Ark_Bot
A pick-and-place robotic arm intended for home building, with published 3D parts and an assembly handbook.
Project documentation
Before you build
Five answers, each linked to its source
What does it cost?
£348.12Amazon total
The listed Amazon total is £348.12. README
Can I sell what I build?
YesCommercial use OK
Hardware MIT · Software MIT. Licensing source
What’s open?
4 of 6CAD: AvailableBOM: AvailablePCB: Not documentedCode: PartialSim: AvailableGuide: Available
Code partial · PCB not documented. All six files
Is it maintained?
Dormant
Latest activity Oct 13, 2025 · 0 commits in the last 52 weeks · 2 contributors Activity
01 / Under the shell
The specifications.
Hardware, build and software on one sheet. Every fact links to where we found it.
ArkBot is a pick-and-place robotic arm designed for home building. Its handbook lists 3D parts and required tools, including a 3D printer, and gives a reach of 1 m and a payload of 1.8 kg.
Hardware
Building it
- Required tool
- 3D printer README
02 / The files behind the robot
What’s open.
Six parts of the build, each checked separately. Gaps stay visible.
| Part | Status | What’s there | License | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAD | Available | STEP CAD files are listed in the 3D assets folder. | Not documented | Everything/ |
| Bill of materials | Available | An Excel spreadsheet is provided as a checklist for the 3D models. | Not documented | List of all 3D models and BOM.xlsx |
| Electronics | Not documented | Not documented | Not documented | No source found |
| Code | Partial | Configuration.py and motor-configuration instructions are referenced. | Not documented | arkbot/ |
| Simulation model | Available | The project includes a URDF file. | Not documented | URDF/ |
| Assembly guide | Available | The handbook has an Assembly Guide section with an assembly video. | Not documented | README.md |
03 / Know before you build
Can you sell it?
YesCommercial use OK
The whole repository, design files included, is MIT. You can build, modify and sell robots based on it, as long as you keep the license and copyright notices.
- Hardware
- MIT
- Software
- MIT
04 / The upstream project
Is it maintained?
DormantLatest activity Oct 13, 2025, 382 days before the snapshot
- Stars
- 32
- Forks
- 2
- Contributors
- 2
- Latest release
- None recorded
Snapshot captured Oct 30, 2026. Recorded figures, not live metrics. Active: activity within 90 days of the snapshot. Quiet: within a year. Dormant: longer.
05 / Parts & kits
A head start.
Maker-listed sellers only. No affiliate links or paid placement.
Kit availability is not documented in our reviewed sources.
06 / Side by side
Compare with other arms.
The three arms with the closest documented maker’s cost. Same sources, same rules.
| Robot | Cost | Open files | Can I sell it? | Runs on | Maintained | Stars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ark_BotThis robotRobotics-Ark | £348.12Amazon total | 4 of 6 | YesHW MIT · SW MIT | Python | DormantOct 13, 2025 | 32 |
| ALTO 3D Printed 6 Axis Robotic Arm (WIP)liaochikon | About $400total for the robot | 3 of 6 | YesHW MIT · SW MIT | Python | Not documented | — |
| PingTi Armnomorewzx | About $261single PingTi arm | 4 of 6 | YesHW Apache-2.0 · SW Apache-2.0 | LeRobot | ActiveOct 20, 2026 | 55 |
| AM-ARM200Li Yiteng and Wu Zhiyong | $243.33follower arm BOM | 4 of 6 | YesHW Apache-2.0 · SW Apache-2.0 | LeRobot | QuietJun 18, 2026 | 90 |
| This robotArk_Bot | ALTO 3D Printed 6 Axis Robotic Arm (WIP) | PingTi Arm |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| £348.12 | About $400 | About $261 |
| Can I sell it? | ||
| Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Open files | ||
| 4 of 6 | 3 of 6 | 4 of 6 |
| Runs on | ||
| Python | Python | LeRobot |
| Maintained | ||
| DormantOct 13, 2025 | Not documented | ActiveOct 20, 2026 |
Upkeep is measured against each robot’s own snapshot. Costs keep the maker’s scope, so check what each figure covers.
See them in the table07 / Follow the evidence
Open books.
Repository files are pinned to commit f0d24f4. Websites and papers are listed with their review dates.
- 01README.md at f0d24f4Reviewed Oct 30, 2026
- 02LICENSE at f0d24f4Reviewed Oct 30, 2026
- 03hardware/README.md at f0d24f4Reviewed Oct 30, 2026