Evezor: Open Source SCARA Robot Arm

Per this project’s Kickstarter video seen below, when 3D printing first jumped came into the mainstream, many people thought they could now make anything they wanted, perhaps even many of them to sell with no human interaction. While true in some sense, these machines do require human intervention between prints, and can take a very long time to produce useful parts. Additionally, some designs may require a different tool, such as a laser cutter or CNC router. That, of course, means more space and money, and still there is the issue of machine tending.

What is needed is a general robot that can adapt to your situation. Andrew Wingate’s open source Evezor robot aims to accomplish just that in the form of a SCARA, or selective compliance assembly robot arm. Using this time-tested industrial robotic concept, the arm is able to control a payload of up to 6.6lbs, with a nominal work envelope of 31.5in. This allows it to accomplish varied tasks such as CNC routing, welding, laser-engraving, and yes, even 3D printing. Additionally, with clever toolhead placement, it can load and unload parts as needed, fully automating production.

Control for this device is accomplished via a Raspberry Pi, along with two cameras for vision processing. Although its earlybird price tag on Kickstarter may be more than many consumer-level 3D printers, at $3162 it’s a fraction of what this type of robot would normally cost in industry — especially considering its included vision capabilities.