Robot Builders Source Book - Gordon McComb Episode 2 Part 3 pot

Something of a cornucopia of unique electronics items: connectors and cords; audio; gadgets; laser pointers; minicams; soldering; parts and switches; power; test equipment; kits; tools;

A printed catalog costs $3, or you can download it free

from the site (you need Adobe Acrobat Reader to

view it)

Among their product line useful in robotics is:

• Motors (DC and stepper)

• Stepper motor controllers

• Power MOSFETs

• H-bridge ICs (including the oft-cited L293D, L297,

and L298)

• Atmel AVR microcontrollers

• Small CCD video cameras

• Tools

• Solenoids and relays

Product datasheets (in PDF format) are available fordownload for many of the specialty semiconductorproducts

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Stocking Up—Integrated Circuits

Integrated circuits let you construct fairly complex circuits from just a couple of nents Although there are literally thousands of different ICs, some with exotic applica-

compo-tions, a small handful crops up again and again in hobby projects You should keep thefollowing common ICs in ready stock:

• 555 timer This is, by far, the most popular integrated circuit for hobby electronics With

just a couple of resistors and capacitors, the 555 can be made to act as a pulser, a

timer, a time delay, a missing-pulse detector, and more

• LM741 op-amp The 741 can be used for signal amplification, differentiation, integration,

sample-and-hold, and a host of other useful applications The 741 is available in a dualversion, the 1458 Note that there are numerous other op-amps available, and somehave design advantages over the 741 These include the LM324, LF356, and the TL082

• LM339 quad comparator Comparators are used to compare two voltages The output

of the comparator changes depending on the voltage levels at its two inputs The parator is similar to the op-amp, except that it does not use an external feedback resis-tor You can use an op-amp as a comparator, but a better approach is to use some-thing like the 339 chip, which contains four comparators in one package

com-• LM386 audio amplifier This common and versatile single-package audio amplifier can

drive an ordinary 8-ohm speaker with up to a quarter of a watt Only a couple of itors are needed to complete the circuit

capac-• ULN2003 transistor array A transistor array is an integrated circuit containing multiple

transistors The device is commonly used to increase the current capacity of trollers and other devices that cannot provide enough juice to run large LED panels orrelays Other transistor array ICs are available, with some able to drive loads of up to

microcon-500 mA per channel

• TTL logic chips TTL ICs are common in computer circuits and other digital applications.

There are many types of TTL packages, but you won’t use more than 10 to 15 of themunless you’re heavily into electronics experimentation Specifically, the most commonand most useful TTL ICs are the 7400, 7402, 7404, 7407, 7408, 7414, 7420, 7430, 7432,

7473, 7474, 74123, 74154, 74174, 74175, 74193, 74240, 74244, 74273, and 74274

• CMOS logic chips Because CMOS ICs require less power to operate than the TTL

vari-ety, you’ll often find them specified for use with low-power robotic and remote-controlapplications Like TTL, there is a relatively small number of common packages: 4001,

4011, 4013, 4016, 4017, 4024, 4027, 4040, 4049, 4066, 4069, 4071, 4081, 4093, 4511,

4543, and 4584

Altronics Distributors Pty Ltd 203667

Full-line electronics online retailer Mail order and

sev-eral stores across Oz

Passive general electronics (switches, wire, connectors)

No online sales Local store in Hollywood, Calif

connec-x V

555 N 5th St

Ste #125Garland, TX 75040USA

The company also offers a fairly complete line of sive and active general electronics components, includ-ing IC sockets, resistors, capacitors, linear and digitalICs, switches, relays, solenoids, pin headers, transistors,diodes, voltage regulators, LEDs, infrared phototransis-tors, batteries and battery holders, cables, wire, handtools, connectors, optics, standoffs, and other plasticand metal hardware

pas-Web catalog page for B.G Micro.

Specific products of interest to the robot builder

include LCD displays (including serial LCD), motors,

and the OOPic microcontroller

A word of caution! Don’t skim the B G Micro catalog

too quickly Its design is fairly “compact” and it’s easy to

miss things They sell a lot of parts that are best

described as miscellaneous, and there can be some real

gems hidden between product listings Some super

finds are just a single line of text in the 30-odd-page

Baynesville is an old-fashioned retail electronics store

located in Baltimore, Md Look to the Web site for

spe-cial promotions and even how-to information

Something of a cornucopia of unique electronics items:

connectors and cords; audio; gadgets; laser pointers;

minicams; soldering; parts and switches; power; test

equipment; kits; tools; video; high-brightness LEDs;

• Ballscrews (prices are pretty good for what you get!)

