Hiwonder LeArm 6-DOF Robotic Arm Kit
Open-source 6-servo arm with claw, PC/app control and tutorials — the classic "first serious arm" for makers.
Best for: Your first programmable 6-DOF arm
DIY Robotics · Make it move
Build a DIY robotic arm at home — from your first servo to a 6-axis machine.
The maker’s guide to building a robotic arm yourself. Pick a build, follow the wiring and code, and watch it move. Arduino, Raspberry Pi, 3D-printed, stepper-motor and budget cardboard projects — all explained in plain language.
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Tested, buildable plans
Every guide lists exact parts, wiring diagrams and copy-paste code — written to actually work, not just to read.
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The theory, made simple
Degrees of freedom, torque budgets and inverse kinematics explained without a robotics degree.
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Any budget
From a $10 cardboard build to a precision 3D-printed manipulator — start where you are.
What is a DIY robotic arm?
A DIY robotic arm is a robotic manipulator you build yourself: a chain of rigid links connected by motor-driven joints, ending in a gripper or other tool. Each joint adds a degree of freedom — an independent way the arm can move — so that with the right angle sent to every joint, the gripper lands exactly where you want it.
The beauty of building one yourself is that it teaches the entire core of robotics in one project: structure, actuators, power, control and kinematics. A hobby arm uses the same ideas as a $50,000 industrial robot — just with hobby servos instead of precision motors, and cardboard or 3D-printed parts instead of machined aluminium. If you’re brand new, start with our plain-English guide to how to build a robotic arm, or read how robotic arms work to understand the mechanism first.
Choose your path
Three ways to build your first robotic arm
Not sure where to start? Match the build to your tools and experience.
Beginner
No-code & cardboard
Build a moving gripper from cardboard and a couple of servos — no soldering, no programming. The fastest way to understand how a joint and an actuator work.
IntermediateArduino + servos
Wire up 4–6 servos to an Arduino, write your first motion code, and control the arm from a potentiometer or your keyboard. The classic maker build.
Advanced3D-printed 6-axis
Print a rigid 6 DOF frame, drive it with high-torque servos, and add inverse kinematics so you can command a target point in space rather than each joint.
Compare builds
Types of DIY robotic arms
Every approach to building a robotic arm at home, by cost and difficulty.
Parts & kits
Get the parts to build it
The exact servos, boards, controllers and kits we recommend — matched to the guides. Browse all parts & kits →
🦾 Robotic Arm Kits⚙️ Servo Motors🎛️ Controllers & Servo Drivers🧠 Microcontroller Boards🔄 Stepper Motors⚡ Power & Voltage Regulators🤏 Grippers & Claws🧵 3D Printer Filament🛠️ Tools & Soldering🎚️ Sensors & Encoders🔌 Wiring & Breadboards🔩 Fasteners & Hardware
Seeed Studio SO-ARM101 6-DOF AI Robotic Arm
Low-cost open-source LeRobot arm for AI / imitation-learning projects — compatible with NVIDIA Jetson.
Best for: AI & machine-learning builds
Miuzei MG996R Metal-Gear Digital Servo (6-Pack)
Six 55g metal-gear servos — enough to drive a full 6-DOF arm in one buy.
Best for: Driving a full 6-DOF arm
Popular guides
Popular DIY robotic arm guides
Start here
How to Build a Robotic Arm: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
Learn how to build a robotic arm from scratch — the parts, degrees of freedom, wiring and code you need, plus a clear path from your first servo to a working 6-axis arm.
Builds by platformArduino Robotic Arm: Build a 4-DOF Servo Arm (Wiring + Code)
Build a 4-DOF Arduino robotic arm with hobby servos. Full parts list, wiring diagram, power tips and copy-paste Arduino code to control it with potentiometers or serial commands.
Parts & hardwareRobotic Arm Parts: The Complete Components List for a DIY Build
Every part you need to build a DIY robotic arm — servos, controller, driver, power supply, frame, gripper and fasteners — what each component does and how to choose it.
Builds by platform3D Printed Robotic Arm: Build a Rigid 6-Axis Arm at Home
How to build a 3D printed robotic arm — choosing a design, the best servos and bearings, print settings for strong parts, and assembling a precise 6-axis manipulator.
Builds by platformRaspberry Pi Robotic Arm: Add Vision, AI and a Web Interface
Build a Raspberry Pi robotic arm — when to choose a Pi over Arduino, controlling servos with a PCA9685, adding camera vision, and driving the arm from a web browser with Python.
Projects & ideasDIY Robotic Arm Projects: 15 Builds & Ideas (Beginner to Advanced)
15 DIY robotic arm projects sorted beginner to advanced, with parts, cost, and skills for each. Pick your next robot arm build and start today.
Explore by topic
- Builds by platform: Arduino robotic arm, Raspberry Pi robotic arm, 3D-printed designs, and stepper-motor builds.
- Code & electronics: Arduino robotic arm code and how to power the arm without frying your board.
- Parts & hardware: the complete robotic arm parts list, choosing servo motors, building a gripper / end effector, and the best robotic arm kits.
- The concepts: degrees of freedom, inverse kinematics, and how robotic arms work.
- Project ideas: 15 DIY robotic arm projects from beginner to advanced.
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in-depth guides
$10
cheapest build
1
afternoon to first motion
6
DOF in a full arm
Frequently asked questions
What is a DIY robotic arm?
A DIY robotic arm is a robotic manipulator you build yourself from a chain of motor-driven joints ending in a gripper. Hobby versions use an Arduino or Raspberry Pi, a few servo motors, and a structure made from cardboard, laser-cut wood, or 3D-printed parts — recreating, at low cost, what an industrial robot arm does.
Is it hard to build a robotic arm yourself?
Not at all to start. A beginner can build a working cardboard or wooden arm with a few hobby servos and an Arduino in an afternoon. Difficulty scales with what you want: a 6-axis, 3D-printed arm with inverse kinematics is an advanced project, but every guide here breaks the work into small, testable steps.
How much does it cost to build a DIY robotic arm?
A basic Arduino + servo arm costs roughly $25–$60 in parts. A solid 4–6 DOF 3D-printed build runs $80–$200 depending on servo quality and whether you print the parts yourself. Pre-made kits range from $40 entry kits to $300+ for metal-gear, high-torque platforms.
What do I need to build a robotic arm?
At minimum: a microcontroller (Arduino Uno or an ESP32), 3–6 hobby servos (SG90/MG996R class), a structure (cardboard, laser-cut wood, or 3D-printed parts), a separate 5–6V power supply for the servos, and jumper wires. Our parts guides cover exactly what to buy and why.
Can I build a robotic arm without a 3D printer?
Yes. You can build an excellent robotic arm from cardboard, laser-cut plywood, or an off-the-shelf kit — no 3D printer required. A printer adds rigidity and precision for advanced builds, but it is never a prerequisite to get started.
Arduino or Raspberry Pi for a robotic arm?
Use an Arduino (or ESP32) when you mainly need precise, real-time servo control — it is cheaper, simpler, and rock-solid for motion. Choose a Raspberry Pi when you want camera vision, machine learning, or a web interface on top of the arm. Many advanced builds use both: a Pi for the brain, an Arduino for the muscles.
What can a DIY robotic arm be used for?
Common uses include pick-and-place and sorting, automating a small repetitive task, camera-guided grabbing, teaching robotics and programming, and simply learning how actuators, control and kinematics fit together. It is one of the most hands-on ways to learn real robotics.