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3D Printed Robot Arm

by Beaconsfield on May 15, 2014

Table of Contents

3D Printed Robot Arm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Intro: 3D Printed Robot Arm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 1: Print the parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 2: Arduino Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

File Downloads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 3: Extend the servo cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Step 4: Make more cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 5: Build circuit board . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Step 6: Build the gripper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Step 7: Build the lower segment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Step 8: Build the middle segment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Step 9: Route the cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Step 10: Attach the arm to the base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Step 11: Build the base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Step 12: Make the control panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Step 13: Add the circuit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Step 14: Plug in the Arduino and servos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Step 15: Close up the base . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Step 16: Play! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Related Instructables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

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Comments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

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 Author:Beaconsfield
Despite studying mechanical engineering, I now make lots of non-mechanical things as part of the Instructables content team.

Intro: 3D Printed Robot Arm

This robot arm is made almost entirely of 3D printed parts that snap together. It has three servo-controlled joints, plus a rotating base and gripper. The arm is controlled
by a series of buttons that connect to an Arduino Uno hidden in the base. A simple circuit makes connecting the servos and buttons to the Arduino easy and makes set-
up and assembly very quick.

Materials:

Arduino Uno - RadioShack 276 128

Standard servos (4x) - RadioShack 273 766
Micro servos (2x) - RadioShack 273 765
Momentary push buttons (8x) – RadioShack 275 1566
On/off switch - RadioShack 55050508 (web only)
Potentiometer and knob (specific resistance doesn't matter) - RadioShack 271 215 and RadioShack 274 416
Green LED - RadioShack 276 022
Printed circuit board - RadioShack 276 149
10K Ohm resistor (8x) - RadioShack 271 1335
220 Ohm resistor - RadioShack 271 1111
Various wires and connectors
Nuts and bolts (16x 8-32, 1/2” long)
Afinia 3D printer - RadioShack 277 181
1kg roll of PLA filament - RadioShack 277 163
power supply, capable of 2A (I used a standard bench supply for prototyping, so something like RadioShack 550 57676 (web only) or RadioShack 22 507 should
work although you will need to regulate the voltage before sending it to the Arduino and servos)

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http://www.instructables.com/id/3D-Printed-Robot-Arm/
Step 1: Print the parts
The arm is about 20 inches long, so it takes a lot of time and material to print. The parts are sized to fit on the bed of the Afinia H479 printer, and some can be printed
together on the same platform to save time. I used a resolution of 0.25mm and hollow fill for all the parts (other settings were set to the defaults). In addition, I found that I
needed to use a raft to both help the part adhere to the print platform and help the printer compensate for my table, which was not perfectly level.

The total estimated print time for the arm is about 32.5 hours, although as mentioned earlier some parts can be printed together (the estimate was done using the print
preview function of Afinia's software - my actual print time was difficult to calculate because I was still iterating through designs). Including the raft material, it uses 842.8g
of filament, which means it can be printed from one 1kg roll.

Most of the parts have "flat" sides that should face the platform (see images). Many of them also have fairly delicate tabs for holding the cables, so take care when you
remove the raft and support material. Study the stl file first to get an idea of where the most delicate areas are.

Image Notes
1. You may want to remove the clips/bolts at the edges so there is room for the raft
to print

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File Downloads

final stls.zip (4 MB)

[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'final stls.zip']
Step 2: Arduino Code
While you wait for parts to print, work on uploading the code and soldering the electronics.

The Arduino code for controlling the servos is very straightforward. The joints and gripper servos are controlled by a pair of buttons that increase or decrease the servos'
positions by one step. The base is connected to a potentiometer that is mapped to its rotation. Depending on the order in which you wire your buttons, you may need to
adjust the pin numbers in the code

I recommend testing the code with your servos to make sure that their limits are consistent with those defined in the code. Testing them after the arm is assembled could
damage or break it.

The same physical setup can be used with different code if you wish to have your arm do simple automated tasks. (note that there is no positioning feedback, so the
accuracy of the arm is limited by the accuracy of the servos)

File Downloads

arm_full.zip (1 KB)
[NOTE: When saving, if you see .tmp as the file ext, rename it to 'arm_full.zip']
Step 3: Extend the servo cables
Since the servos will be positioned at various points along the arm, the cables need to be extended. Simply cut the cable and solder in an extension between the servo
and the connector.