• Bearings, linear slides

• Cameras (CCD)

• Capacitors, resistors, potentiometers, tor

semiconduc-• Cords and cables

• Hardware, solder, terminals, wire, tubing

• Lamps, LEDs, LCDs

• Materials handling

• Meters

• Motors (DC, stepper, gear, motor control circuits)

• Pneumatic (cylinders, 24-volt solenoid valves)

• Power supply

• Relay, switches

• Sensors

• Tools Very good prices for most items

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Unit D Henfield Business Park Shoreham Road (A2037) Henfield

SussexBN5 9SLUK

http://www.veronica-kits.co.uk/ (RF kits) http://www.lockpicks.co.uk/ (video cameras, trans-mitters)

http://www.home-cctv.co.uk/ (cameras)

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Central Utah Electronics Supply 203604

Sellers of ICs, active and passive components, test

equipment, tools, microcontrollers and programmers,

switches, relays, kits, lab trainers, chemicals, and more

Additionally, they sell several robotics specialty

prod-ucts, including motion control cards, Arrick Robotics

robotic workcells, and positioning tables

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Box 3634Missoula, MT 59806-3634USA

 (406) 258-2782

 http://www.fix.net/dans.htmlGrab bag of electronics components The emphasis is

on amateur radio, but the company also sells generalelectronics components (such as trimmer pots, diodes,MOSFETs, and the usual others) A good source forspecialty parts on the cheap

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4025 Edwards Rd

Cincinnati, OH 45209USA

 +61 2 9642 9100

 +61 2 9642 9111

 postmaster@dse.com.au

 http://www.dse.com.au/

Australia’s biggest electronics retailer, well known for

Mr Smith’s head pasted over everything-though he is

no longer connected with the company For a time,

DSE also had stores in the U.S., but they exited the

mar-ket during the downturn of the late 1980s and early

1990s Stores across Oz and New Zealand, and they ship

worldwide

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701 Brooks Ave South

Thief River Falls, MN 56701

Digi-Key is one of the largest mail-order

retailers/dis-tributors of electronic components in North America

Their printed catalog has everything-and is so jammed,

they had to make the type very small, you’ll probably

need a magnifying glass to read it! Fortunately, they also

offer a very fast and efficient online ordering system,

complete with links to datasheets (when available)

Digi-Key regularly lists prices for product in single

quantity and volume, for OEMs If you use their online

ordering system, they’ll even tell you how many of an

item they have on hand, in case you’re thinking ofbreaking the bank

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29 / 35 Osborne Road Thornton Heath Surrey

CR7 8PDUK

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2700 Hempstead Tpke

Levittown, NY 11756USA

 (516) 735-3330

 (516) 731-5125

All in the TTL Chip Family

There are several families of TTL chips The family is denoted by letter identifiers, such as74HC193 They differ in the amount of current they consume, their speed, and their man-ufacture The most commonly used letter identifiers are as follows:

fam-there is no specific family mentioned, an S, LS, or HCT version will usually (note the

emphasis on usually) work.

 ELieblinng@aol.com

 http://www.edlieelectronics.com/

Edlie provides an extensive supply of electronic

educa-tional kits, component kits, tools, and test equipment

Canadian-based general electronics online/mail-order

retailer Retail stores across Canada

Electronic Goldmine sells new and used electronic

components, robot items, electronics project kits, and

more

• General electronic components: capacitors, crystals,

displays, fuses, heat sinks, ICs, infrared items, LEDs,

potentiometers, resistors, semiconductors (misc.),

thermal devices/thermistors, transistors,

transform-ers, voltage regulators

• Passive and electromechanical components:

batter-ies, cables and wire, circuit boards, fans, hardware,

keychain lights, knobs, sockets, power supplies,

relays, solenoids, switches, test equipment, tools,

voltage converters

• Sensor components: bar code scanners,

micro-phones, piezos, sensors, video cameras

• Kits and specialty: alarms and sirens, electronics

project kits, motors, optics, robot items, strobe,

ultrasonic items

Catalog in PDF format available; printed catalog sent toU.S addresses only Be sure to check out the interestingand unusual (and low-cost) robotics kits

