Meet BEN. Your desk just got interesting.
The robots are getting smaller. The AI is getting smarter. BEN is an open-source desktop companion you can print, build, and program yourself — every file, every line of code, free forever.
Open-source hardware & code
Weekend to build your own
Locked features or subscriptions
A global build community
Built by makers, everywhere
From garage benches to classrooms to research labs — BEN is printed, assembled, and hacked by a growing community around the world.
BEN in action. Straight from the bench.
Open by design
Print. Build. Mod. Then share it back.
Every structural part is a free STL. If you have an FDM printer, you already have a robot factory.
Assemble
Modular joints and snap-fit panels — a weekend build, not a research project.
Program
Python, Arduino, or plain curiosity. BEN's brain is yours to write.
Personalize
Swap faces, shells, and colors — no two BENs stay alike for long.
Connect
Local-first control over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, with cloud AI when you want it.
Share
Publish your mods back to the community. The best upgrades ship in the next release.
The comparison
Small robots, honest numbers
“Printed the frame over one weekend — every joint snapped together on the first try.”@deskforgeMarcus ThorneMaker
Who BEN is for
Three ways to BEN
For makers
Download the files and print your own BEN this weekend.
For developers
A real robot to aim your code at — voice, vision, motion, personality.
For educators
A full-stack robotics lesson that fits on a desk — mechatronics to ML.
Get BEN
Choose how BEN comes to you
The files
Free
Every STL, the CAD source, firmware, and docs. Download tonight, print this weekend.
Included
- Complete STL + CAD source
- Bill of materials with sourcing links
- Firmware source code
- Step-by-step assembly guide
- Community access
The kit
Soon
Everything in one box — printed parts, servos, board, and cables. Join the waitlist for the first run.
Everything in The files, plus
- Pre-printed part set, QC'd
- Servo + sensor electronics bundle
- Flashed and tested control board
- Tools and fasteners included
- Priority build support
- Early access to new mods
Community builds
Custom
No printer? Community builders offer assembled, tuned BENs — every one a little different.
What you get
- Fully assembled BEN
- Tested and calibrated joints
- Your choice of shell color
- Builder-signed internals
- Same open files as everyone
Yes. Every STL, the full CAD source, the bill of materials, and the firmware are public. Download them, print them, remix them — and if you improve something, send it back upstream.
Join the build
Your desk is about to get a lot more interesting.
Download the files and start printing tonight — or follow along as the community takes BEN somewhere nobody planned.
Join the makers, students, and modders already building BEN