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Piranha Pi Camera

2025-09-05 | By Adafruit Industries

License: See Original Project 3D Printing Camera LCD / TFT Raspberry Pi MCU

Courtesy of Adafruit

Guide by Ruiz Brothers

Overview

 

Build a Piranha Plant themed camera using a Raspberry Pi 5!

The Warp Pipe-shaped base houses the Pi 5 with a fan and a 4" touch screen.

A camera module is housed inside the Piranha mouth. The case has access to the USB ports with vents on the side to keep the Pi cool.

plant_1

plant_2

Build a timelapse rig with the sleeve to mount to a tripod. Capture stunning timelapses with dynamic exposure thanks to the HDR mode.

The wide angle camera module V3 features autofocus and a 12-megapixel sensor and an HDR mode, giving you excellent image quality.

High dynamic range means you can capture perfect exposures in timelapse videos.

build_3

camera_mario-tl-b

Parts

parts_5

parts_4

3D Printing

Parts List

STL files for 3D printing are oriented to print "as-is" on FDM style machines. Most parts are designed to 3D print without any support material. Original design source may be downloaded using the link below.

list_5

Edit Design

Download Pi Piranha Cam STLs + 3MF

Slice with settings for PLA material.

The parts were sliced using CURA using the slice settings below.

  • PLA filament 220c extruder

  • 0.2 layer height

  • 10% gyroid infill

  • 60mm/s print speed

  • 60c heated bed

Assemble

Mount the fan

Plug the fan cable into the port by the headers on the Pi. Align the sticky thermal pads to the chips on the Pi.

Gently apply pressure to the spring screws to the inner screw (the two holes without the yellow outlines) mounts on the Pi.

assemble_6

assemble_7

Camera ribbon cable

Insert the included 150mm camera cable into the CAM/DISP 0 port as follows:

Gently pull the two connector latches on each side of the camera ribbon connector.

The cable should face toward the USB A ports. Press fit the ribbon cable into the camera port.

Push each side of the latch connector one at a time to firmly attach the ribbon cable.

camera_8

Mount Pi

Align the USB A ports to the cutout on the bottom printed case.

Fasten it using three M2.5x6mm screws.

Leave the standoff next to the USB C port without a screw to accommodate the display standoff.

mount_9

Display standoff

Use one of the Hyper Pixel standoffs (included) to help level the display when attached to the Pi.

Attach the standoff next to the longer ribbon cable port.

Make sure the camera ribbon cable is laying towards the USB A ports.

Add the included header extender to the display and mount to the headers on the Pi.

standoff_10

standoff_11

standoff_12

Peel the protective film

Remove the protective film off the display before attaching the front case.

Slide the front case rails under the display with the USB port cutout first.

Press fit the rails one side at a time to snap fit together.

peel_13

peel_14

peel_15

Assemble stem

Align the stem to the sleeve and fasten the tabs on the sides with two M2.5x6mm screws.

The front screw holes use two M2.5x5mm screws, fasten from underneath the sleeve.

stem_16

stem_17

stem_18

Stem ribbon cable

Align the sleeve to the screen cutout.

Insert the ribbon cable into the stem cavity.

ribbon_19

Place bottom mouth

Align the ribbon cutout to the bottom mouth part and place over the screw mounts on the end of the stem.

Pass the ribbon cable through the cutout.

Fasten the mouth to the stem. The two screws on the outer side are M2.5x6mm long. The two center screws are M2.5x5mm long.

mouth_20

mouth_21

Attach the camera module

Gently pull the two connector latches on each side of the camera module.

Press fit the ribbon cable into the camera port.

Push each latch connector one at a time to firmly attach the ribbon cable.

Angle the camera module to press fit into the bottom nubs.

Fasten with two M2x6mm screws to the top standoffs.

module_22

Attach the top mouth

Place the top mouth part over the screw holes and fasten with three to six M2.5x6mm screws.

To secure the sleeve to the case, use two M2.5x6mm screw on the sides.

top_23

Attach the leaf

The leaf press fits by gently bending one side of the cutout and place over the stem.

leaf_24

Tripod attachment

The tripod sleeve press fits to the bottom of the case and can be fasten with two M2.5x6mm screws.

A 3/8" to 1/4" adapter screw threads into the screw hole.

tripod_25

tripod_26

window_27

Use

The default installation of Raspberry Pi OS includes support for the V3 cameras. A full list of commands is linked below.

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Raspberry Pi Camera Commands

Preview camera

Open a terminal window and load a preview window to frame up the camera.

Download File

Copy Code
rpicam-hello -t0 --hdr

Timelapse settings

We used the settings below for quick on location timelapses.

For 10 mins it will take one picture every 1 second.

Download File

Copy Code
rpicam-still -t 600000 --timelapse 1000 --datetime –hdr

camera_mario-tl-b

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