[hrktb]

I wonder how far you tried robotics yourself, as in what is your frame of reference.

Here’s my framing: Setting aside sheer knowledge, building anything will require power, motors and parts.

Power is doable up to some point, buying batteries and plugin them is a low barrier with low risks (still need to care about them not burning though)

Motors are a matter of costs and learning what’s available and how to use them.

Then come the parts. Will you machine them ? That would be a CNC machine and it’s a rabbit hole needing space, money, time, material, learning and safety measures. The mild version is a 3D printer, but it’s still a significant cost, a learning curve, a dedicated place available for long hours with effective ventilation.

We’re pretty far away from a simple hobby anyone could try, compared to fishing or papercraft, or guitare, or even wood working. Basically that seems miles away from anything you would start out of boredom.

[albertzeyer]

Instead of CNC or 3D printing, couldn't you just use something simple as Lego or Fischertechnik? Or other kits? (Maybe depends on how big it is supposed to be, and what it is supposed to do.)

But also, I thought that you can get some pretty cheap 3D printers nowadays?

Instead of batteries, couldn't you just use a cable? (Depends how freely the robot is supposed to move around.)

I have seen some robotic kits you can buy, varying widely in what they contain, and the target audience (ranging from kids to semi professionalists), and the price (starting at 100€ or so, up to 10k€ or so).

[hrktb]

Lego bricks are fine, but you’ll still need to make custom parts to build anything mildly complex. In particular to make your motorization system hook to them (the native Lego system is pretty limited)

It depends on where you live, but the main cost of a 3D printer for me would be less the machine itself than the space and ventilation needed.

Friends who made the jump basically dedicated a room to making stuff so they can run prints overnight while ventilating (setting up a fume extractor is another option, it’s just a bit more investment in the “hobby”)

I see all of it as totally doable, but needs a serious level of dedication, time, space and money.

[sothby]

Some prefabricated unofficial Lego metal parts are listed on ebay. In the Drone space, lots of cheap diy options.