Photo credit : Intelligent-Cause751
In the blocky world of Minecraft, the compass is a simple tool, pointing players to their spawn point with a flick of its red needle. It’s blocky, pixelated and iconic. Now, thanks to a clever DIY project, that virtual compass has jumped out of the game and into the real world. Maker chaosgoo on GitHub has created a handheld, 3D printed Minecraft compass that not only looks like the game but also works as a real world compass.
Building this compass requires a 3D printer and a love of precision. The project on GitHub provides open source files to print the casing which mirrors the game’s pixelated compass design down to the blocky edges. A thin, semi-transparent black acrylic panel, 1mm thick, forms the surface, allowing light from a matrix of WS2812B LEDs to shine through to create the red needle. These tiny LEDs, 1.7×2.0x0.85mm, are arranged to match the game’s 10×5 pixel grid so the needle moves just like the digital one. A PET diffuser, glued in place, softens the light to prevent hotspots so the needle is visible in daylight.
- BUILD THE DREADED CREEPER – Young explorers, ages 10 and up, build a large poseable version of the iconic Minecraft mob
- MINECRAFT ACTION FIGURE – Kids construct every detail of the Creeper, from its 4 poseable legs to its detachable head
- HIDDEN SURPRISE INSIDE – Builders can remove the Creeper's head to reveal a compartment that hides a first-version minifigure and TNT element
At the heart is an ESP32C3 microcontroller and a digital magnetometer sensor – either the QMC5883P or the now obsolete QMC5883L – handling the compass’s directional smarts. Rotate the device and the LEDs move in real time, pointing north with a smooth, responsive motion. For those who want a bit of Minecraft magic, the compass has a “spawn point” mode where a GPS module (the ATGM336H 5N71) lets you set a custom location, like your home or a favorite spot, and the needle will guide you back. There’s even a “Nether mode” where the needle spins wildly, just like the game’s disorienting underworld. Power comes from a compact 500mAh battery so it’s portable and practical.
The GitHub repository has all the details, from 3D print files to firmware flashing instructions. Non-coders can grab pre-built firmware from GitHub Actions and choose between WiFi or Bluetooth modes for configuration. WiFi mode creates a hotspot called “The Lost Compass” and you can tweak settings via a web interface at esp32.local. Bluetooth mode pairs with a WeChat Mini Program, but that’s probably not useful for non-WeChat users. A single button on the device does everything else: one press toggles between compass and spawn modes, four quick presses shows the IP address, and a long press sets your spawn point or flips to Nether mode.
[Source]
