AncientJames built Vortex, a volumetric 3D display using two back-to-back LED panels spinning at high speed, driven by a Raspberry Pi 4. The result is a true 3D image suspended in space, viewable from any angle. All software, a simulator, and 3D-printable CAD models are published on GitHub.
The core engineering problem is synchronization: rendered images must match physical rotation exactly, or the 3D image drifts and distorts. Balancing the spinning assembly at high RPM required significant iteration. The original video documents both the failure modes and the solutions, which is where the real technical value lives.
AncientJames has built multiple volumetric displays, each with a different approach. An earlier version spins a perforated drum around stationary LED panels to produce a light field effect instead. The build documentation for Vortex, including how he fabricated a one-off jig from a rotary tool to precisely cut a plastic globe housing, makes the full writeup worth reading for anyone serious about display hardware or precision mechanical builds.
[READ ORIGINAL →]