Bill of materials
Hardware is sourced separately from our $29 digital packs. Below are suppliers we’d use ourselves for the Animatronic Hand and future builds — local makerspaces first when you can, specialty electronics when you need reliability.
Pending application No live affiliate IDs yet. All URLs below are plain storefront links.
Why: Often the cheapest per seat for 3mm birch; you learn kerf and fit in person. No affiliate — goodwill and classroom sales.
Search for: “makerspace laser cutter near me,” Baltic birch 3mm sheet.
Ask your local library, Fab Lab, or school shop.
Why: Mail-order laser fab from DXF/SVG; strong STEM / education path. Partnership outreach pending — not a classic % affiliate.
Search for: Upload pack cut files; 3mm birch / wood options per their materials list.
sendcutsend.comWhy: Long-standing SVG/DXF fab service; useful when a makerspace isn’t nearby.
Search for: Birch plywood / wood sheets matching 3mm design thickness.
ponoko.comWhy: Primary electronics source for serious / classroom BOMs — selection, datasheets, reliability. Recommend regardless of affiliate status.
Search for: Arduino Uno / ESP32 DevKit, Dupont jumpers, breadboards, 10k potentiometers, PCA9685.
digikey.comWhy: Education-friendly Arduino-adjacent boards, sensors, tutorials. Public affiliate program — application pending (10% on SparkFun Originals when approved).
Search for: RedBoard / Uno-compatible, Qwiic sensors, servo accessories.
sparkfun.comWhy: Trusted education electronics and learning resources. Recommend-only — no clear public retail affiliate; we don’t claim commission.
Search for: Metro / Feather / ESP32 boards, servo drivers, STEM kits.
adafruit.comWhy: Broad component catalog for connectors, passives, and development boards. Affiliate application pending.
Search for: Microcontrollers, headers, wire, educational Arduino kits.
newark.comWhy: Convenient for SG90 multi-packs, jumper assortments, AA holders. Prefer DigiKey / SparkFun / Adafruit first; disclose Associates if/when approved.
Search for: “SG90 micro servo 9g 5-pack,” Dupont jumper M-M M-F, 4×AA battery holder with switch.
amazon.comWhy: Spec-grade M2/M3 screws, locknuts, shoulder bolts — when you want exact hardware.
Search for: M2 / M3 socket or Phillips machine screws, nylon-insert locknuts, optional shoulder bolts.
mcmaster.comWhy: Convenient if you’re already ordering electronics; small packs of metric hardware.
Search for: M2 M3 screw assortments, hex nuts, standoffs.
digikey.comWhy: Fast for a weekend build; quality varies — check thread pitch and locknut fit on a scrap hinge first.
Search for: Metric machine screw kit M2–M3, nylock nuts.
amazon.comWhy: Braided fishing line / Spectra (10–20 lb) is the flexor material — low stretch is the point. Craft elastic is wrong.
Search for: “Spectra braided fishing line 10–20 lb,” zip ties, small beads for tendon stops.
amazon.comWhy: Wood glue or medium CA for non-pivoting bonds; painter’s tape for labeling tendons.
Search for: Wood glue, medium CA, masking tape — never glue a hinge closed.
Any reputable local store.
Why: M2/M3 hex or Phillips drivers and needle-nose pliers make locknuts and servo horns less painful.
Search for: Precision screwdriver set, needle-nose pliers, digital calipers (mm).
sparkfun.com · adafruit.comWhy: Free software for the pack sketch (Uno / ESP32 with library notes).
Search for: Arduino IDE download.
arduino.cc/en/softwareTypical hardware ~$45–90 depending on makerspace vs mail-order laser and whether you already own a controller. Digital pack is separate ($29).
Full verified BOM lives in the pack. Prefer DigiKey + makerspace/SendCutSend; Amazon for commodity packs only.
Integrity
Affiliate programs and STEM sponsorships are in progress. Until they’re approved, you get the same plain links we’d click ourselves — and a clear disclosure when commissions exist.
