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A 3D-PRINTED TENTACLE THAT CURLS AND BENDS LIKE IT IS ALIVE

A segmented, cable-driven 3D-printed tentacle that curls and sways like an elephant trunk, designed by a Reddit maker in a single night for an art installation.

by u/musicatristedonaruto

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

RoboticsWorkshop

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WHAT YOU’LL NEED

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COMPAREE VERDICT

This is a striking kinetic sculpture: a tentacle made of translucent 3D-printed segments, strung on internal cables, that curls and sways with an almost organic motion. The maker designed it in a night for an art installation and says each joint bends about 10 degrees by design. What it is not, at least yet, is a buildable project. No STLs, parts list or instructions had been published when it was posted, and the demo clip does not show what is pulling the cables. A motorised version was still in progress. If you love kinetic art or want inspiration for a cosplay tail, puppet neck or animatronic, it is a great reference for how far segmented cable-driven designs can go. If you want to print this exact tentacle this weekend, you will have to wait for the maker to share files or design your own segments.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —Sources: the maker's Reddit post (an 18-second demo clip, no text) and the maker's replies in the comments.
  • —Confirmed by the maker: cable-driven articulation, about 10 degrees of bend per joint by design, designed in one night, made for an art installation.
  • —No STLs, CAD files, firmware, bill of materials or instructions had been published at the time of posting; the maker said the files were still being organised.
  • —The demo clip does not show a motor. A later work-in-progress photo from the maker shows a stepper motor with a cable spool being added.
  • —No licence has been stated, because nothing has been released yet.

Parts to buy

4 items

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

  • Cable or fishing line for the tendonsFind
  • For a motorised versionFind
  • Stepper motor and a spoolFind
  • Like the one in the maker's work-in-progress photoFind

Can I build this?

PrintSegmented tentacle parts; no STL files released yet
BuyCable or fishing line for the tendons; for a motorised version, a stepper motor and a spool, like the one in the maker's work-in-progress photo
ToolsA 3D printer, plus whatever you need to thread and tension the cables
SkillsDesigning your own segmented cable-driven joints until files are released: intermediate to advanced
TimeCannot be estimated without published files; the maker designed it in one night
CostCannot be estimated until the maker publishes a parts list
SafetyLow risk as a hand-operated sculpture. A motorised version adds the usual pinch risk at the spool and needs a properly rated motor power supply.

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

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Gallery

Start here

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

  1. 1.Read the maker's Reddit post (The maker shows the segmented, cable-driven design there and says the files still need organizing before release.)
  2. 2.Read the SpiRobs paper for the underlying idea (Related research on spiral, cable-driven robotic limbs, not this exact build.)

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

  • No files had been released when this was posted, so there is nothing to print yet unless the maker publishes them.
  • The demo clip shows the tentacle moving but not the drive. The motorised version with a stepper motor was still being built.
  • Cable-driven segmented designs need careful cable routing and tensioning; slack or friction in the cables makes the motion jerky.
  • Do not confuse this with the SpiRobs research robot. They share the cable-driven idea, but the geometry and design are different.

Can I download the STL and print this?

Not yet. When the post went up in July 2026, the maker said in the comments that the project was still in development and the files needed organising first. No download link had been shared at that point.

What makes it move?

Cables running through the segments. The maker confirmed in the comments that the articulation works via cables. The demo clip does not show a motor driving it; afterwards the maker said a motor was being added and posted a work-in-progress photo with a stepper motor and cable spool on a base.

Is it printed in one piece?

No. It is a stack of printed segments joined by pivots. The maker says each joint is designed to bend about 10 degrees, and 45 to 60 degrees if it is not constrained.

Is this the SpiRobs robot?

No. SpiRobs is a separate research project (Zhanchi Wang, Nikolaos M. Freris and colleagues, published in the journal Device in 2025) with logarithmic-spiral, cable-driven grippers. A commenter compared the two, but the maker did not say the build is based on it, and this tentacle uses its own segmented design.

Community builds

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Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

Would you use a cable-driven tentacle like this for a cosplay tail, an animatronic or an art piece, and how would you drive the cables?

CompareeTEAM1d ago

Practical notes from our verification: everything here comes from the maker's Reddit post and their replies in the comments. The tentacle is a stack of printed segments moved by internal cables. The demo clip does not show what pulls them, and the motorised version was still in progress. Some commenters linked it to the SpiRobs research robot, but the maker did not say it was based on that work. Files had not been released when it was posted, so treat this as inspiration and keep an eye on the maker's profile.

u/musicatristedonaruto

Posted to r/3Dprinting by u/musicatristedonaruto, who designed the tentacle in one night as part of an art installation. The maker said it grew out of an earlier kinetic art piece they had posted the week before. Asked about files, they replied that the project was still in development and the files needed organising, and later shared a photo of a version with a stepper motor being added.

Star the project on GitHub

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  • 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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