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Neufangled Robotics has published plans and software for Stringman, a cable-driven robot designed to move a gripper across a room, with a listed price of $795. The company reports an average payload of 1.9 kg in a specified room configuration, but independent performance testing and the full costs of installation are not provided in the source material.
Neufangled Robotics is presenting Stringman, an open-source cable-driven robot listed at $795 that suspends a gripper from four ceiling-mounted anchors to move objects around a room. The design offers a different approach from a conventional robotic arm: instead of reaching from a fixed base, it uses tensioned lines to access a much larger work area, subject to suitable mounting points and room conditions.
The company says Stringman’s mechanical CAD, circuit-board designs and control software are published, along with a bill of materials and build guide. Its stated price is $795; the source does not clarify whether that figure covers a complete assembled robot or refers to a parts or build cost. The gripper hangs from lines running to anchors near the ceiling corners, while a computer runs the controller. Raspberry Pi boards handle functions at the gripper and anchors.
For a 7-by-7-by-3-meter room, Neufangled reports an average payload of 1.9 kilograms and a maximum of up to 2.2 kilograms near the floor. Those figures are stated net of the 638-gram gripper and marker, at a line-tension limit of 28 newtons. The company lists a traverse speed of about 0.4 meters per second and describes the robot’s work area as dependent on room dimensions and anchor placement.
The system uses cameras at its anchors and gripper and connects over Wi-Fi. Neufangled says it can operate on a local network, with the interface hosted locally and AI models run on the owner’s hardware. It also offers an option for remote access through an account-linked service. The published material describes both hands-on uses, such as moving parts between workstations, and software interfaces including a Python API and an MCP server.
A Gripper That Spans a Room
Stringman’s central proposition is that four motors and overhead lines can give a small robot access to a much larger area than a desktop arm. That could interest home-lab operators and researchers who need to move parts between stations but cannot justify several fixed arms or a mobile robot. The overhead design may also reach across floor space occupied by furniture or equipment, though its usefulness depends on a room that can accommodate the lines and mounting hardware.
Neufangled compares the system with a 0.75-meter serial arm using the same named direct-drive actuators. It reports 1.9 kilograms average payload for Stringman versus 0.32 kilograms for that arm, while also comparing a 147-cubic-meter room volume with a 0.88-cubic-meter hemisphere. These are company figures for specified configurations, not independent tests or a general measure of performance. The comparison does not account for every practical difference between a cable robot and a conventional arm.
Publishing the design could let builders inspect, adapt and run the hardware without relying on a closed robotics platform. At the same time, an advertised low price does not by itself establish the total cost: buyers may need a controller computer, tools, mounting materials, printed parts and time for installation and calibration.
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How the Cable Layout Works
Stringman is a cable-driven robot: four lines connect a suspended gripper to anchors mounted high around a room. By adjusting line tension, the motors position the gripper within a defined work area. The company says the shared load lets the system carry more near the room’s center, where the lines distribute the load more evenly. Payload capacity varies by position, rather than remaining constant throughout the workspace.
The published installation instructions call for securing mounts to wall studs or structural columns, then hanging the anchors, attaching the lines and calibrating the system. Neufangled says calibration is automated and takes about five minutes. Its stated compatible room dimensions include room heights from 2.3 to 4 meters, with room size otherwise depending on the layout. These requirements make the product less suitable for rooms without secure mounting points or with obstacles in the intended work area.
The company says it has accumulated about 1,000 hours of testing in real homes. That is a developer-reported testing figure; the source does not identify an independent test organization, publish a detailed test protocol or provide failure-rate data. The design is described as OSHWA certified, and the company says users can keep operation local rather than sending robot data beyond their network.
“Tension is all you need”
— Neufangled Robotics
Price, Safety and Performance Gaps
The source material leaves several practical details unresolved. It lists Stringman at $795 but does not specify whether that is a complete kit, an estimated build cost or a price that includes every required component. The cost of a suitable computer, 3D printing, fasteners, installation and any shipping or taxes is not stated.
Performance figures are supplied by the developer, and no independent validation is cited. The material does not provide a full test method for the payload and speed figures, show how reliably the robot performs across different room layouts, or report a quantified safety assessment. Neufangled says the motors relax at 28 newtons, but how that response behaves under all failure conditions is not established in the supplied information.
Installation also leaves lines visible across the room while the robot is in use, and the company says they remain overhead when parked. Rooms with low-hanging objects in the center may not be suitable. The source does not give a dated release schedule, sales availability details or warranty terms.
Build Guides and Testing Ahead
Interested builders can consult the company’s published STL files, bill of materials, build guide and code to determine whether their room and equipment meet the stated requirements. Before installation, they will need to assess the strength and location of mounting points, overhead obstructions and the computer needed to run the controller.
Further evidence on real-world use would help clarify how the reported payload and speed hold up across room sizes and repeated operation. Prospective users will also need clearer information about what the $795 price includes, along with availability, support and warranty terms. The company’s material describes ways to collect training data and use different control models, but it does not set out a next product milestone or independent evaluation.
Key Questions
What is Stringman?
Stringman is a cable-driven robot that uses four ceiling-area anchors and lines to move a suspended gripper around a room. A computer runs its controller, while Raspberry Pi boards handle components at the gripper and anchors.
How much does Stringman cost?
Neufangled lists a price of $795. The source material does not say whether that covers a complete assembled system or all parts and installation costs.
How much can it carry?
The company reports an average payload of 1.9 kilograms and up to 2.2 kilograms near the floor in a specified 7-by-7-by-3-meter room. The figures are net of the 638-gram gripper and marker and are developer-reported, not independently verified in the supplied information.
Can Stringman run without sending data to the cloud?
Neufangled says the system can run on a local Wi-Fi network, with the interface hosted locally and AI models running on the owner’s hardware. The company also describes an optional account-linked remote-access service.
What does a room need for installation?
The company says anchors must be secured to wall studs or structural columns, with enough overhead clearance for the lines and gripper. A room with low-hanging objects in the central work area may not be suitable.
Source: neufangled.com