Servo position, Extension length, Number of servos

Base, none, 1 standard servo

Lower joint, 5 inches, 2 standard servos

Middle joint, 10 inches, 1 standard servo

Upper joint, 15 inches, 1 micro servo

Gripper, 18 inches, 1 micro servo

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 Image Notes
1. Cut the cable and solder on extensions (keep the colors consistent!)

Step 4: Make more cables

Next, make two sets of cables for connecting the circuit board to the Arduino. The servo signal cable has male headers at both ends, each with 6 pins (one per servo).
The button signal cable also has male headers at both ends, but they have 8 pins each (one per button). In addition, at one end separate two of the pins from the other
six, as they will be plugged in on the opposite side of the Arduino.

Image Notes
1. Servo signal cable
2. Button signals cable
3. This end goes to the circuit board
4. These go to pins 2-7 on the Arduino
5. These go to pins A3 and A4

Step 5: Build circuit board

The circuit board for the arm is mostly a method for efficiently routing the various wires and signals, rather than a way of adding more components. Start with the
resistors, then the various connectors (note that some of them are female and some male). Finally, solder in the connections.

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 Image Notes
1. Male headers (all others are female)
Image Notes
1. (not actually a battery - will be a power supply)
2. Button

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http://www.instructables.com/id/3D-Printed-Robot-Arm/
 Image Notes
1. Solder carefully, and keep the rails separate
2. GND
3. 5V
4. 5V
5. GND

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Step 6: Build the gripper
Once you have your parts, you can start assembly. Begin by pushing the microservo (with the longest extension cable) into the gripper base and route the cable through
the channel. Attach the 4-prong horn to the microservo and rotate it to where you want the most "open" position for the gripper to be. Push on the claws, making sure the
gears mesh. Push the other microservo into the side of the gripper and assemble the rest of the gripper. The top of the gripper has pins that help hold the claws in place,
and may require a small amount of sanding to fit easily (try not to force them, as they may break off).

Set aside the assembled gripper.

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http://www.instructables.com/id/3D-Printed-Robot-Arm/
 Image Notes
1. Push all the way in

Step 7: Build the lower segment

Now build the lower segment of the arm.

Match the long parts of the arm segment together by their cable channels and push them together. Snap in the 4-prong servo horns, making sure they are pushed all the
way to the back. Bolt the servo to its mount, checking that the bulk of the servo is on the interior of the arm segment (see photos). Connect the two halves of the lower
segment together using the small braces. The thicker braces go on the side of the segments with the servo horns.

Image Notes
1. Match the cable paths
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 Image Notes
1. Servo should face "out"

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 Image Notes
1. push the cable into the channel and under the tabs to hold it in place

Image Notes
1. Make the brace flush with all edges

Step 8: Build the middle segment

Assemble the long sides of the middle segment in the same way as the lower segment, including the servo horns. On the gripper, rotate the upper joint's microservo to
one of its limits and push it into the microservo horn, keeping the parts at approximately 90 degree angles. Do the same with the middle joint servo. This will align the
servos so that their limits are symmetrical and the joints have a good range of motion. Attach the braces to one side of the middle segment for stability.

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 Image Notes
1. Build the middle segment around the upper and lower segments
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 Image Notes
1. Make sure the pin goes into the socket

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Step 9: Route the cables
Starting on the still-open side of the middle segment, gently push the cables into their channels and under the tabs. To make sure that there is enough slack for the
moving joints, rotate the part so the cable is as far from the channel as it can be and loosely clip in the cable. Continue to route the cables, carefully removing (and then
replacing) braces if necessary to reach the clips. If you use a tool to help clip in the cables be careful not to pinch or accidentally cut the wires.

Image Notes
1. Push the cables into the channels

Image Notes
1. You may need to remove braces to reach the cables

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Step 10: Attach the arm to the base
Attach one standard servo to a servo mount and place both mounts in the rotating base. Place the top two bolts for the second servo in the mount, but do not add the
servo. Rotate the mounted servo so it is at one of its limits and gently slide in the arm and press on the servo horn. Push the second servo (rotate it to its limit first) into
the other horn and secure it using the remaining bolts. Thread the servo cables through the holes in the rotating base.

