Answers.Body: <p>If you're after a simple collapsible solution to reach those items just out of reach, you can start with the following setup:</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/XRRJX.png" alt="Start of grabber"></p>
  
  <p>You can extend this for quite some way, and use longer bricks or beams throughout if you wish.</p>
  
  <p>To finish it off, I'd use a couple of longer bricks with some additional plates on the end to act as fingers, and add some handles (via axles) at the bottom. If you use longer bricks at the ends then the middle pin would need to be offset from the centre to keep it smooth.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-01T20:33:12.980Z
Answers.Text: It's a time-tried classic
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-02T16:55:13.437Z
Answers.Text: Yes. I have tried that but I would like ideas more how to make the actual claw and how to make it open and close. Also the claw needs to be pretty sturdy and it needs to have good grip.
Answers.UserDisplayName: J. Walker
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-01T11:56:00.343Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-02-01T11:56:00.343Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Answers.Body: <p>I built a similar model to Zhaph's claw arm but with beams and a basic claw attachment:</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/2uzBh.png" alt="enter image description here"></p>
  
  <p><strong><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/TnOuR.gif" rel="noreferrer">360° Animation</a>, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4teCuW-KfE" rel="noreferrer">Demonstration Video</a></strong></p>
  
  <p>I had a few problems operating the claw when I built it again with real bricks. If you collapse the beams too far, it can be difficult to open them again. When you try to pick up items with your tool, you also have to anticipate just how far the tool extends (try and possition the claw as close to the object as possible, the beams will push the object into the claws).</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-03T19:12:22.470Z
Answers.Text: Well... I guess that would work... But I don't really like the part where to grab something it has to extend even more.
Answers.UserDisplayName: J. Walker
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-05T20:07:04.273Z
Answers.Text: @J.Walker I've built another model claw that doesn't extend, but it's not as reliable as the extending claw (and requires many, many more pieces). I'll see if I can make any more improvements before I share the design.
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ambo100
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2013-02-02T22:05:35.647Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2013-02-02T22:13:45.023Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2013-02-02T22:13:45.023Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Ambo100
Answers.Body: <p>If you don't need the arm to be extendable then you might get some ideas from the various Technic sets that feature cranes or claws, like the <a href="http://brickset.com/sets/8868-1" rel="nofollow">8868</a>, <a href="http://brickset.com/sets/8479-1/Barcode-Multi-Set" rel="nofollow">8479</a>, <a href="http://brickset.com/sets/8436-1/Truck" rel="nofollow">8436</a>, <a href="http://brickset.com/sets/8110-1/Mercedes-Benz-Unimog-U-400" rel="nofollow">8110</a> or <a href="http://brickset.com/sets/9397-1/Logging-Truck" rel="nofollow">9397</a>.</p>
  
  <p>These offer multiple alternatives, as in pneumatical or purely gear-driven solutions, can be scaled up with appropriate supports and mounted on your own arm designs.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2014-10-14T10:32:31.547Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2014-10-14T10:32:31.547Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: zovits
Body: <p>I am trying to build a lego claw arm to pick up stuff that is out of my reach and I need some ideas on how to design it. I would like a mechanism to be able to open and close the claw from the opposite end of the arm.</p>
  
  <p>I'm not looking for an arm design which can extend. I would also like ideas about fixed-length arms. Also, I have many, many different TECHNIC pieces. Designs can be very complex and they can use large numbers of pieces.</p>
  
Tags: <technic><design>
Title: How to Make a Lego Claw Arm?
UserDisplayName: J. Walker
ThreadText: # How to Make a Lego Claw Arm?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2013-02-01)
  
  I am trying to build a lego claw arm to pick up stuff that is out of my reach and I need some ideas on how to design it. I would like a mechanism to be able to open and close the claw from the opposite end of the arm.
  
  I'm not looking for an arm design which can extend. I would also like ideas about fixed-length arms. Also, I have many, many different TECHNIC pieces. Designs can be very complex and they can use large numbers of pieces.
  
  **Tags:** technic, design
  
  ---
  
  ## 3 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2013-02-01. Score: 13
  
  If you're after a simple collapsible solution to reach those items just out of reach, you can start with the following setup:
  
  ![Start of grabber](https://i.sstatic.net/XRRJX.png)
  
  You can extend this for quite some way, and use longer bricks or beams throughout if you wish.
  
  To finish it off, I'd use a couple of longer bricks with some additional plates on the end to act as fingers, and add some handles (via axles) at the bottom. If you use longer bricks at the ends then the middle pin would need to be offset from the centre to keep it smooth.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_2**: It's a time-tried classic  
  > **username_0**: Yes. I have tried that but I would like ideas more how to make the actual claw and how to make it open and close. Also the claw needs to be pretty sturdy and it needs to have good grip.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_3 on 2013-02-02. Score: 9
  
  I built a similar model to Zhaph's claw arm but with beams and a basic claw attachment:
  
  ![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/2uzBh.png)
  
  **[360° Animation](https://i.sstatic.net/TnOuR.gif), [Demonstration Video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4teCuW-KfE)**
  
  I had a few problems operating the claw when I built it again with real bricks. If you collapse the beams too far, it can be difficult to open them again. When you try to pick up items with your tool, you also have to anticipate just how far the tool extends (try and possition the claw as close to the object as possible, the beams will push the object into the claws).
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_0**: Well... I guess that would work... But I don't really like the part where to grab something it has to extend even more.  
  > **username_3**: @J.Walker I've built another model claw that doesn't extend, but it's not as reliable as the extending claw (and requires many, many more pieces). I'll see if I can make any more improvements before I share the design.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_4 on 2014-10-14. Score: 3
  
  If you don't need the arm to be extendable then you might get some ideas from the various Technic sets that feature cranes or claws, like the [8868](http://brickset.com/sets/8868-1), [8479](http://brickset.com/sets/8479-1/Barcode-Multi-Set), [8436](http://brickset.com/sets/8436-1/Truck), [8110](http://brickset.com/sets/8110-1/Mercedes-Benz-Unimog-U-400) or [9397](http://brickset.com/sets/9397-1/Logging-Truck).
  
  These offer multiple alternatives, as in pneumatical or purely gear-driven solutions, can be scaled up with appropriate supports and mounted on your own arm designs.
  
  
  ---
  
  