A liquid-resistant direct-drive robotic ladler is provided and may include a drive unit generating rotational force, a drive shaft, and a ladling unit containing a ladling shaft. The drive shaft and ladling shafts may engage through bevel gears transmitting rotational force. The ladling unit may have a plurality of external openings, with each opening sealed with sealing plates. In some embodiments, each sealing plate overlaps the ladling unit casing external openings at all points of contact in an orthogonal, relative to a width-wise plane of the sealing plate. width greater than a thickness of the sealing plate. The direct-drive mechanism, employing closely matched gears, allows high accuracy pouring. In some embodiments, the drive shaft bevel gear is coupled to the ladling shaft bevel gear with a backlash equal to or less than 0.008 inches. The ladler may be at least partially immersible or submersible in liquids, including high-temperature liquid metals.
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