Introduction: Hand-Sculpted Digital Totem: ARCANA Capsule (ESP32 + Clay + 3D Print)

This project originates from my personal daily habit. I use Tarot cards to make decisions on everything—from big life choices to simply deciding what to have for lunch. However, carrying a full deck of 78 cards is inconvenient, and while mobile apps are easy to use, I often feel they lack a true sense of connection and ritual.

Driven by this idea, I created the ARCANA Capsule—a desktop Tarot companion. I combined 3D printing (for the internal structure) with hand-sculpted clay (for the organic shell) to build a device that bridges the physical and digital worlds. It sits on your desk like a magical artifact. To use it, you simply press the little wing on the side. The device lights up with a pixel symbol, and simultaneously, the full card reading appears on your phone's web browser. It brings the tactile "energy" back to digital divination.

Supplies

Electronics :

  1. Microcontroller: Arduino Nano ESP32 (or compatible ESP32 board)
  2. Display: Adafruit DotStar 8x8 LED Matrix (APA102)
  3. Input: Button
  4. Power: USB-C Data Cable & Power Bank
  5. Wires: Silicone connecting wires

Materials & Finish :

  1. Internal Skeleton: PLA Filament (Yellow or any color)
  2. Shell: Air-dry Clay / Light Modeling Clay
  3. Paint: Silver & White Acrylic Paint
  4. Coating: Glossy Varnish (to seal the clay and diffuse light)
  5. Adhesive: Super Glue (to fix the button and clay)

Tools :

  1. 3D Printer: Creality Ender-3 (or any FDM printer)
  2. Soldering Iron & Solder
  3. Sculpting Tools (or simple modeling knife)
  4. PC/Mac with USB port

Software :

  1. Arduino IDE (for coding)
  2. Rhino 8 (for 3D modeling)
  3. Ultimaker Cura (for slicing)

Attachments

Step 1: Electronics

Wiring is simple and clean. Since it's USB powered, no complex battery management is needed:

  1. DotStar 5V -> VBUS
  2. DotStar GND -> GND
  3. DotStar DI (Data) -> Pin 11
  4. DotStar CI (Clock) -> Pin 13
  5. Button -> Pin A6 & GND
  6. Power -> USB Cable connected directly to the Arduino.

Step 2: The Digital Skeleton

I designed an internal skeleton in Rhino to hold the electronics in place. The Yellow Chassis is 3D printed using PLA. It holds the Arduino and the LED matrix perfectly aligned, providing a solid foundation for the clay sculpture.

Step 3: The Organic Shell

Due to time constraints, I chose to sculpt the shell with clay instead of 3D printing it. This gives the device a unique, handcrafted artifact look.

1. Assemble the electronics into the 3D printed yellow chassis.

2.Cut acrylic sheets to fit and cover the yellow 3D printed chassis.

3. Wrap the acrylic and chassis completely with air-dry clay.

4. Sculpt the main "Trophy" body and the decorative wing on the right side.

5. Sculpt the left wing which acts as the button. Since the button on the chassis is recessed (originally designed for a printed spring), I embedded a small acrylic strip inside this clay wing to reach and press the internal button effectively.

Tip: Remember to leave an opening for the USB-C port. If the wings or decorative stars are too heavy to stick on, you can make them separately by wrapping a screw inside the clay part, then screwing it into the main body and blending the seam with fresh clay for stability.

Step 4: Painting & Finishing

Wait for the clay to dry slightly, then I colored it using silver and white acrylic paint.

Tip: If you have time, let it air dry overnight. I also suggest placing a weight on top of the device while it dries to ensure the shape remains balanced and sits flat.

Step 5: The Code

The code is written in Arduino. It handles the WiFi Access Point, the web server, and the LED animations. Because the code includes the pixel art data and the HTML for the webpage, it is quite long. Instead of pasting it all here, I have attached the complete source file below.

  1. Download the Arcana_Capsule_V4.ino file below.
  2. Open it in Arduino IDE.
  3. Make sure you have installed the Adafruit DotStar library.
  4. Connect your ESP32 and click Upload.

Attachments

Step 6: Connect & Divine

Now that your ARCANA Capsule is powered up, it’s time to connect to its spiritual network. Since the ESP32 creates its own local WiFi hotspot, you don't need an internet connection to use it.

  1. Power On: Plug the USB cable into a power bank. The device will flash red once to signal it's alive.
  2. Connect WiFi: Open your phone's WiFi settings and look for a network named ARCANA_TAROT.
  3. Password: Enter the password password123 to connect.
  4. Note: Your phone might say "No Internet Connection". This is normal, keep staying connected.
  5. Open Portal: Open your web browser (Safari or Chrome) and type in the address: 192.168.4.1
  6. Interact: You will see the "ARCANA" interface on your phone. Now, press the physical wing button on the device.
  7. The Revelation: The device will play a vortex animation, and your phone will simultaneously reveal your Tarot card reading!