Summary
- Valve published full 3D models, BOM, and an assembly video to DIY an e‑Ink faceplate for the Steam Deck.
- BOM lists Adafruit ESP32 Feather, eInk Breakout Friend, 5.83″ eInk panel, M2.5 screws, and small magnets.
- All files on the project’s GitLab—3D print the cover and assemble your Inkterface.
The Steam Machine has only just hit the market, and people are already doing all sorts of creative things. Not with the hardware itself, but instead replicating something somewhat similar to the Steam Machine’s specifications but $300 cheaper. One company has even begun selling prebuilt gaming PCs that have SteamOS preinstalled.
Well, as it turns out, Valve itself isn’t shy about letting people DIY their own Steam Machine accessories. The company has just released the 3D model, bill of materials, and instructional video for making your own Steam Machine e-Ink faceplate.
You, too, can make your own “Inkterface” for your Steam Machine
It makes for a nice DIY project
As spotted by Brad Lynch on X, Valve has uploaded everything you need to make your own e-Ink faceplate (aka, “Inkterface”) for your Steam Deck. This includes the bill of materials, all of the files you need to 3D print it, and even an instructional video on how to piece it all together. You can see the latter in the video above.
If you want to make your own Steam Deck faceplate, you can find everything you need to get going over on the project’s GitLab page. If you’re just interested in what you’ll need to make one of these cool accessories, the bill of materials asks for:
- 1 x Adafruit ESP32 Feather with 2MB PSRAM
- 1 x Adafruit eInk Breakout Friend
- 1 x Adafruit 5.83″ Monochrome eInk Panel
- 13 x M2.5 x 5mm Pan Head Machine Screws
- 4 x 1/4″ x 1/4″ x 3/16″ Stepped Magnet SB443-OUT
Once you’ve acquired all of that, all you need to do is 3D print the cover, and you should have everything to make your own.
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