Sourcing Bits

If you haven't yet read my basic philosophy for building a robot then perhaps you ought to because this site may be totally useless if you choose to have a different approach.

For those with no time here’s two comments which I applied to sourcing of components:-

Any fool can do for £100 what an ‘engineer’ can do for nowt….

Just because everybody else say’s it’s the best way doesn’t mean it is….

So based on the first principle you had better design the basic concept then start scrounging the bits. I worked in the following sequence:-

Works scrap bin.
Road side.
Friends.
Scrap Yard.
Car Boot sales.
Asking nicely.
Asking bluntly.
Internet searching.
Buying.

If you work in engineering then there is always something in the bin for a home engineer it may be a piece of angle iron, an old chair or a bit of blown up circuit board. It would be a shame to see it scrapped. Remember all those little bits you did at home because it was easier to use your own tools than get the company accountants to buy some. Well think of this as payback time.

As you ride home from work. (Obviously you don’t use a car). Look on the side of the road, you’ve all seen the odd wheel trim but keep looking. What about that car that’s been burnt out for months, the Police Aware sticker is even getting faded! If you walk down the side of the road the chances are you’ll fall over a half buried road sign, some of them are even aluminium.

You must have some friends or colleagues who have a garage full of junk as well. Even if it isn’t scrap you may be able to persuade them you have a valid use for it?

Maybe a scrap yard is a little too obvious but don’t dismiss automotive components. Bearings, wiring, motors, bumper beams fastening etc. can all be used.

I hate car boot sales because my wife always looks at every stall. A ten minute scan can usually find all the useful bits for an engineer and you never spend more than a couple of quid. I found Ruf Ruf Dougal’s fire blanket in as new condition for just £1-00

Many shops will help you out with either new or damaged stock. Convince them they don’t need it and you should get a good price.

Before you actually start to buy anything, use the net to find the best price. You could buy new batteries for £50 each or £50 for four. They may not be top notch but the do work reliably. The choice is yours……………..