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3753-B FondrenHouston, TX 77063USA

10302 Southard Dr

Beltsville, MD 20705USA

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365 Blair Rd

Avenel, NJ 07001USA

 (732) 381-8020

 (732) 381-1006

 (800) 972-2225

 electron@elexp.com

 http://www.elexp.com/

Electronics parts, supplies, components, hardware,

switches, relays, test gear, tools New and used; large

Silicon components (transistors, diodes, thyristors, etc.)

for industry, hobby Also general electronics:

connec-tors, kits, test equipment, tools

U.K.-based electronics mail order Will ship most

any-where Offers a complete line of electronics and

mechanical

According to the company, “Farnell is a leading

high-service, low-volume distributor of electronic, electrical

and industrial products Headquartered in Leeds,

England, it services more than 100,000 active customers

through 15 business units across Europe, Australia, Asia

Pacific and South America.”

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3309 Spenard Rd

Anchorage, AK 99503USA

pri-• Robots (like the Parallax BOE-Bot)

• Basic Stamp starter kits

• Tamiya Educational motor sets

• OWI/MOVITS robots

• Integrated circuits, transistors, diodes, resistors,capacitors, connectors

• Soldering irons, PCB supplies, breadboard supplies

• Books (more than you knew were ever published)

• Computer software

• Soda pop and candy

• Video games and video game consoles

• X-rated movies

• Washing machines

I left out about 1,000 other product lines, but you getthe idea Weekdays are the best time to shop; the aislesget really cluttered on the weekends Watch for previ-ously opened (and/or returned) merchandise, the lat-ter of which is usually marked If the box can beopened-that is, it’s not shrink wrapped-check its con-tents before buying

If there isn’t a Fry’s near you, they offer online

shop-ping (limited merchandise selection) at:

http://www.outpost.com/

FYI Department:

• The store is named after its founders, the Fry

broth-ers (John, Randy, and Dave)

• The person who guides you to the next available

numbered register when you’re waiting in line at the

checkout is called a Vanna White (ofJeopardy fame)

New and surplus electronics; some electronics kits,

including OWI robots They also sell small mechanical

parts, such as threaded rod, gear shafts, spacers, books,

power supplies, and pneumatic cylinders A little of

General electronics New and surplus Great prices

• LEDs, especially superbrights, combo-color, andblue

• Lasers, pointers, and key-ring holders

• Miniature video cameras

• Tools (hand, solder)

• Chemicals

• Components, passive and active

• Velleman electronics kits

 d VHSC Electronic Supply/Halted 202163

3500 Ryder St

Santa Clara, CA 95051USA

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1355 Shoreway Rd

Belmont, CA 94002USA

car-Of course, they have resistors, capacitors, ICs,

transis-tors, diodes, and other active components; connectransis-tors,

plugs, jacks, headers, and other passive components;

batteries and battery chargers; microcontrollers and

microcontroller development boards; books; kits;

elec-tronics hardware; LEDs and LCDs; test and

measure-ment tools (hand-held and bench); tools; and plenty

more

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JDR is a direct marketer of electronic components tohobbyists and the technical engineering communities.Their catalog is skewed toward PC components, butthey carry plenty of general electronics (active and pas-sive components, tools, wire and cable, etc.) as well

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6395 Westminster Blvd

Westminster, CA 92683USA

P.O Box 378

324 Gilbert Ave

Elmwood Park, NJ 07407USA

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235 Robbins Ln

Syosset, NY 11791USA

Jaycar sells a bunch of stuff, including personal

elec-tronics, video cameras, test gear, electronics kits, passive

and active components, hardware and fasteners,

batter-ies and chargers, and more

Maplin Electronics 202871

National Distribution Centre

Valley Road, Wombwell

Barnsley, South Yorks

Maplin Electronics is a got-it, have-that electronic

com-ponents superstore, based in the U.K Of course, they

offer the traditional passive electronics components,

relays, connectors, and other prime parts But they also

deal in things like video wireless transmitters and

receivers, GPS modules, optical components, and test

tools

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(MPJA) I got a beautiful large tube in an aluminumhousing for 10 bucks, and they got a customer forlife

