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DUNE WEAVER: A KINETIC SAND TABLE THAT DRAWS ITSELF

A magnet drags a ball through sand to trace endless hypnotic patterns — free 3D-printable builds, about a hundred built-in designs, and paid premium versions built into IKEA furniture.

by tuanchris (Dune Weaver)

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

Kinetic-art3D-printing

Built withESP32Raspberry Pi3D printing

difficulty
●●●○○
time
a weekend or two
license
GPL-3.0 / commercial
repo
repo ACTIVE377 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Videos
1
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COMPAREE VERDICT

Dune Weaver is the calm, hypnotic build — a magnet under a bed of sand drags a steel ball to trace endless flowing patterns, and it's genuinely lovely to watch. The free route is approachable: the DW OG and DW Mini are 3D-printable models on MakerWorld, run by a Raspberry Pi and an ESP32/DLC32 board with FluidNC, and the software ships with about a hundred patterns and a polished web app. The clever bit is that each pattern is stored in normalized polar coordinates, so the same design works on any table size. Know how it's organized before you start: the GitHub repo is the software (backend, web UI, pattern engine, FluidNC config files), the free STL files are on MakerWorld, and the premium Pro, Mini Pro and Gold tables, built into IKEA furniture, are paid build files with their own BOMs and guides on duneweaver.com/docs. For a satisfying kinetic-art centerpiece, it's a standout.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —The GitHub repo is the software — a Python backend, a web UI, pattern-to-G-code and a library of about 100 patterns
  • —The free printable STL parts (DW OG, DW Mini) are on MakerWorld; duneweaver.com/docs has BOMs and assembly guides mainly for the paid Pro, Mini Pro and Gold models
  • —Motion firmware is FluidNC (external project), with per-model config files in the repo's firmware folder; the free OG and Mini run the app on a Raspberry Pi plus an ESP32/DLC32 controller and two stepper motors
  • —Dual-licensed GPL-3.0 + commercial

Parts to buy

6 items

From our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.

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Can I build this?

Printthe mechanism from the MakerWorld STL (DW or DW Mini)
Buya Raspberry Pi, an ESP32/DLC32 controller, 2× NEMA 17 steppers, a magnet, a steel ball, sand
Tools3D printer, soldering, hex drivers
Skillsbeginner-to-intermediate; the docs walk it
Timea weekend or two
Costband $$ — a Pi, ESP32 and two steppers; current prices: creator's docs
Safetylow-voltage; a magnet under the table — keep cards/electronics clear

Very strong magnets — keep away from pacemakers, cards and fingers.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

Kinetic Sand Coffee Table Build: Dune Weaver Pro

Official full assembly walkthrough of the Dune Weaver Pro (the paid premium model built into an IKEA table) from the Dune Weaver YouTube channel; the free DW OG and DW Mini builds differ mechanically.

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Gallery

The Dune Weaver sand tableDune Weaver
Pattern: Starry NightDune Weaver
Pattern: FractalDune Weaver
Pattern: SpiralDune Weaver

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Read the docs (build guides, BOM, wiring)
  2. 2.Get the STL (DW OG (or DW Mini))
  3. 3.Get the software (backend + web UI + patterns)
  4. 4.Flash FluidNC (the motion firmware)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

KNOWN ISSUES

  • The GitHub repo is the software — the printable STL are on MakerWorld and the BOM/wiring are on duneweaver.com/docs
  • The motion firmware is FluidNC, a separate project you flash yourself; the app repo only carries the per-model FluidNC config files
  • A magnet lives under the table — keep magnetic cards and sensitive electronics away

How does it draw?

A magnet on a moving arm under the table drags a steel ball through the sand, tracing patterns. About a hundred designs ship with the software, and you can upload your own.

Does a pattern work on any size table?

Yes — patterns are stored in normalized polar coordinates, so the same file works on a small or large table.

Where are the printable parts?

The free DW OG and DW Mini are on MakerWorld. The GitHub repo is the software; duneweaver.com/docs has build guides and BOMs, mainly for the paid Pro, Mini Pro and Gold models.

What does it cost?

Band $$ — a Raspberry Pi, an ESP32 and two steppers. The docs have current prices.

Community builds

No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.

Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

Dune Weaver is designed to hide inside IKEA furniture. Which piece would you sacrifice to a sand-drawing robot — and would you tell guests what's inside?

CompareeTEAM2mo agoedited

Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.

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tuanchris (Dune Weaver)

Built an open kinetic sand table with a polished web app and a library of about a hundred patterns, offering free printable builds (DW OG and DW Mini on MakerWorld) and paid premium build files for tables built into IKEA furniture.

GitHub Web

Star the project on GitHub

DISCLAIMER

  • Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
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