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The Secret Life of components. A series of eight guides for designers and makers by Tim Hunkin

Name: The Secret Life of components. A series of eight guides for designers and makers by Tim Hunkin
Description: The trailer for Tim Hunkin's series The Secret Life of Components, eight guides to mechanical and electromechanical parts for designers and makers.

tim hunkin

3 videos recommended on HN

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2 HN users recommended this tutorial2 months2021–2025 score 2

Years with an HN recommendation, 2007–2026

Recommended to people who like building things, as part of Hunkin's body of practical engineering explainers.

The trailer for Tim Hunkin's series The Secret Life of Components, eight guides to mechanical and electromechanical parts for designers and makers.

“It is really great stuff if you enjoy building things.” (HN, 2021)

2 recommendations · 1 citations · Tutorials · intro

Mechanical & precision engineering 3D printing, CNC & maker projects Tutorials Engineering, Transport & Making

3 Hacker News comments

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@nieksand Jul 2021 Recommends

on HN thread The Secret Life of Machines

Mr. Hunkin has been publishing a new Secret Life of Components series to youtube: [this video] It is really great stuff if you enjoy building things.

Guides to mechanical components for makers

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@lukasschwab Oct 2025 Recommends

on HN thread Novelty Automation

His recent "Secret Life of Components" series covers lots of fascinating electromechanical tinkering, including many of the mechanisms in the Novelty Automation arcade machines: [this video]

Electromechanical tinkering and arcade machine mechanisms

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Citations, criticism and jokes

@piceas Mar 2021 Cites it

on HN thread Everything you ever wanted to know about chains

This is part one of a series by Tim Hunkin. He is known for his late '80s UK TV series The Secret Life of Machines and the Novelty Arcade, a new London arcade of satirical home-made machines. The Secret Life of Components series intro (3min) [this video] [link]

Intro to Tim Hunkin's components series

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