MPJA sells both new and surplus electronic andmechanical products Their assortment of such items asmotors is fairly small, but they make up for it with awide selection of other common (and some not-so-com-mon) products, like LEDs, DC-DC converters, powersupplies, sugar-cube-sized video cameras, tools, LCDdisplays (including a nice serial interface board), ultra-sonic transducers, microphones, and tons of otherstuff Prices are very good

Get their color catalog, but make it a point to regularlyuse the Web site for closeouts, specials, and new items

Be sure to study it well so you don’t miss the interestingitems For example, an addition that almost slipped by

me is an affordable (under $3) ultraviolet LED Theseare useful for a number of reasons UV light causes cer-tain materials to fluoresce, which can be used (with theproper sensor) for robotic vision

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Maplin Electronics online.

Marlin P Jones & Assoc Inc
202209

First, a story Years ago I was interested in exploring

radiation and radioactive substances (nothing

danger-ous, mind you, just naturally occurring materials) I

wanted to build a Geiger counter, which is basically a

specially designed gas tube (called a Geiger-Mueller

tube) and some very simple electronics Though I

searched everywhere, few sources were willing to sell

just the G-M tube except Marlin P Jones & Assoc

Online Web site for Marlin P Jones.

2001 Harbor Blvd

Costa Mesa, CA 92627USA

MCM is a mail-order retailer of general electronics and

repair parts for consumer electronics They offer active

and passive components (stuff like capacitors, resistors,

and semiconductors), connectors, wire and cable, OEM

replacement parts (VCR belts, motors, gears),

electron-ics kits, tools, chemicals (cleaners, lubricants, etc.), test

and measurement gear, batteries, and chargers

Ofparticular interest is the replacement parts for VCRs,

cassette players, and other consumer electronics These

can be a good source ofrelatively inexpensive belts,

pul-leys, and even motors To be useful, you need to know

the part number to understand exactly what you’re

get-ting; you can get part numbers from online schematics

and service notes from various manufacturer Web pages

Well, MECI sells just about everything you could want

or need in electronics components If you can think of

it, they probably have it They also provide a “BattleBotsParts” page on their Web site, with some new and sur-plus components suitable for combat robots Theseinclude heavy-duty motors, batteries, and more

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5736 N Michigan Rd

Indianapolis, IN 46228USA

distrib- x d V

1175 Post Rd

Warwick, RI 02888USA

Local store in greater Providence, R.I., area.

Oatley sells test equipment, electronics kits, mechanical

components (switches, motors, etc.), active and passive

components, lasers and LEDs, RF remote control, FM

transmitter kits, and video cameras

Parts Express is an all-around electronics retailer,

sell-ing everythsell-ing from sound systems to test equipment,

and from stage lighting to electronic components Of

their products, those most closely aligned with amateur

x VPhilcap Electronic Suppliers 203601

275 East Market St

Akron, OH 44308USA

Radar is a general electronics distributor and

retailer, with bricks-and-mortar stores throughout the

Pacific Northwest (including Seattle, Spokane, and

Radio Shack is the world’s largest electronics chain,

with some 8,000 company-owned and franchise stores

worldwide These days, The Shack has fewer

compo-nents and other electronics items for sale at each store,

but they do carry the basics-common value resistors,capacitors, switches, solder, electronics constructiontools, that sort of thing Additional items can beordered through the Radio Shack online store

compo-x VRockby Electronic Components 203669P.O Box 1189 Huntingdale

Melbourne, Victoria 3166Australia

Multinational (based in the U.K.) retailer ofvarious

elec-tronic and mechanical products Mechanicals include

pneumatics, gears, fasteners, bearings, bushings

A.M.S.CAuckland New Zealand

153 S Plumer Ave

Tucson, AZ 85719USA

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1100 Valwood Pkwy

Ste #100Carrollton, TX 75006USA

Local and mail-order electronics: security cameras, test

equipment, tools, general components

General components, EEPROMS, laser diodes, books,

and a lot more

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123 N.E Seventh Ave

General industrial electronics; wire and cable; video

cameras; test equipment Local store in Portland, Ore

Surplus electronics and test gear Local stores in

Oregon and Hawaii; mail order of limited product

Web site is in English and Japanese

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P.O Box 457Littleton, MA 01460-0457USA

as microcontroller development tools and electronicmodules.”

