The project

Designed by an automation veteran. Shared with everyone who will build it.

Chris Annin started with the AR2 (open-loop steppers and an Arduino Mega) and iterated in public until the AR4-MK5.

The point of Annin Robotics is a 6-axis industrial arm cheap enough for a classroom, a garage shop, or a one-person cell. That only works if the design stays open, the motors stay factory-direct, and nobody is paying for injection-molded covers they could print.

You can use the AR4 to automate your own work, teach a course, or learn how a real arm is wired. Manufacturing the robot or its parts strictly to resell is not the deal. Counterfeit AR3/AR4 listings on AliExpress are not this project. They cannot run the current software and they use the wrong gearboxes.

Elsewhere

AFFORDABLE OPEN SOURCE ROBOTICS

The Annin Robotics AR4 is a 6 axis desktop robot arm you can build from our kits or source yourself. The 3D models, control software and build manuals are all free on our downloads page.

GOAL:

I have a passion for robotics. I’ve always wondered why robots have to cost more than $30K, and I wanted to bring a lower cost option to the table so the rest of us can experience and play with 6 axis robots.

TODAY:

The AR4 is my fourth generation 6 axis robot, following the AR2 and AR3. Thousands of builders, schools and labs now use it around the world. I keep improving the software, ROS 2 support and hardware with each release, and I’m still keeping the design simple and affordable.