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The Spanish organization BCN3D Technologies has developed an open-source, five-axis 3D printed robot arm based on the Arduino microcontroller.
The project has educational goals. The program was sponsored by the Department of Education of Catalonia. The robot called "BCN3D Moveo" is controlled by the Arduino Mega 2560 board and is designed to teach schoolchildren and students the skills of robotics, engineering design, and programming.
The main conditions were simplicity of design, maximum availability, and low cost of components, and no need for expensive specialized tools for manufacturing and assembly. It took about a year to develop the manipulator, but now students have a new budget tool to improve their knowledge of digital manufacturing technologies.
Part of the project was the creation of fifteen specialized workshops in various educational institutions in Catalonia, equipped with ready-made manipulators. Thanks to the open-source code, students will be able to use the devices in educational and research projects, and DIYers will be able to improve the design at their discretion. All the necessary files have been made publicly available on GitHub, and the creators do not plan to release a commercial version.
The developers claim that making your own robotic arm does not require advanced technical skills and invites everyone to participate in the dissemination and improvement of the design.
“The BCN3D Technologies project has a clear goal: to change the world’s view of creation. We offer public access to digital production technologies, considering them as an asset. We design and build home and professional 3D printers so that users learn new things with every print cycle. We adhere to an open-access model so that society can learn from the technical experience we have gained during development, ”the creators say.