x VYou-Do-It Electronics Center 203598

40 Franklin St

Needham, MA 02494USA

 (781) 449-1005

 (781) 449-1009

 sales@youdoitelectronics.com

 http://www.youdoitelectronics.com/

Local general electronics retailer in the greater Boston

area, catering to the electronics repair shop (with

replacement parts, belts, etc.) and to the electronics

experimenter The Web site offers limited online

selling

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& Retail-Hardware & Home

Improvement

Everyone else may spend their Saturdays fixing a

clogged kitchen drain, but we robot builders are busy

in our workshops, hammering together our next

walk-ing ‘bot Still, both the robot makers and the drain

fixer-uppers go to the local hardware and home

improvement stores We may actually buy much of the

same things, but the end use is completely different

Hardware stores (and their close but larger cousin, the

home improvement outlet) are excellent sources for

fasteners, basic hardware, tools, tool accessories (saw

blades, bits, etc.), paint, glues and adhesives, casters,

wheels, plastic sheeting, metal stock, and hundreds of

other items

The resources listed here either have an online

pres-ence or are national chains In the U.S., many hardware

stores belong to one ofseveral cooperative “chains,”

such as True Value and Ace Other independent

hard-ware stores may be located near you, and you should

not hesitate to visit them Keep a notebook ofwhat

each area hardware store offers, so the next time you

need a particular item, you’ll know just where to go to

get it

SEE ALSO:

Materials-Metal and Materials-Plastic:

Specialty sources for plastic and metal

Retail-Automotive Supplies: Also stocks

tools, fasteners, and some hardware-related items

Retail-Surplus Mechanical: Wheels, casters,

and other hardware items at a discount

Retail-Train & Hobby: Source of metal stock,

usually in smaller sizes than available at the

hard-ware store

Tools (various): Tools for building robot bodies

Wheels and Casters: Specialty sources for these;

larger selection than at most hardware stores

2200 Kensington Ct

Oak Brook, IL 60523USA

Ace has store locations across America and in 70 othercountries Check the Web site for a store locator Seealso:

Ace Commercial & Industrial Supply—

http://www.acecisupply.com/

Ace Contractor Center—http://www.acelbm.com/ Ace Hardware Club—http://www.helpfulhardware-club.com/

W.E Aubuchon Co., Inc

95 Aubuchon Dr

Westminster, MA 01473USA

 http://www.diy.com/

Hardware and home improvement products; onlinesales and local stores in the U.K

B&Q is a large D.I.Y chain, with lots of goodies Check

the Web site for store locations and phone numbers

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3222 Winona Way #201North Highlands, CA 95660USA

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P.O Box 868Fort Wayne, IN 46801USA

ABN 46 091 084 909 1018-1022 Old Princes Highway Engadine NSW 2233

Now you can go to the hardware store using only your

computer CornerHardware.com is like the

neighbor-hood hardware store, except it’s open on Sunday

Products potentially useful in robotics are:

• Cabinet/furniture hardware (for swivels, brackets,

Hardware, home improvement, and craft supplies

Focus Group Limited

http://www.focusdiy.co.uk/

Focus is a chain of “Do-it-yourself” and craft stores

in the UK; see the Web site for a store locator;

online catalog of several popular product lines

 +61 2 9548 2746

 +61 2 9520 3977

 info@hardwareshop.com.au

 http://www.hardwareshop.com.au/

HardwareShop bills itself as “Australia’s premier online

hardware and home improvement store.” The online

store boasts hand and power tools, fasteners, hardware,

automotive supplies, and electrical (but not electronic)

 (800) 431-3000

 http://www.mwh.com/

Home Depot has a printed catalog of maintenance andrepair supplies A big one, with lots of pictures, illustra-tions, and specifications-ideal for figuring out exactly

