An industrial robot , comprising: a. a stationary base plate having a central opening ; b. a ring structure arranged to receive an elongate boom ; c. a parallel kinematics structure arranged between said stationary base plate and said ring structure providing movement of said ring structure in three dimensions while maintaining said ring structure substantially parallel to said stationary base plate ; d. an upper gimbal ring mounted within said ring structure and pivotable about a first axis, e. said elongate boom comprising an upper end mounted within said ring structure and pivotable about a second axis, said second axis being substantially perpendicular to said first axis, said elongate boom having a length extending through the central opening of said stationary base plate to a lower end portion; f. a lower gimbal ring mounted within the lower end portion of said elongate boom and pivotable about a third axis; g. a first control linkage connecting said lower gimbal to said upper gimbal to maintain said lower gimbal substantially parallel to said upper gimbal during pivotal movement of said boom ; h. an end effector arranged for carrying a tool and moving to different positions within a three-dimensional range of motion, said end effector mounted to said lower gimbal ring and pivotable about a fourth axis, said fourth axis being substantially perpendicular to said third axis; and, i. a second control linkage connecting said end effector to said ring structure to maintain said end effector substantially parallel to said ring structure regardless of the position of said end effector within said three-dimensional range of motion. a. a stationary base plate having a central opening ; b. a ring structure arranged to receive an elongate boom ; c. a parallel kinematics structure arranged between said stationary base plate and said ring structure providing movement of said ring structure in three dimensions while maintaining said ring structure substantially parallel to said stationary base plate ; d. an upper gimbal ring mounted within said ring structure and pivotable about a first axis, e. said elongate boom comprising an upper end mounted within said ring structure and pivotable about a second axis, said second axis being substantially perpendicular to said first axis, said elongate boom having a length extending through the central opening of said stationary base plate to a lower end portion; f. a lower gimbal ring mounted within the lower end portion of said elongate boom and pivotable about a third axis; g. a first control linkage connecting said lower gimbal to said upper gimbal to maintain said lower gimbal substantially parallel to said upper gimbal during pivotal movement of said boom ; h. an end effector arranged for carrying a tool and moving to different positions within a three-dimensional range of motion, said end effector mounted to said lower gimbal ring and pivotable about a fourth axis, said fourth axis being substantially perpendicular to said third axis; and, i. a second control linkage connecting said end effector to said ring structure to maintain said end effector substantially parallel to said ring structure regardless of the position of said end effector within said three-dimensional range of motion. <EOS>