== Wishlist ==
anything in qty 10 or qty n is for the microcontroller workshop

name price quantity vendor vendor-number

web-based controller: fun, practically free, good publicity
  atmega16
  some relays
  isa ethernet card
  webcam

swarm bot: qty n
  atmega8 $3.50 qty 1 digikey
  10-pin header $0.45 qty 1 jameco 67812
  l298 $3 qty 1 jameco 245403
    OR sn754410 $1.55 qty 1 jameco 1054684
  CdS cells $0.20 qty 4 digikey
  battery holder $0.89 qty 1 jameco 105857PS
  dc gearmotor $3 qty 2 goldmine-elec
  microswitch $0.50 qty 4 ??

swarm bot upgrades: qty m
  ultrasound transducers $1 qty 8 goldmine-elec
  40kHz IR sensor $1 qty 2 digikey
  opto-interrupters $0.20 qty 2 goldmine-elec (diy encoder)
  nRF24L01 transciever $3.50 qty 1 sparkfun
  misc. components $5 qty 1 jameco/futurlec
  better motors $10 qty 2 ??

UAV with mapping camera:
  lithium battery $30
  motor controller $30
  brushless motor $20
  airplane-stuff $30 (or multiply above qty 4 for quad-helicopter)
  battery charger $20?
  R/C receiver $20?
  servos $15 qty 3
  gps module $50 sparkfun GPS-00163
  gps antenna $15 sparkfun
  gyro/accel module $110 sparkfun SEN-00741
  nRF2401 transciever module $22 qty 2 sparkfun WRL-00151
  cmucam+avr $170 acroname
    -OR-
  usb webcam $20 +
  host-board (many options)
    ts7200 runs debian, most reliable $140
    at91SAM7X usb+ethernet "highly educational"
      make microcontroller kit $150
      DIY $60
    gumstix $180? small, fiddly  

cnc-ify sherline: qty 2? (can swap parts)
  stepper-motors $20 qty 3
  driver board $185 qty 1 xylotex (rather not, actually)
  power supply $40
  parport card $15

SCARA-type pick and place arm: (and image processing)
  low-inertia servomotor $20 qty 4 herbach-rademan
  drive electronics (DIY) $20 qty 4
  MXL belts and pulleys $5 qty 4 msc/mcmaster
  bearings $5 qty 4 msc/mcmaster
  frame materials ??
  power supply $30
  old computer ??
  vacuum solenoid valve ??   
  vacuum pump/venturi ??
  ccd camera $40
  video input card $25

tools and supplies:
  multimeters $3 qty n harborfreight
  parrot wirestrippers $3 harborfreight
  soldering-iron ?? qty n ??
  rhino-pro 5000 labelmaker $100 ebay (yes really)
  label cartridges $15 qty 3 staples?
  wire-bundling-tape $1 qty 3 goldmine-elec
  wire?
  heatshrink?
  hot laminator $50 qty 1 staples (for toner-transfer)
  solder paste? $15.95 qty 1 circuitspecialists SMD 291AX
  sodium persulfate $20 qty 1 circuitspecialists 4101-1KG
  nibbler? $9 qty 1 circuitspecialists HT-204
  breadboard $4.29 qty 10 circuitspecialists wb-201
  long-nose-pliers $1.59 qty 10 circuitspecialists HH02075-A
  diag-cut-pliers $1.59 qty 10 circuitspecialists HH02075-B
  round-nose-pliers $1.79 qty 1 circuitspecialists HH02075-F

*** i might be underestimating this section
  0.025" and 0.035" drill bits (slightly larger is ok)
    qty 2 each enco #302-5060  #325-6160  #325-6089
  dial calipers (not electronic!)
    enco #610-5030
  8-32 spiral flute tap $3.75 qty 2 use-enco
  1/4-20 spiral flute tap $4.19 qty 2 use-enco
  1/2-10 acme threaded rod 6' $6 qty 2 use-enco
  3/4" dia 1' delrin $6 qty 1 use-enco
  3/4" dia 1' acrylic
  set screws $5 qty 2 use-enco
  velcro PSA tape 3/4x15' $16 qty 1 use-enco
 
  screwdriver bits $1 qty 5 ??     
  carbide pcb drills $12 qty 1 harborfreight
  
  18V cordless drill! $40 qty 1 harborfreight
  belt sander?
  ventilation hood?
  toaster oven $30


stuff to lay around and maybe get used: (jameco or futurlec)
  usb to serial adapter
  max232
  avr's
  capacitors
  32.768kHz 1 10 12 20MHz crystals
  5mm power jacks
  tip102
  diodes 1n4004 1n4007
  10 100 1k 10k 100k resistors (smd 0802?)
  irf*
  idc connectors   
  ribbon cable
  led's
  

and last but not least:
  shipping and handling $150

note: harbor freight and futurlec are exceedingly slow