Don’t Forget the Corner Hardware Store

In the age of the Internet, where everything seems but a click away, it’s easy to forget

that the best place to buy things is in your own neighborhood Buying local helps you dle the merchandise yourself; a picture on a Web page may say a thousand words, butbeing able to hoist some artifact in your hand is worth a lot more And, of course, returnsand exchanges are easier when you buy locally, because you don’t have to hassle withpacking things in a box and standing in line at the post office or shipper’s

han-Any self-respecting robot hobbyist should know every location of every hobby store

and hardware store in a 5- or 10-mile radius This is especially true of hardware stores,which are more plentiful and varied than hobby stores Whether you live in an area, as I

do, with four or five home improvement superstores nearby, or have only a single

small-town retailer to rely on, hardware stores are the source for common items, including

metal stock, fasteners, tools, saws and bits, adhesives, and paints

I’ve memorized every aisle of the stores near me and have taken notes about pricing,

so that if I need some widget, I know where I saw it and about how much it cost

Humongous home improvement outlets aren’t necessarily better than the small, pendent retailer In fact, in my area, the local Ace Hardware store carries a better variety

inde-of casters and specialty fasteners (including metric and nylon) than the big Lowe’s andHome Depot

Of course, not everyone lives within a reasonable distance of any hardware or homeimprovement store, and here is where the Internet can help In the last few years, hard-ware-specialty retailers have set up shop on the Internet, either in direct competition

with local stores or in support of their own chain of bricks-and-mortar outlets For

example,

• B&Q has many stores in the U.K., and they also sell many products over the Internet

http://www.diy.com/

• Home Depot in North America augments their huge warehouses with Maintenance

Warehouse, a catalog and online retailer of hardware goods intended for home and

building repair/maintenance

http://www.mwh.com/

• CornerHardware.com offers a virtual hardware store experience, offering hand and

power tools, electrical items, and most everything else you’d find in a real hardware

store

http://www.cornerhardware.com/

what you need for your ‘bot Depending on where you

live, same-day or next-day shipping may be available to

you; otherwise, you’ll wait two or three days to get your

stuff

Use the locator at the Web site to find a warehouse near

you (they’re in major cities across the U.S.)

 +44 (0) 8709 008098

 +44 (0) 2087 847690

 enquiries@homebase.co.uk

 http://www.homebase.co.uk/

Homebase is a hardware and home improvement store

in the U.K (stores in the U.S with the name Homebaserecently closed their doors) The Web site provides astore locator and online shopping

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1605 Curtis Bridge Rd

Wilkesboro, NC 28697USA

fas-Home Depot, on the Web.

The world’s largest home improvement chain, with

1,300 stores in the U.S., as well as others in Canada,

Puerto Rico, and Mexico Use the store locator to find a

Home Depot near you

Be sure to check out Home Depot’s maintenance

sup-ply catalog/online sales at:

http://www.mwh.com/

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34 Henry Street West

St Jacobs, ON

N0B 2N0

Canada

online sales Check the Web site for a store locator.

Lowe’s has 600+ superstores in some 40 states

The site includes a “how-to library” on home repair and

remodeling I looked there’s nothing about

build-ing robots But some of the articles might be useful to

learn about materials and tools and the best way to use

Hardware stores in the Great Lakes and central states

Check the Web site for a store locator

Orchard Supply Hardware
203950

6450 Via Del Oro

Orchard Supply Hardware (OSH) is a California-based

hardware and home improvement store known for its

wide selection I’ve built entire robots with the stuff I’ve

bought at OSH Currently does not sell online

Rockler carries hand and power woodworking tools,

hardware, and wood stock (including precut hardwood

plywoods) Among important hardware items are

medium-sized casters, drop-front supports (possible use

in bumpers or joints in robots), and drawer slides

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8600 W Bryn Mawr Ave

Chicago, IL 60631-3505USA

hard-TrueValue-Major hardware store chain in the U.S.:http://www.truevalue.com/

Induserve Supply and Commercial Supplies-210,000items for small to large businesses:

And, of course, there’s always the mundane, but stilluseful, label makers, labels, parts bin organizers, batter-ies, and other products useful for maintaining a well-ordered robot-building shop

The chain store listings here are representative of officesupply stores worldwide These resources offer onlinesales, and you can browse their Web catalogs for ideas

SEE ALSO:

Materials-Transfer Film: Heat or water-slidetransfer films for use in copiers, ink-jet printers,and laser printers

Retail-Arts & Crafts: Good source for glues,adhesives, unusual parts