Open Dynamic Robot Initiative BOLT Cost Breakdown

In the BOLT project, we 3D print using off-the-shelf materials. However, it’s important to note that the intent of the ODRI project is experimentation and research, rather than creating a low-cost platform. As such, individuals may find the cost a little out of reach. So just how much does a BOLT cost to produce in the United States? What is the BOLT Cost Breakdown?

To start with, even if you have the financial means, you may encounter completely unavailable components due to supply chain issues these days. The good news is I have been able to source the V2 uDriver’s from SEEED, which means I have finally been able to develop an ODRI Bolt Cost Breakdown. They should be here within about 30 days or so.

Supply Chain Issues

Randomly checked Mouser’s website one evening and saw they miraculously had 30 DRV83053PHPR microcontrollers in stock. I immediately bought ten thinking I was buying five extra to offer up on the Discourse forum to someone in a similar position. I did not recall that I needed two per board instead of one, and as a result, I now have less stock than I had anticipated. But still in a good place to complete my build.

I was able to source the remaining scarce parts: MAX15062BATA+T5, TLV70233DSER, MAX17502EATB+T from WinSource at a significant premium ($230 with shipping). Parts had to be shipped from WinSource in China to me here in the U.S. and then back to SEEED in Mainland China via DHL. Once the right export/import exemptions were identified the process was pretty easy, DHL came to my house picked up and packed the components, and delivered within a week or so.

My total material costs were $4,743 here in the United States. The breakdown by category is below:

These costs include everything but specialized tools and about $300 in normalized shipping costs. It also does not take into account minimum quantity sizes for some of the miscellaneous fasteners.

There are still a few parts I need to price out as of November 2022 but they are relatively minor in magnitude.

My Bill of Materials

I have made my BOM with costs and suppliers public Bolt BOM.xlsx.

I won’t be able to validate that all my substitutes work. Nor that the structure works with PETG until the end of this year after the PCBs are received. My Prusa MK2 is not detailed enough to print the code wheel. That was the only part that I could not print myself.

UPDATE April 2023 – you can check out my progress here: ODRI Bolt masterboard, microdriver, and actuator test

My next steps are to solder the miscellaneous resistors onto the uDriver and the IC converter. I could not originally source for the Masterboard and then test out positional capabilities with the actuator.