Massimo Griffiths Capstone 2025

For my Capstone, I designed and built a prototype for an arm-wrestling arcade machine that recreates the fun and competitive energy of real arm wrestling—without the injury risk. After discovering a talent for arm wrestling through my background in powerlifting, I wanted to make the sport more accessible and safer, especially given how often injuries occur at higher levels. Inspired by arcade boxing machines, I began working on a mechanical and digital system that mimics the resistance and scoring of arm wrestling. I went through many stages—from sketching and brainstorming concepts in my notebook, to CAD modeling in Fusion 360, to fabricating custom parts using CNCs and manual mills in our shop. Along the way, I learned how to adjust when prototypes failed, iterate more efficiently, and balance simplicity with functionality. I also deepened my understanding of parametric modeling and mechanical advantage (especially the hard way—after buying springs that didn’t apply enough force). Despite the challenges, I’m proud of creating something original, technically sound, and fun. It was rewarding to give back to SLA’s engineering community by mentoring younger students as I worked. Most of all, this project reminded me of how ideas evolve through real-world constraints, and how problem-solving never stops—especially when you’re building something that hasn’t quite been built before.