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YOU CAN 3D PRINT A WORKING EXCAVATOR THAT HAS NO MOTORS AND NO ELECTRONICS

A fully working excavator you print on a desktop 3D printer, with three levers, hidden linkages and no electronics anywhere.

by Manish (TorqueOn)

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

Workshop

difficulty
●●○○○
time
a weekend
license
license not specified
repo
repo 0 stars

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

  • 3D printer + filament — printable parts — files are in the repo

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Videos
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COMPAREE VERDICT

This is a genuinely clever piece of mechanical design: three operator levers on one side drive concealed linkages inside the body so the boom, stick and bucket all move together, exactly the way a real hydraulic excavator does, without a single motor or battery. The whole machine prints on an ordinary desktop printer (the designer used a Bambu P1S), and the cost is filament plus a handful of M3 fasteners and some string. Commercially, a hydraulic RC excavator of this size runs 400 dollars to 1,500 dollars; here you are printing parts for a weekend. The catch is documentation. There is no step-by-step assembly manual — you follow the 11-minute build video on YouTube, pausing and rewinding as you go. The video is clear and complete, but if you have never assembled a geared or linkage-based print before, expect to spend time figuring out which rod goes where and how tightly to tension the strings. The designer, Manish, publishing as TorqueOn, released the files free on 22 August 2026. If you are comfortable working from video and have patience for mechanical tuning, this is an excellent weekend build. If you need written instructions and a formal BOM before you start, wait for the community to catch up.

NOT IN THE REPO

  • —STL files are on MakerWorld, published 22 August 2026 and free to download under the platform's Standard Digital File License.
  • —The STL descriptions list fastener types and string, but there is no consolidated bill of materials or build manual — you work from the build video.
  • —No CAD source files (STEP, F3D) are provided, only printable STLs.
  • —The platform's standard file licence allows personal and commercial use but requires attribution and forbids redistribution of the files themselves.
  • —No electronics, firmware or code — this is a purely mechanical design.

Can I build this?

PrintAll parts: body, boom, stick, bucket, levers, gears and linkage components. PLA is fine; PETG if you want more durability outdoors.
BuyM3 fasteners (screws, nuts, washers — exact count not listed, but under 50 pieces total) and string or fishing line for the control linkages. Total hardware cost under $10.
ToolsDesktop 3D printer (designer used Bambu P1S, but any similar printer works), screwdrivers, flush cutters for support removal.
SkillsBasic 3D printing and mechanical assembly. You need to be comfortable threading string through small channels and tuning tension so the linkages move smoothly without binding. If you have built a geared toy or a cable-driven mechanism before, this is straightforward. If not, plan extra time.
TimePrint time roughly 20-30 hours depending on your printer and layer height. Assembly 3-6 hours, longer if you are learning linkage tuning as you go. A weekend total if your prints go cleanly; a weekend-plus if you hit failures or need to reprint a part.
Cost$: filament (roughly 300-400g PLA or PETG, under $10) plus a small bag of M3 hardware and string. Total material cost under $20.
SafetyNone beyond ordinary 3D printing precautions. No mains voltage, no batteries, no sharp blades, no lasers. Entirely mechanical.

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

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Videos

Working Mechanical Excavator - Build Video11:03

11-minute build walkthrough showing all printed parts, hardware installation, string routing and final assembly. No voiceover, but the visual sequence is complete and clear. This is your assembly manual.

Gallery

Start here

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

  1. 1.Download the STL files from MakerWorld (Published 22 August 2026, free to download. Read the file descriptions for the fastener list.)
  2. 2.Watch the full build video before you print (This is your assembly guide. Note what hardware goes where and how the strings are routed.)
  3. 3.Print all parts(PLA is fine for desktop use, PETG if you want weather resistance. Standard 0.2mm layer height, 15-20% infill. Print time roughly 20-30 hours total.)
  4. 4.Assemble following the video(Install fasteners, route the strings through the linkage channels, then tune the tension so all three controls move smoothly. Expect to iterate on string length.)

Resources

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

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KNOWN ISSUES

  • There is no written assembly manual or formal bill of materials. You build from the 11-minute YouTube video, pausing and rewinding. If you need step-by-step text instructions, this will frustrate you.
  • The string tension matters. If it is too loose, the levers will not move the arms; too tight and the mechanism binds. Plan time to tune it, and keep extra string on hand.
  • The designer does not specify exact string type or M3 fastener counts in one place — you extract that from the video and the STL descriptions. Write down what you see before you order hardware.
  • This is a mechanical linkage, not a gear train. If a part warps or prints with dimensional errors, the arms may not move smoothly. Print dimensional test pieces if your printer tends to shrink PLA.
  • The model was paid until late August 2026, so the ecosystem of remixes, troubleshooting posts and alternative hardware lists is still thin. You are on the early side of the adoption curve.
  • The platform licence allows commercial use with attribution, but you cannot redistribute the STL files themselves. If you want to sell finished models, read the MakerWorld terms.

Do I need a multi-material or CoreXY printer?

No. The designer printed this on a Bambu P1S, but any desktop FDM printer with a build volume of roughly 200×200×200mm will work. Single-material PLA is fine.

Can I scale it up or down?

Probably, but the linkage geometry and string tensions will change. If you scale it, expect to re-tune everything and possibly adjust hole sizes for fasteners. Start at 100% unless you have experience with mechanical scaling.

What if the boom does not move when I pull the lever?

Check string tension first, then verify that the linkage rods are seated in their channels and not binding. The video shows the correct range of motion — if yours does not match, one part is likely misaligned or a print has warped.

Is there a way to motorise this later?

Mechanically yes — you could drive the levers with servos — but the designer did not include mounting points or control arms for servos. You would be designing that part yourself.

Community builds

No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.

Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

The whole machine runs on three levers, hidden linkages and string tension — no battery, no board, no code. If you have built cable-driven or geared prints before, what is the one thing you tune first to get smooth motion?

CompareeTEAM1d agoedited

Practical notes from our verification: the MakerWorld page went live on 22 August 2026 and the files are free to download under the platform's Standard Digital File License — check that licence before you sell anything you print. There is no consolidated assembly manual: the 11-minute YouTube build video is your guide, and it is complete but requires pausing and note-taking. The designer lists fastener types in the STL descriptions but not in a single BOM, so you extract hardware counts from the video. The biggest variable is string tension: too loose and the levers do nothing, too tight and the linkages bind. Plan time to iterate, and keep extra string or fishing line on hand. Because the model is only days old, there is not yet a catalogue of remakes or troubleshooting threads to lean on.

Manish (TorqueOn)

The designer, who goes by Manish and publishes as TorqueOn, built this as a purely mechanical alternative to expensive hydraulic RC excavators. The designer, Manish, publishing as TorqueOn, released the files free on 22 August 2026.

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.
GitHub repo