| These are the retailers I use for almost all of my projects. The companies listed here are reliable and have a good stock coverage that offers almost everything you need for a given project. Between all of them I am basically covered, save for the odd item now and then. Be sure to check these out -- whether you are in a project now or thinking about starting, it's always good to know what is available in the market. You also might get some sweet ideas by browsing their catalogs! |
| Materials Suppliers |
Robotics Parts/Hardware |
|---|---|
 The Web's superstore for small quantity metal orders welcomes you to explore exceptional metals sales and service from metal buyer's guides, to metal project ideas. |
 One of my favorite retailers -- lots of actuators and everything you need to support them -- gears, bearings, chains, pulleys, even the electronics to drive them! |
 This is a great resouce for sheet plastic, rods, buckets, dvd cases -- anything plastic you need, they probably have it at a great price. An honorable company. |
 Another favorite, mainly for their servo controller boards - best deal for features/price/reliability I've found. They also have some really neat kits and standardized components. |
 Need to buy bulk hardware or trying to find a specialty item? Try RTL-- they have good prices, fast shipping, and a great selection. |
 Your one-stop-shop for electronics such as microcontrollers, solenoids, PCBs, and integrated circuits. Check out their massive online catalog with RoHS compliant products. |
 Fast shipping, cheap rates, and no minimum order. Plus, for orders over $50 you get free shipping -- on hardware!! Good selection of standard hardware. |
Carries a wide variety of stuffs ranging from anatomical models to high power gearhead motors -- a lot of things you need for a project, and some harder-to find parts as well. |
 MSC has a massive catalog -- they literally call it the "Big Book." This monster has almost everything you need to stock a tool shop or start a project. |
 This is a neat little store that Jameco bought a few years ago that has some really great educational kits as well as a solid offering of mechancial/electrical components. |
 One of the widest selections of components with a GREAT website to back it up -- wheels, screws, tooling blocks, bolts -- anything for your shop or project, be sure to check here first. |
 The perfect complement to any electronics project, DigiKey carries a huge selection of IC components. |
 A company not spoken of enough outside of industry, Carr-Lane has some of the best tool holding and machining components around. They also carry a wide selection of handles, lead screws, and other neat parts. |