice work on this, I love the illusion you made!
alexren ⚡🚀
submitted 3D Printed optical illusion for ship review ago
The Geek
submitted 3D Printed optical illusion for ship review ago
Iamalive 🚀
requested changes for 3D Printed optical illusion ago
Not sure why this was back in review queue lol, but can you just specify if this is being submitted just for tickets in the not to reviewer? Thanks!
The Geek
submitted 3D Printed optical illusion for ship review ago
The Geek
added to the journal ago
Changes
Took an extra photo of the product - from a better angle, and made the other changes suggested. I think all the links are good but to be honest I just used stuff I had round the house like the battery and the 6mm 113mm rods but the links should get you similar items of the same specs.
1mon ⚡
requested changes for 3D Printed optical illusion ago
really trippy illusion! ive always found these really neat lol. there are a couple things i need to point out with your repo before I can feel confident approving this project. first, please make sure to have a BOM.csv in your repo that includes the items you need to buy for the project as well as prices, quantities, and links. lastly, you should also add an image to your readme of the complete assembled model IRL. this helps others see what you made! if i were you id add the video link as well, its really cool. nice job!
Tier: 4
Tanuki ⚡🚀
submitted 3D Printed optical illusion for ship review ago
The Geek
submitted 3D Printed optical illusion for ship review ago
The Geek
added to the journal ago
Finishing
Next I finished up the prints and plastic welded them together. I plastic welded the upright flap section into the coupling.
After this I fitted the bottom of this coupling with a bearing for smoother movement.
After this I created a makeshift heated insert for the screws to reduce the chances of the print delaminating due to the threads on the screw. To do this I ensured the hex insert hole had no tolerances so that as the plastic cools around the hot nut it becomes tight. 
Next, I painted the parts and put the second 6mm rod into the printed hole.
After this I decided to add some decoration around the outside with some plastic screw rivets painted silver.
Finally, I Soldered and glued in the electronic components.
And Now it is done!!!!
The Geek
added to the journal ago
Printing and remodeling
I have now printed and reprinted the parts.
First things first, I printed out the parts I created and cleaned them up. this went well though the raft I used was properly stuck to the two large flat part so that took ages to remove. After this I test fitted the electronics and they all fitted well aside from the 9V battery which was slightly too large.
Because of this, I remodeled and printed the cup section and cleaned up that print too.
This is how the battery didn't fit:
It is only a little poking out but this just pushes the lid too high
The Geek
added to the journal ago
Started modeling
So a while ago I saw this optical illusion on CAD when I was online and as I was sat at my desk yesterday I remembered it. I did a little searching and couldn't find any photos of it but to be honest I wasn't trying to hard. I then decided that the best course of action was to model this out as it shouldn't take long (Famous last words). This of course was not the case and it took a while but I think it was worth it to brush up on my fusion 360 skills and make use of some of the lesser used - at least in my case - tools like square pattern.
I started by modeling the 6mm rod component that I had to use as this would be both stronger and more precise than 3D printing the part. I then angled this and added a hollow base which is where the electronics will be added.
This then led to me modelling screw holes and a bracket for the DC motor. Above this section I added a little coupling to connect the second 6mm pole and the geared DC motor inside a bearing for smooth rotation.
Finally I added the flap which will rotate. I am currently printing this off and so next will gather the electronics together.
The Geek
started 3D Printed optical illusion ago
1/12/2026 - Started modeling
So a while ago I saw this optical illusion on CAD when I was online and as I was sat at my desk yesterday I remembered it. I did a little searching and couldn't find any photos of it but to be honest I wasn't trying to hard. I then decided that the best course of action was to model this out as it shouldn't take long (Famous last words). This of course was not the case and it took a while but I think it was worth it to brush up on my fusion 360 skills and make use of some of the lesser used - at least in my case - tools like square pattern.
I started by modeling the 6mm rod component that I had to use as this would be both stronger and more precise than 3D printing the part. I then angled this and added a hollow base which is where the electronics will be added.
This then led to me modelling screw holes and a bracket for the DC motor. Above this section I added a little coupling to connect the second 6mm pole and the geared DC motor inside a bearing for smooth rotation.
Finally I added the flap which will rotate. I am currently printing this off and so next will gather the electronics together.
1/14/2026 8 PM - Printing and remodeling
I have now printed and reprinted the parts.
First things first, I printed out the parts I created and cleaned them up. this went well though the raft I used was properly stuck to the two large flat part so that took ages to remove. After this I test fitted the electronics and they all fitted well aside from the 9V battery which was slightly too large.
Because of this, I remodeled and printed the cup section and cleaned up that print too.
This is how the battery didn't fit:
It is only a little poking out but this just pushes the lid too high
1/14/2026 10 PM - Finishing
Next I finished up the prints and plastic welded them together. I plastic welded the upright flap section into the coupling.
After this I fitted the bottom of this coupling with a bearing for smoother movement.
After this I created a makeshift heated insert for the screws to reduce the chances of the print delaminating due to the threads on the screw. To do this I ensured the hex insert hole had no tolerances so that as the plastic cools around the hot nut it becomes tight. 
Next, I painted the parts and put the second 6mm rod into the printed hole.
After this I decided to add some decoration around the outside with some plastic screw rivets painted silver.
Finally, I Soldered and glued in the electronic components.
And Now it is done!!!!
1/22/2026 - Changes
Took an extra photo of the product - from a better angle, and made the other changes suggested. I think all the links are good but to be honest I just used stuff I had round the house like the battery and the 6mm 113mm rods but the links should get you similar items of the same specs.
