Predator Action Pliers

cults3d

Having mastered the basics of Fusion360, I was eager to create a grab toy similar to those I'd designed using OpenSCAD. A crucial requirement was to design it so that it could be printed without supports and already assembled in place, ready for use right from the printer bed. I drew inspiration from my parents' cool ice cube push plunger claw tongs, but wanted to make a key change - converting the push-to-open action into push-to-close. This way, when you push, you close the hand, making it more intuitive. So, that was another requirement for the design. My initial approach ended up being an overcomplicated geared mechanism, which reminded me of the mouth of that iconic alien from the movie "Predator". I decided to call it Predator Action Pliers and used Gear_Down_For_What's Helical Gear Generator to build the gears. Despite its menacing appearance, the grip is actually quite weak. As a grabbing tool, it's not very useful at all. However, it prints-in-place without supports and closes when you push, so I consider the design specifications met, making this project a great success. Enjoy!