3D-printed DIY Minecraft compass turns pixel art into a real gadget you can use
A GitHub project is racking up a lot of attention on Reddit, and the Minecraft community is going to love this one. A user has turned the game’s iconic compass into a working, handheld device. The open-source project, hosted at GitHub, explains how to build the compass from scratch using 3D printing, LEDs, and custom code.
The original video surfaced nearly nine months ago. The design shown on Reddit replicates the pixelated look of the Minecraft compass with actual real-world functionality. A thin 3D-printed layer serves as the surface, with a matrix of LEDs placed underneath that illuminates the "needle". Those who’ve examined the project mentioned how the build very cleverly diffuses light, which prevents hotspots, avoids leaks, and keeps the pointer bright enough to see in daylight.
The project first made an appearance on Reddit, where a short video of the compass being held in hand quickly drew thousands of upvotes and comments. Many users initially thought it was a digital render, but were surprised to learn it was fully physical. A closer look at the build shows that transparent filament is used in key spots to allow controlled light diffusion, which makes the whole "illusion" of a screen better while still sticking to the Minecraft theme.
According to the GitHub documentation, the compass uses a microcontroller and a digital magnetometer sensor to provide directional readings. The LEDs then update in real-time to display the pointer, which shifts smoothly as the device is turned. If you want, you can follow detailed build instructions, including 3D print files and firmware, to design a similar compass of your own.
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