Piranha Plant Action Toy

As a member of the team, I contributed to the design and prototyping of this toy. My primary responsibilities included designing and fabricating the mechanical and base components, reinforcing the stem with fiberglass, and assembling the final product.

Fall 2024 Semester

CAD, Prototyping (3D Printing) · Mechanism Design (Cam-Follower, 4-Bar Linkage) · Electronics · Fabrication (Fiberglass, Paint)

The goal of this project was to bring the iconic Piranha Plant character from the Super Mario series to life as a mechanical and motorized toy. The design needed to include at least two non-trivial functions: a rising and falling stem, and a chomping mouth. We had to achieve these motions within a 10x10x10-inch space constraint and a budget of $70 for purchased parts.The goal of this project was to bring the iconic Piranha Plant character from the Super Mario series to life as a mechanical and motorized toy. The design needed to include at least two non-trivial functions: a rising and falling stem, and a chomping mouth. We had to achieve these motions within a 10x10x10-inch space constraint and a budget of $70 for purchased parts.

Our team designed a series of mechanisms to replicate the character’s motions. The rising and falling action was achieved with a cam-follower system that provided 22.5 mm of vertical movement. This system was powered by a geared DC motor to ensure sufficient torque. The chomping mouth motion was also designed as a cam-follower system, which provided 12 degrees of rotation for the upper head. Most components were fabricated using a 3D printer with PLA filament. We had to reinforce the stem with fiberglass to prevent bending and ensure it could support the weight of the head. We also wired a simple electronic system with a battery and push button to activate the two motors.

A functional prototype was successfully built and assembled. While both the rising/falling and chomping mechanisms had some issues, such as the cam twisting and the motion being too chaotic, they were functional and demonstrated the core concepts. The project was an excellent learning experience in mechanical design and prototyping, teaching us how to create a skeleton model in CAD, design complex mechanisms, and use fabrication techniques like fiberglassing to improve structural integrity. The final toy, with its mechanical complexity and nostalgic appeal, stands out in the market and successfully captured the essence of the character.