Even the name alone is enough to make anyone who’s endured a painful tattoo session cringe. A passionate 3D printing enthusiast has taken tech experimentation to the next level by creating a DIY automated tattoo machine—an invention so unconventional that even the most hardcore robotics engineer might hesitate to try it on human skin.
There have been previous efforts to bring automated tattoo machines into the mainstream. The Austin, Texas-based company Blackdot still promotes its own version. But why would anyone spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a machine that operates using mechanics similar to an affordable 3D printer? YouTuber Emily Yarid, AKA EmilytheEngineer (via Hackaday) took a different approach—modifying a printer to replace plastic filament with ink, swapping the extruder and nozzle for a tattoo gun, and using human skin instead of a build plate.
You can file this concept under the “do not do this at home” category. You shouldn’t trust a non-professional tattoo artist for your health and safety for numerous reasons. Still, Yarid also made sure viewers know that her creation isn’t for the faint of heart and isn’t the type of thing you should try and replicate on your own. Yarid used an old Ender-7 printer from Creatily. That specific model includes a printer arm that can maneuver on a rail in both the X and Y axis, which would be necessary for drawing any 2D images. Is that just a normal CNC machine? Yes, but any automated tattoo device would need some ability to raise and lower unless you wanted to draw a canyon through a recipient’s thigh.
The device’s design required both hardware and software modifications. The 3D printing software was adjusted to generate an image as a single-layer print rather than using multiple layers. However, completely ignoring the Z-axis wasn’t an option. To account for variations in skin height, a spring was attached to the tattoo gun arm for better adaptability.
Another challenge was reconfiguring the firmware to bypass temperature-related values during operation. Naturally, this still sounds like one of the most uncomfortable ways to get a tattoo, so Yarid incorporated an emergency lever to lift the gun arm if the pain became unbearable. To ensure stability, she also designed a large bracket to secure the patient’s leg, featuring a small window at the top to expose the skin and create a flat, consistent printing surface.
The final tattoo chosen by Yarid and her volunteer, fellow YouTuber and costume maker Dan from BuildDanielBuild, was a simple, one-word design in blue ink that read “LEG.” While the device is capable of producing more intricate designs, achieving finer lines and shading would require significant adjustments to the hardware and software, such as refining depth control and speed. Without those improvements, complex tattoos wouldn’t be worth the risk—especially since the longer and more detailed the process, the higher the chance of something going wrong.
Emily the Engineer is best known for her 3D printing projects, including a 3D-printed boat (which still needed non-3D printed tubes for stabilization, along with a conventional motor and propeller). She has also crafted numerous cosplay pieces, such as multiple recreations of Marvel’s Iron Man suit and Bucky’s arm from Captain America and the Winter Soldier. However, her latest project might be her boldest yet—though we sincerely hope this idea doesn’t gain more traction than it already has.