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 Image Notes
1. Add the bolts, but not the servo
2. Push on the servo horn

Image Notes
1. Add the second servo after the arm is in place

Step 11: Build the base

Push the final servo horn into the bottom of the rotating base (in my case, the black circular part). Sandwich the top of the base (the part with the circular hole) between
the two halves of the rotating base and snap the two halves together. The arm should now be able to rotate while being constrained by the base.

Mount the last servo (this one should have no extension cables) to the bottom of the base. Make sure it is facing the correct direction. Rotate it to one of its limits and
rotate the arm to match, keeping an eye on the cables. Push the top of the base into the bottom, meshing the teeth and the servo/horn. If you rotate the arm, you should
hear the base servo rotating with it.

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 Image Notes
1. "Sandwich" the top of the base between the two discs

Image Notes
1. Add the servo horn

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 Image Notes
1. The cable should be at the bottom Image Notes
1. Feed the cables through the holes
2. Push on the bottom

Step 12: Make the control panel

The control panel has 8 buttons, a potentiometer, an LED, and an on/off switch. It's easiest to solder leads to all the parts before attaching them to the base (color code
the wires: red = power, black = GND, anything else = signal). In addition, add a 220 Ohm resistor to the end of the LED's positive lead.

The buttons and potentiometer I used were threaded and I was able to bolt them around the base. The LED and on/off switch both press-fit into the base. Feed one of the
switch's wires out the hole in the side and twist a black wire around it (this black wire will supply ground for the circuit). Once the parts are inserted, attach the knob to the
potentiometer.

Next, bundle some of the wires together. The 5V power lines from the buttons will all be powered from one pin on the circuit board. The 8 signal lines should be soldered
to a male connector - use a logical order to keep track of which button is which (see the photo for the order I used).

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 Image Notes
1. (I ran out of buttons of the same size. Pretend they're the same as the shorter
ones)

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 Image Notes
1. Bolt on all the buttons

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 Image Notes
1. Bundle and solder the 5V wires
2. Solder the negative leads of the buttons to a 8 pin male connector

Step 13: Add the circuit

At this point simply plug the cables from the control panel into the circuit. The header goes to the row of female connectors just under the resistors (the one below that will
go to the Arduino). The 5V from the potentiometer and the buttons go to the 5V headers. Ground from the potentiometer, the LED, and the black wire go to the GND
headers.

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Step 14: Plug in the Arduino and servos
Using the cables you made earlier, plug in the Arduino. The buttons go to pins 2-7 and A3, A4. The servos signals go to pins 8-13. The power for the LED goes to the
3.3V pin, and the wiper of the potentiometer goes to pin A0.

The plugs from the servos go to the male headers at the top of the circuit board. (see photo)

Test the code at this point - be careful, the arm will "jump" awake and might hit something (aka you). Check that the servos move in the right directions when you push
the buttons. If necessary, update the code to reflect how you assembled the arm (some button/servo relationships may need to be reversed - just swap the button
numbers in the if statements).

Image Notes
1. The paper is to keep the bottom of the circuit board from touching exposed
metal on the Arduino and creating a short circuit

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Step 15: Close up the base
Flatten the electronics as best you can, and push the control panel onto its matching bottom part. Then close up the two halves.

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Step 16: Play!
Grab your power supply, and you're ready to go! Since there are six servos, the arm pulls a lot of current (2A on start up and about 1.5A during operation).

Once you have the arm working, you can customize it by adding a different gripper or changing the code to do autonomous tasks.

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Comments
5 comments Add Comment

dka13 says: Jul 18, 2014. 6:41 PM REPLY

I so need to make this

treyes4 says: Jul 18, 2014. 6:33 PM REPLY

Just when can I win a 3D printer here in instructables I have created so many models waiting to be printed just like this

http://www.instructables.com/id/3D-Printed-Robot-Arm/
 KyleTheCreator says: Jul 18, 2014. 5:06 PM REPLY
Wow! If I had a 3D printer that would be the first thing that I would make. Would it work to install Sugru on the tips of the claws to enhance grip on objects?

kenyer says: Jul 18, 2014. 11:31 AM REPLY

I love your design and color-sceme. Nice job!

Danger is my middle name says: Jul 18, 2014. 9:08 AM REPLY

It's so cool to see it in action!

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