The Secret Life of components. A series of eight guides for designers and makers by Tim Hunkin
Why Hacker News recommends it
Recommended to people who like building things, as part of Hunkin's body of practical engineering explainers.
What it is
The trailer for Tim Hunkin's series The Secret Life of Components, eight guides to mechanical and electromechanical parts for designers and makers.
Recommended by 2 HN commenters across 2 different months, 2021 to 2025.
What Hacker News said
Recommends nieksand · 2021-07 · on “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.
Recommends lukasschwab · 2025-10 · on “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]
Cites piceas · 2021-03 · on “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]