An articulating end-of-arm tool includes back-drive capability. The tool has a cable drive including a vertically oriented capstan head, a pair of idler pulleys, a driven pulley and a tensioner. The driven pulley pivot on a hollow shaft, through which a vacuum channel passes. The vacuum channel extends through the length of the body, including past the vertically oriented motor. The driven pulley is within 10 degrees of perpendicular of the longitudinal axis of the tool.