Tom Schwing at Big Dog M.
Teach Your Kid a Tough Lesson With the Robotic Arm Kit From Hell
We really loved the little robotic arm kit at the start of the project but upon intitial parts inventory we discovered 6 essential 2.6 mm machine screws were missing. The confusing instruction manual starts right off on page 1 by warning consumers not to return to the retailer, but to call for "support" about missing and defective parts. That should have been a red flag right there, a common practice for US importers of poor Asian products, most of whom are more concerned about reputation management than quality control as they peddle their substandard junk via US retailers to the unwary American public. As tedious tiny screw assembly moves along, requiring the hand-eye coordination of a neurosurgeon, proceeding from the mechanical into control circuitry assembly and wiring, the tech manual goes straight downhill. Many sections of the stapled together manual are presented in an illogical right to left order with sloppily labeled "color" arrows pointing in all directions. Two faulty blue motor wires in the main gear boxes parted at some point during final assembly and caused us to throw in the towel on this bench test since it would require a complete and complex disassembly process to solder and repair, and construction of this 200 part kit is just too tedious to build the thing twice. I doubt if a 12 year-old or even older child has the required hand strength to drive the microscopic tapping screws into plastic, and most common household tool boxes don't have the precision jeweler's screwdrivers in the tiny sizes required.The toy robotic arm is rated as 12+ but as a retired industrial millwright with decades of machine assembly experience I would only recommend this "teaching toy" as punishment, and I pity the parent who is expected to help build the thing. This was our first and last purchase from elenco, and Snap Circuits. I'm sure the company will respond with pandering and excuses, if at all, but save your 50 bucks and a lot of aggravation and buy your kid a good old American erector set if they are into robotics on a budget.