String Shooter

Overview

This project is a fully custom string-shooter toy engineered for maximum speed and playability. The design repurposes RC toy car wheels and high-RPM motors to grip and accelerate the string as it feeds through the mechanism.

The system is powered by a compact rechargeable battery, allowing the entire device to remain lightweight and handheld. A custom housing was fabricated to hold the motors, align the wheels, and guide the string through the center for consistent launch performance.

This toy was designed as a creative engineering experiment, simple yet fast to prototype, and surprisingly powerful. It demonstrates rapid prototyping skills, creative reuse of components, and practical electromechanical design.

Key Features

Fast string launching using dual high-RPM motors
RC toy car wheels repurposed as friction rollers
Rechargeable battery power for cordless operation
Custom 3D-printed or fabricated housing
Compact, handheld design
Protective wheel guard & safe feed path

Challenge

The main challenge was achieving enough friction and motor torque to consistently pull and launch the string at high speed. RC wheels had to be aligned precisely to grip the string evenly without causing jams, slipping, or excessive wear. Another challenge was designing a small housing that held everything in alignment while staying lightweight and comfortable to hold.

Solution

To overcome the friction and alignment issues, the toy uses a dual-roller layout, where two RC wheels spin toward each other to “grab” the string and accelerate it forward. The wheels were mounted on a custom frame ensuring perfect spacing and motor alignment. A rechargeable battery powers both motors, giving strong output without adding bulk. The final device is compact, functional, and surprisingly powerful for something built from repurposed toy components.