LIMNCRANE – Open Hardware Motion Control Crane (Work in Progress)

The LIMNCRANE is an open-hardware motion-control crane being developed for stop-motion animation and visual effects. The goal is simple: to create a crane that is affordable, accessible, and practical, without relying on expensive custom manufacturing.

Most of the design uses standard parts that can be ordered directly and assembled with basic tools. A few pieces will need to be cut or drilled from raw stock, but the majority can be used right out of the box. The rotation stages will be the most custom elements, and those are still being designed.

What you see in the images are current design concepts, not a finished product. The crane is being built step by step, with an emphasis on open sharing so that others can follow along, give feedback, and eventually build one themselves once the design is complete.

The vision behind the LIMNCRANE is to make professional camera motion control more available — giving independent filmmakers, animators, and educators access to tools that allow for smooth, repeatable camera movement and multipass shooting.