I want to build a skill claw machine...

[renobastian100]

If I wanted to build a skill claw machine from the ground up, what components would I need (besides a good programmer)? What programming experience/hardware? If not the entire machine, how would I go about building and programming the "claw" itself?. This is just a hypothetical concept.

this is what im talking about.
http://www.mywii.com.au/pwnage/user_12788_ZP2DQKDJ.jpg

[Siris]

Why would you want to build something from the ground up spending $$$ when you could probably pick one up for $200 and then modify it how you wish?

[renobastian100]

hobby...

[SavannahLion]

I guess you should start looking at microcontrollers for your basic building blocks.
I've been trying to get my hands dirty with AVR products.
I've been told FPGA and CPLD are better toys to play with, so I've been eyeing Xilinx products (because they have an emulator/compiler you can download). It's a level above what I'm used to programming ASM. I've been hoping to find a forum suitable for beginners but I haven't had a chance to really dig in.

[genesim]

The money is filling that baby up with Carebears. 

[renobastian100]

I guess you should start looking at microcontrollers for your basic building blocks.
I've been trying to get my hands dirty with AVR products.
I've been told FPGA and CPLD are better toys to play with, so I've been eyeing Xilinx products (because they have an emulator/compiler you can download). It's a level above what I'm used to programming ASM. I've been hoping to find a forum suitable for beginners but I haven't had a chance to really dig in.

interesting...how reliable is AVR's product line?

[GregorDV]

AVRs are the heart of a great many hobby and commercial projects.  A company I'm associated with has their entire product line based on AVR chips.  They're cheap, good, easy to learn, have an FLOSS tool chain, and good debuggers.

If I were working on one, I would base it on the RepRap design  (http://reprap.org/).  They're working on build-at-home 3D printers, which are basically a claw machine with the claw replaced with a plastic extruders.  They've got good plans, parts, suppliers, and a great community for supporting each other.  It's hours of entertainment watching them (collectively) build their own little von Neumann machines.

[Turnarcades]

I applaud ingenuity, but as technically marvellous as it may once finished, it'd bug the hell out of me like commercial machines do and it's very limited appeal at the end of the day.

If you are insistent, maybe you could rip the logic circuits out of one of those novelty kids versions they sell as toys?

[Ed_McCarron]

The Atmel stuff kicks ass, but has a bit steep of a learning curve.

Can I suggest something like the picaxe ( http://www.rev-ed.co.uk/picaxe/ ) or basic stamp ( http://www.parallax.com/ ) to get your feet wet?  The picaxe stuff is dirt cheap, no programmer needed (just a serial port) and runs a BASIC-like language.  Its a good starting point.  Cons are lower speed (interpreted vs compiled) and limited options.

You can pick up an 8 pin picaxe for 3 or 4 bucks.