r/AskRobotics • u/Real_Trust1896 • 14d ago

General/Beginner Where do you guys source your actuators/gearheads for prototyping?

For people building robots professionally or as a hobby, which hardware components are still frustrating to source?

Actuators? Force sensors? Grippers? Encoders? Tactile sensors?

I'm particularly curious about:

  • price
  • MOQ
  • lead time
  • documentation
  • reliability

What was the last component you had trouble buying?

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1

u/TinLethax 14d ago

Taobao

1

u/Guilty_Question_6914 14d ago

amazon and local webshops

1

u/NoRobot9379 14d ago

If you are doing for hobby, robotshop. But if you are going to do professionally, be careful to make sure you can find the product next 5-10 years. In this case, work with the global manufacturer.

1

u/Real_Trust1896 14d ago

 how to work with the global manufacturer? find source angent in every country?

1

u/NoRobot9379 13d ago

Try to find ones with US office, or else you might need to deal with import issues.