Designer Uses 3D Printing to Create This Portable R2-D2 Star Wars Themed Playstation 4

While the Playstation 4 is a beast of a machine, sometimes the exterior aesthetics can get old, a bit boring, some may say. We’ve all seen the numerous projects where designers rethink the exterior of video game consoles, creating unique new looks as well as changing the system’s functionality altogether by making them portable. Just a quick Google search will bring up a laundry list of awesome modifications made to consoles from the NES to the Playstation 4 and everything in between.

Having said this, if you are a Star Wars fan, or have a particular interest in the R2-D2 character from the Star Wars movies, then this modified Playstation 4, designed by a man named Eddie Zarick, from Fort Myers, Florida certainly will get you excited.

Zarick, who runs the website EdsJunk.net, builds custom modified, portable video game consoles. He’s even created a portable console which incorporates both an XBOX ONE and PS4 into one streamlined laptop system. With all the work he’s done over the years, this latest project really stands out to us, not only for its innovative approach to incorporating elements of R2-D2 into the system but also because of the vast amount of 3D printing which has gone into its creation.

According to Zarick approximately 50% of the body of the ‘R2-D2 Themed Star Wars PlayBook 4’ as he calls it, has been 3D printed. This includes the colored corners, vents, accents and the decorations on the sides. Additionally there are several very important internal components which hold most of the electronics in place.

“I would say 3d Printing is the most important component in this project because without it I would never have been able to make this system,” Zarick explained to us. “The ability to make on-the-go parts for exactly what I need is absolutely key. Being able to take parts, shrink them, modify them, then have them in hand in only an hour or less is spectacular and crucial when making systems like this R2-D2 one. Plus did I mention how much more affordable it makes the process! Way cheaper and faster than typical injection molding or creating the parts on a CNC mill.”

Most of the R2-D2 3D printable models were found on the Astromech website, which is an R2-D2 builders club, but Zarick tells us that the majority of them are also available on Thingiverse for free, here, here and here. He has three MakerBot Replicator 2X 3D printers at his disposal and printed all the parts using ABS filament. The entire printing process went off without a hitch but that’s because of Zarick’s immense amount of experience.

“No major issues in this go around luckily, but It has taken years to get to a point that I can make these while avoiding issues, there was a lot of trail and error in the beginning,” he explained to us.

As for the rest of the console, namely the white areas seen in the photos, Zarick relied on laser cut acrylic that he did all himself in his shop. All in all, no detail has been forgotten, as there are even sound effects which he also obtained on the Astromech website, and a red and blue light, just like on the actual R2-D2, which changes colors randomly while its on. Not only is this our favorite console modification we’ve seen, but Zarick also says that it’s his favorite creation as well.

What do you think? Is this something you’d like to be playing with? Let us know in the 3D Printed R2-D2 PS4 forum thread on 3DPB.com. Check out the video below where Zarick shows off his latest creation: