[comp.robotics] Request for info on hobbyist/educational robotic arms

ngiannot@Micrognosis.los-gatos.CA.US (Speaker-to-Workstations) (03/01/91)

I am looking for companies which sell robotic arms or arm kits designed for
educational or hobbyist use (i.e. not industrial quality).

The arm will be used as part of a computerised "smart" CD/DAT jukebox project
I'm fooling with in my spare time.

So far my inquiries have only turned up industrial robot manufacturers
whose cheapest arms & controllers are beyond my requirements in both
ability, precision and price (i.e. > $15K). Hopefully someone out there
makes less serious robot arms for about $2K - $5K.

Any info on companies doing this would be greatly appreciated. Please email
me and I'll post a summary later if enough interest is raised.

Thanks in advance,
Nico


     ///|  ///| Nicholas Giannotis
    ///|| ///|| Micrognosis, Inc.
   ///|||///||| 475 Alberto Way Suite 200 Los Gatos CA 95030 USA
  /// |||// |||
 ///  |||/  ||| nico@micrognosis.los-gatos.ca.us +1 408 399 4001


                          "... _NOBODY_ expects the Spanish Inquisition!"

smith@sndpit.enet.dec.com (Willie Smith) (03/01/91)

In article <291@miccal.CAMPBELL.CA.US>, ngiannot@Micrognosis.los-gatos.CA.US (Speaker-to-Workstations) writes...
>I am looking for companies which sell robotic arms or arm kits designed for
>educational or hobbyist use (i.e. not industrial quality).

A couple of places are selling the Heathkit arms surplus for a few hundred 
dollars.  A great deal for the price, in fact I'm considering getting a 
second one for spare parts and arm-wrestling. :+)  Dunno if they have the 
precision you need for your application, but then I don't know if you can 
afford the presision you need for your application....

Willie Smith
smith@sndpit.enet.dec.com
smith%sndpit.enet.dec.com@decwrl.dec.com
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