An open-source kinetic sand art table that creates mesmerizing patterns using a ball controlled by precision motors.
- Modern React UI — A responsive, touch-friendly web interface that installs as a PWA on any device
- Pattern Library — Browse, upload, and manage hundreds of sand patterns with auto-generated previews
- Live Preview — Watch your pattern come to life in real time with progress tracking
- Playlists — Queue up multiple patterns with configurable pause times and automatic clearing between drawings
- LED Integration — Synchronized lighting via native DW LEDs or WLED, with separate idle, playing, and scheduled modes
- Still Sands Scheduling — Set quiet hours so the table pauses automatically on your schedule
- Multi-Table Support — Control several sand tables from a single interface
- Home Assistant Integration — Connect to Home Assistant or other home automation systems using MQTT
- Auto-Updates — One-click software updates right from the settings page
- Add-Ons — Optional Desert Compass for auto-homing and DW Touch for dedicated touchscreen control
The system is split across two devices connected via USB:
┌─────────────────┐ USB ┌─────────────────┐
│ Raspberry Pi │ ◄──────────────────► │ DLC32 / ESP32 │
│ (Dune Weaver │ │ (FluidNC) │
│ Backend) │ │ │
└─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘
│ │
│ Wi-Fi │ Motor signals
▼ ▼
Web Browser Stepper Motors
(Control UI) (Theta & Rho)
The Raspberry Pi runs the web UI, manages pattern files and playlists, and converts patterns into G-code. The DLC32/ESP32 running FluidNC firmware receives that G-code and drives the stepper motors in real time.
Dune Weaver comes in three premium models:
| DW Pro | DW Mini Pro | DW Gold | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 75 cm (29.5") | 25 cm (10") | 45 cm (17") |
| Enclosure | IKEA VITTSJÖ table | IKEA BLANDA bowl | IKEA TORSJÖ side table |
| Motors | 2 × NEMA 17 | 2 × NEMA 17 | 2 × NEMA 17 |
| Controller | DLC32 | DLC32 | DLC32 |
| Best for | Living rooms | Desktops | Side-table accent piece |
All models run the same software with FluidNC firmware — only the mechanical parts differ.
Free 3D-printable models on MakerWorld: DW OG · DW Mini
Build guides, BOMs, and wiring diagrams are in the Dune Weaver Docs.
The fastest way to get running on a Raspberry Pi:
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tuanchris/dune-weaver/main/setup-pi.sh -o setup-pi.sh
bash setup-pi.shThis installs Docker, clones the repo, and starts the application. Once it finishes, open http://<hostname>.local in your browser.
For full deployment options (Docker, manual install, development setup, Windows, and more), see the Deploying Backend guide.
The sand table uses polar coordinates instead of the typical X-Y grid:
- Theta (θ) — the angle in radians (2π = one full revolution)
- Rho (ρ) — the distance from the center (0.0 = center, 1.0 = edge)
Patterns are stored as .thr text files — one coordinate pair per line:
# A simple four-point star
0.000 0.5
1.571 0.7
3.142 0.5
4.712 0.7
The same pattern file works on any table size thanks to the normalized coordinate system. You can create patterns by hand, generate them with code, or browse the built-in library.
Full setup instructions, hardware assembly, firmware flashing, and advanced configuration:
We welcome contributions! See the Contributing Guide for how to get started.
Dune Weaver is available under a dual license:
For open-source projects and personal use, Dune Weaver is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.
You are free to use, modify, and distribute this software under GPL-3.0 terms, provided that derivative works are also licensed under GPL-3.0 and source code is made available.
For commercial use, proprietary applications, OEM/embedded deployments, or if you cannot comply with GPL-3.0 requirements, a commercial license is available.
Contact: hello@duneweaver.com
See the LICENSE file for full details.
Happy sand drawing!