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YOU CAN BUILD A MACHINE THAT BENDS WIRE INTO ANY SHAPE

A machine that straightens wire, feeds it through a copper tube, and bends it into programmable 2D and 3D shapes — built mostly from 3D-printed gears and stepper motors.

by Dejan Nedelkovski

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

WorkshopRobotics

Built withArduino3D printing

difficulty
●●●●○
time
a long weekend-plus
license
license not specified
repo
repo FINISHED0 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

Videos
1
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COMPAREE VERDICT

Dejan Nedelkovski's 3D wire bending machine is a classic mechatronics build: rollers straighten the wire, a stepper feeds it, a NEMA 23 stepper and a small servo-driven pin bend it, and a Z-axis stepper rotates the whole bender so it can form 3D shapes. The How To Mechatronics page has the STL files, a custom PCB with Gerber file, the circuit diagram, the full Arduino code and a written step-by-step build with photos, plus a 15-minute video. It lists the main electronics but no cost estimate, and mechanical parts such as the 6202 bearings, copper tube and roller bearings are described in the write-up. No licence is stated. The author himself says the wire straightener does not work as well as it should, so expect to rework the feeder if you need straight wire.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —STL files, an assembly 3D model on Thangs, a Gerber file for the custom PCB, the circuit diagram and the full Arduino code are on the project page.
  • —No explicit licence is stated anywhere — the files are described as 'free' but there is no open-source licence declaration.
  • —The project page lists the main electronics (NEMA 17 and NEMA 23 steppers, DRV8825 drivers, limit switch, 12V adapter, Arduino); bearings, copper tube and fasteners you pick out from the written guide.
  • —The project page has a detailed written build with photos and diagrams, covering the frame, bearings, Z-axis, feeder, straightener, bender and electronics.
  • —No cost estimate is published. Budget for three steppers, three DRV8825 drivers, a servo, an Arduino Nano, bearings, the copper tube and the custom PCB.
  • —No licence restrictions stated, but the absence of a licence means you have no explicit permission for commercial use.

Parts to buy

12 items

From our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.

  • NEMA 23 stepper and NEMA 17 steppersFind
  • Three DRV8825 driversFind
  • Arduino NanoFind
  • MG996R servoFind
  • LM7805 regulatorFind
  • Micro limit switchFind
  • 12V supply of at least 3AFind
  • 6202 bearingsFind
  • About 30 cm of 15 mm copper tubeFind
  • Bearings for the straightening rollersFind
  • MDF and plywoodFind
  • Wire (the creator used 2 mm steel)Find

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Can I build this?

PrintGears, bearing pillow blocks, shaft couplers, the Z-axis motor bracket, shaft clamps and the grooved roller rings; the frame and bender plate are MDF and plywood
Buya NEMA 23 stepper (bending) and NEMA 17 steppers (feeder, Z-axis), three DRV8825 drivers, Arduino Nano, MG996R servo, LM7805 regulator, micro limit switch, 12V supply of at least 3A, 6202 bearings, about 30 cm of 15 mm copper tube, bearings for the straightening rollers, MDF and plywood, wire (the creator used 2 mm steel), and components for the custom PCB
Tools3D printer, circular saw or other way to cut MDF and plywood, drill with a 38 mm hole saw and 6 mm bit, hacksaw, soldering iron, basic hand tools, PCB ordered from the Gerber file
SkillsIntermediate-to-advanced: 3D printing, basic woodworking, Arduino and stepper-driver wiring, and reading a circuit diagram. The written tutorial walks through the build, but tuning bends takes methodical testing.
TimeA long weekend-plus: printing, cutting the wooden frame, assembly and wiring, then extra evenings tuning bends for your wire.
Cost$$ — no official estimate; steppers, drivers, bearings and the custom PCB are the main costs.
SafetyNone beyond ordinary electronics care. The wire is fed slowly and the bending forces are low. Keep fingers clear of the bending head while it is running, but there is no mains voltage, high speed, or sharp tooling.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

Arduino 3D Wire Bending Machine

2.47 million views. The creator's own build and demo video; the written tutorial on the project page covers the same build step by step with photos.

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Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Watch the video first (The video and the written tutorial cover the same build; the written page gives part sizes such as the 6202 bearings and 15 mm copper tube.)
  2. 2.Download the files (STLs, STEP model, Gerber files, schematic and Arduino code are all on the project page.)
  3. 3.Make a parts list(Start from the components list on the project page, then add bearing sizes, roller dimensions and the copper tube from the written guide.)
  4. 4.Order or fabricate the PCB(Gerber files are included. You can order from JLCPCB, PCBWay, or etch/mill your own if you have the setup.)

Resources

Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.

KNOWN ISSUES

  • The parts list covers the electronics, but bearings, wire rollers and the copper tube are only described in the write-up. Note every size from the guide before you order.
  • No licence is stated. The files are described as free but there is no open-source licence, so you have no explicit permission for commercial use or redistribution.
  • Wire springback is not calibrated automatically. Different gauges and materials (steel vs aluminium) will require manual tuning of bending angles in the code.
  • The wire straightener does not work as well as it should: the author found that tightening it makes the feeder lose grip. He suggests a stronger material than the copper tube on the feeder or a different feeder design.
  • The custom PCB is optional — you can wire everything on a breadboard or protoboard — but the PCB makes the wiring cleaner and the machine more reliable.
  • No cost estimate is provided. Price out the steppers, drivers, servo, Arduino Nano, bearings, copper tube and PCB yourself before you start.

What wire gauges does it handle?

The creator used 2 mm steel wire. He says anything thicker would need a different design or a more powerful bending motor.

Can it bend stainless steel?

The creator bent 2 mm steel wire; stainless is harder and springier, so expect more calibration and possibly a stronger bending motor. The source does not test it.

Do I need the custom PCB?

No. You can wire the steppers, drivers and Arduino on a breadboard or protoboard. The PCB is cleaner and more reliable, but not required to get it working.

How do I generate shapes to bend?

The code has preset shapes (star, cube, stand) and a manual mode where you type serial commands: f plus a feed length in mm, b plus a bend angle, z plus a Z-axis rotation. For your own shape you write a new function or a list of those moves — there is no CAD-to-wire tool.

Is there a licence?

No licence is stated. The files are free to download but there is no explicit open-source licence, so commercial use or redistribution is not clearly permitted.

Community builds

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Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

Steppers, a servo, printed gears and an Arduino Nano are enough to bend wire into 3D shapes — what would you use it to make first?

CompareeTEAM6d agoedited

Practical notes from our verification: the How To Mechatronics project page has the STL files, STEP models, a Gerber file for the custom PCB and the full Arduino code, plus a components list with the key electronics: a NEMA 23 stepper for bending, NEMA 17 steppers, DRV8825 drivers, an MG996R servo, a micro limit switch, a 12V supply and an Arduino Nano. No licence is stated on the page, which is the biggest documentation gap if you plan to share or sell anything you make with it. The mechanism itself is clever: on top of the bending head, a separate Z-axis stepper rotates the bending mechanism, so it forms 3D shapes, not just flat patterns. The author is upfront that the wire straightening system does not work as well as it should, and wire springback varies with material and gauge, so expect to tune your bends by hand. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.

Dejan Nedelkovski

Dejan runs How To Mechatronics, a long-running maker channel and site focused on Arduino, 3D printing and motion control projects. He built this wire bending machine in 2018 and the video has been viewed 2.47 million times.

Web

Star the project on GitHub

DISCLAIMER

  • Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
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