Robotic arms are utilized in industry for applications requiring high precision, repeatability, and automation. Existing robotic arms on the market have prohibitively high costs, creating a significant entry barrier for smaller companies. This project aims to design and implement a cost-effective robotic arm capable of precisely controlled movements that could be built and implemented by a smaller-scale company. This research is highly relevant to manufacturing as the demand for versatile robotic automation systems is high. Robotic systems are utilized to automate repetitive tasks, cut labor costs, and improve product quality through more consistent repeatability in the process. 

This project will involve the design and assembly of the robot’s structure using a combination of purchased parts and custom-designed parts. The custom parts will be designed in CAD software and 3D printed, allowing for quick iteration and prototyping. The robotic system will be controlled via a combination of a microcontroller and a custom computer application. The control software will implement a series of calculations to precisely position the robot on a cartesian coordinate system. The system will prioritize ease of manipulation to allow less technical employees of a smaller scale company to still be able to fully utilize the system with little training overhead.