Introduction: Hexbug Ghost

About: I am an author and a maker. My current project is Santa's Shop. I'm working on a science fiction type book--more later. @EngineerRigsby


This is a 3d printed ghost shell--insert a hexbug (available at Radio Shack) and a led with a 2032 battery and you will have a glowing vibrating, moaning ghost.  Make several and let the party begin!

I will explain how to design this ghost in the following steps.

If you want to just copy the files, goto:

http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:32785

Step 1:

Using Autodesk 123d (free), open a new project.  Using the "pencil" tool, select "spline."

Step 2:

I select the back right plane (coordinate 0,0) to start.  Click to select this.

Step 3:

Draw your ghost outline.  Keep track of the size of the image (shown in mm).  My ghost is 60mm long, 85mm high and will be 25 mm deep.  He has to be large enough to hold the hexbug.

Step 4:

I didn't close the polygon (drawing) using the spline tool because I wanted the bottom to be flat--and the spline would fit some sort of curve there.

I went to the "pencil" and chose draw to connect a straight line at the bottom of the ghost.

Step 5:

I now have a rough ghost shape, but no depth.

Step 6:

Select the shape (left click).

Step 7:

In the "create" box (3rd tool from left) choose "extrude."  Type in a depth--I used 26.  Select "join" in the little box to the right of the ghost.  Then go back to the "create" box above and click on extrude.

Step 8:

You should now have a 3d ghost. 

I recommend saving now--save early and often and use different file names (like ghost a, ghost b, etc.).  I have not found it easy to undo some of the many mistakes I make, so I just close and go back to my last good step when required.

Step 9:

Using the view tool (little box in the upper right), choose "front."

Step 10:

Using the pencil tool, choose "circle," and select a center point for an eye.  Then choose a radius.

Do the same for the second eye.

Select an eye, then choose "extrude" and a depth for your eye hole.  Depending on your view, cutting a hole may be a positive or negative number (someone smarter than me can explain which time is which).

Step 11:

View the ghost from the bottom.

Draw a rectangle (pencil tool) that the hexbug will fit in.  Extrude the rectangle (cut out the hexbug space). 

Draw another rectangle and extrude it (cut it out)--this will go up to the eye sockets.

Step 12:

View the ghost from the left side.

Choose "create," then "Fillet." 

Step 13:

Choose an edge of the ghost and click.  Make the fillet about 8 mm (larger number is more "rounding").

Do the same with the other edge.

Step 14:

You're pretty much done with the design. 

Save.  Save again as an .stl file.  This is what you will send to your printer.

Step 15:

This is the top, front view of a finished ghost.

Step 16:

This is the bottom.

Step 17:

Tape a led to a 2032 battery--long led leg on the "+" side of the battery.

Step 18:

Insert the glowing led.  Turn on the hexbug and insert it.

Step 19:

Put the ghost down on a table and watch it go.  You can print ghosts from different colors of plastic, and you can use different colors of led for eyes--making lots of different ghosts.

Make It Glow

Participated in the
Make It Glow

Halloween Decorations Contest

Participated in the
Halloween Decorations Contest

Digital Fabrication Contest

Participated in the
Digital Fabrication Contest