
KILLSWITCH competitors are encouraged to build their robots using primarily scavenged parts. Thrift stores, yard sales, and local Craigslist ads are great sources for R/C vehicles and toys full of useful hardware for pennies on the dollar. Still, it's likely that all of us will need to order something, and this list of vendors is intended to make this easier.
LOCAL SOURCES
There aren't very many places we can go to get robot parts in town, and if we don't support them, there will eventually be none at all. Just be aware that everything is cheaper online -- often very much cheaper -- so if there's something you want but can't bring yourself to buy, check internet sources before giving up entirely.
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HobbyTown USA
The only source for R/C parts in town. High prices.
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Shields Electronics
The only source for electronic components in town. Talk to Don Hall and identify yourself as a Knox Maker.
DOMESTIC SOURCES
These vendors can generally ship the fastest, which can be a real lifesaver if you've waited too long to order.
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Jameco Electronics
Lots of components, modules, and kits. Check out their "Robot Store" particularly. Good prices.
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Pololu
Good selection of robotics parts and electronics.
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Solarbotics
Canadian shop with some good motors, pulleys, and the like.
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Robot Shop
Canadian source for all manner of robotics and quadcopter-related parts and kits.
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Servo City
Nice selection of servos, motors, and associated electronics.
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The Robot Marketplace
Robot and R/C parts, some oriented toward combat robots. Not cheap.
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Banebots
Motors, gearboxes, hubs, and wheels for combat robots.
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Trossen Robotics
Robotics and microcontroller parts and kits.
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Fingertech Robotics
Motors, servos, electronics, and hardware.
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Robot Power
R/C and Arduino-compatible motor controllers
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Dimension Engineering
Motor controllers and related electronics.
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Tower Hobbies
Lots of R/C oriented parts - motors, controllers, transmitters, etc. Employee owned.
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McMaster-Carr
Overwhelming selection of all things mechanical, from bearings and fasteners to sheet metal and pulleys.
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Adafruit
Maker-centric source for electronics parts, modules, and kits. Kinda spendy. Knox Makers arranges group buys for discounts from time to time.
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SparkFun
Very like Adafruit, but with slightly better prices.
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DigiKey
Incredibly vast selection of electronic and electromechanical parts.
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Mouser Electronics
Very like DigiKey, but with a slightly less good search.
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Arrow Electronics
Another supplier like DigiKey and Mouser.
MIXED SOURCES
These meta-vendors encompass both domestic and overseas sources, so quality and delivery times can vary widely.
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Amazon Smile
You can get anything on Amazon, often for cheap. If you buy from Amazon, please use Amazon Smile and choose Knox Makers as your charity!
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Ebay
Everything is available here, too. Deals abound.
OVERSEAS SOURCES
These vendors offer particularly good pricing, but are often slow to deliver. Plan ahead and order early if you plan to use them.
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HobbyKing
Amazing selection of R/C vehicles, kits, and parts. Good prices. Products spread among various warehouses; shipping time variable as a result.
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SeeedStudio
Maker-centric source for open hardware, electronics, and robotics parts.
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RobotDigg
Good selection of parts for 3D printers, CNC machines, and robotics. Good prices, good quality, medium-slow delivery. Shipping can be costly.
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DFRobot
Maker-centric source for open hardware, microcontrollers, and robotics parts.
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AliExpress
All kinds of consumer electronics and parts, much direct from the manufacturer. Prices are often as low as they get. The language barrier can be challenging.
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DealExtreme
An incredibly wide variety of consumer electronics, toys, and parts. Great prices, decent quality, glacial delivery.
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Banggood
Similar to DealExtreme.
Knox Makers doesn't endorse any of these vendors. We benefit only through Amazon Smile.