Artificial Arm – Build a Real Robotic Artificial Arm | Arctos Robotics
What Is An Artificial Arm

A robotic artificial arm — the closest thing to a human arm, engineered from scratch.

“The same architecture powering factory robots — now printable and buildable at your desk for $231.”

An artificial arm in robotics is a programmable, multi-jointed mechanical system that replicates the kinematic structure of a human arm. Each joint is driven by a motor, giving the arm precise, repeatable movement across multiple axes — enabling it to reach, rotate, pick, place, weld, or trace almost any spatial path.

Unlike fixed automation machinery, an artificial arm is inherently flexible. The same arm can sort components off a conveyor belt one day and follow a complex welding path the next — without changing hardware. This adaptability is why robotic artificial arms sit at the heart of modern industrial automation, academic research, and maker projects.

The Arctos artificial arm brings this technology to your desktop. Built from 168 3D-printed PLA parts, off-the-shelf hardware, and open-source firmware, it delivers genuine 6-axis motion — the same fundamental architecture as industrial arms costing tens of thousands of dollars — at a fraction of the price. Arctos Studio, the included free AI software, lets you program and simulate the arm exactly the way a professional robotics engineer would.

Whether you’re a student, a maker, or an engineer prototyping automation concepts, the Arctos artificial arm gives you a real, capable platform to build on.

6
DOF
Degrees of freedom — full arm dexterity
600
mm Reach
Maximum working radius
2
kg Payload
Effective carrying capacity
168
3D Parts
Printable on any FDM ≥ 200×200mm
What It Can Do

Every Task a Real Artificial Arm Performs

01
Pick & Place Automation
Repeatable pick-and-place with AI object recognition. Ideal for sorting, assembly, and light manufacturing tasks.
AI Vision
02
3D Printing Automation
Auto-remove prints from the bed and restart jobs — turning a single printer into a continuous production cell.
Automation
03
Welding & Path Following
Program complex 3D weld paths in Arctos Studio, simulate in the digital twin, then deploy to the physical arm instantly.
Path Planning
04
Reinforcement Learning
Train your artificial arm with AI RL algorithms. Define a task, reward successes, and watch the arm learn autonomously.
ML / RL
05
PLC Simulation
Design and test IEC 61131 ladder logic in Arctos Studio before deploying to real hardware — safe and fast.
IEC 61131
06
Mobile & Remote Control
Jog joints, run programs, and monitor axis positions from a smartphone or tablet over your local network.
Remote
Arctos Studio v3.0

Professional Robot Simulation Software — Free

Every Arctos artificial arm ships with Arctos Studio — industrial-grade robot simulation and control software. Simulate, program, and deploy your arm without touching firmware.

Digital Twin Technology — Real-time sync between physical arm and 3D simulation with <10ms latency.

AI & Vision Integration — Object recognition, reinforcement learning, depth camera collision avoidance.

PLC Simulation — Program ladder logic and test industrial workflows in a safe virtual environment.

Universal Offline Programming — Generate native code for KUKA, ABB, FANUC, UR, Mitsubishi, and more.

Runs anywhere — i5 processor, 4 GB RAM. Even runs on Raspberry Pi.

KUKAABB FANUCUR MitsubishiROS2

Explore Arctos Studio →
Arctos Studio robot simulation software for artificial arm
How to Build

From Zero to Running Artificial Arm in 5 Phases

15–25 hours total. Intermediate 3D printing skills required. Full documentation provided.

01

Order Kit

Choose open or closed loop. Hardware from $231, or source parts from the full BOM.

Day 1
02

Print Parts

168 PLA components on any FDM printer with 0.4mm nozzle. ~80–100 hrs print time.

Week 1–2
03

Assemble

Cycloidal & planetary gearboxes, motors, wiring, electronics. Full 3D manual included.

15–20 hrs
04

Flash & Calibrate

Flash GRBL firmware, configure Arctos Studio, calibrate each axis.

2–3 hrs
05

Run Programs

Write your first motion program. Your artificial arm is live.

Live!
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Artificial Arms

In robotics, an artificial arm is a programmable, multi-jointed mechanical device replicating the structure of a human arm. Motors drive each joint, and firmware plus software coordinate motion across multiple axes to achieve precise, repeatable 3D movement for automation, research, and education.
Yes. The Arctos is designed for home assembly. With a 3D printer, the hardware kit from $231, and 15–25 hours of build time, you’ll have a fully functional 6-axis artificial arm. The full assembly manual, wiring guides, and Discord community of 1,200+ builders support every step.
A prosthetic arm is a medical device worn by a person to replace a missing limb. A robotic artificial arm like the Arctos is an electromechanical system mounted on a fixture and controlled by software — designed for automation, research, and manufacturing rather than personal rehabilitation.
The v2 closed-loop kit uses magnetic encoders on every motor shaft for continuous position feedback and drift correction. Arctos Studio’s digital twin syncs with the physical arm at under 10ms latency, enabling accurate path programming for pick-and-place, welding simulation, and 3D printing automation.
Arctos Studio — a free professional robot simulation app — handles the arm. It includes AI object recognition, PLC programming, reinforcement learning, digital twin simulation, and offline programming for KUKA, ABB, FANUC, UR, and more. A Pro lifetime licence is €99. All firmware is open-source on GitHub with full ROS/ROS2 support.
The open-loop kit is beginner-rated (~15 hours). You need intermediate 3D printing skills, basic soldering, and patience for small mechanical assembly. The closed-loop kit is intermediate (~20 hours, encoder configuration required).

Your Artificial Arm is Waiting.

Join 1,200+ builders worldwide. Order the kit, fire up the printer, and have it running on your desk.

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