In this project we'll show you how to bring creatures to life using magnetic filament and magnets, powered by a Circuit Playground Express and Crickit, Adafruit's robotics platform! The enclosure houses the electronics and the models are printed in Magnetic PLA. Adafruit’s Crickit and Circuit Playground Express have everything you need to build a project with lights, sounds, and motor control.

Learn Guide: https://learn.adafruit.com/robotic-creatures/overview
Project Video: https://youtu.be/QJ8ITURT0NU

These magnetic creatures come to life when placed close to the platform. Here a motor and magnet move the creatures around the platform. NeoPixel UV LED help illuminate the dual translucent material!

The print in place hinges bring these 3d printed creatures to life!

Adafruit Crickit
https://www.adafruit.com/product/3093

Adafruit Circuit Playground Express
https://www.adafruit.com/product/3333

UV NeoPixel Strip
https://www.adafruit.com/product/3851

DC motor in Servo Body
https://www.adafruit.com/product/2941

ProtoPasta Magnetic Iron PLA
https://www.adafruit.com/product/3753

Magnets
https://www.adafruit.com/product/9

3D Printing Projects Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjF7R1fz_OOWD2dJNRIN46uhMCWvNOlbG

3D Hangout Show Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjF7R1fz_OOVgpmWevin2slopw_A3-A8Y

Layer by Layer CAD Tutorials Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjF7R1fz_OOVsMp6nKnpjsXSQ45nxfORb

Timelapse Tuesday Playlist:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjF7R1fz_OOVagy3CktXsAAs4b153xpp_

FlashForge

Inventor II

No

No

0.20mm

20

Slice Settings
Depending on your 3D printer, you may need to adjust the slice settings. We printed all of the parts on an Inventor II 3D Printer. These parts were sliced with FlashPrint.

Nozzle: 0.4mm
Extrusion Width: 0.4mm
Layer Height: 0.2mm
Infill: 20%
Nozzle Temperature: 210c
Print Speed: 60mm/s

The design is modeled in Autodesk Fusion 360 and available to edit. You can adjust the pieces to print by moving or adding construction planes to cut up the parts . You can modify the sketches or adjust features in the parametric timeline.

Design Source Files
The enclosure assembly was designed in Fusion 360. This can be downloaded in different formats like STEP, SAT and more. Electronic components like the board, displays, connectors and more can be downloaded from our Fusion 360 CAD parts github repo.

https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_CAD_Parts

We used Magnetic Iron Filament to print our creatures. Objects with print in place hinges that move side to side vertically, maneuver the best around the platform. You can find download links to the models we used in this project below.

Fish Fossilz by Murray Clark: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1276095

Mini Octopus by Javi Rodríguez: https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3495390

Flexible Starfish by Yong Joo Kim : https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3258092