Pros
Educational STEM toy with real value in teaching pneumatics and hydraulics
Great for older kids and teens who are interested in building
High-quality, durable product that holds up well to use
Clear and easy-to-follow instructions
Engages children and encourages curiosity in engineering concepts
Can be a fun family activity when building together
Provides a sense of accomplishment upon completion
Cons
Challenging for younger children to assemble without adult help
Assembly time can be lengthy, taking several hours or days
Some parts are difficult to unscrew or unsnap once assembled
Main Product Advantages
9 Educational Value
The kit provides a hands-on introduction to pneumatics and hydraulics, making it valuable for educational purposes.
8 Instruction Clarity
The instruction manual is well-designed and easy to follow, but some steps can be tricky and require adult assistance.
8 Customer Support
The company's customer support is responsive and helpful, offering replacement parts if needed.
7 Fun Factor
Children find the process of building and operating the hand enjoyable, but interest may wane once the assembly is complete.
6 Assembly Difficulty
While some found it challenging to assemble, others enjoyed the complexity. It generally requires adult supervision for younger children.
6 Durability
While durable enough for educational play, the product is not suitable for rough action play as it can be fragile.
6 Time to Assemble
On average, it takes around 5-6 hours to assemble, with some finding this to be a long but worthwhile endeavor.
5 Age Appropriateness
The product is more suitable for older children (over 10 years), despite being advertised for younger kids.
Thames & Kosmos Mega Cyborg Hand STEM Experiment Kit
Explore the fascinating world of hydraulics, pneumatics, and robotics with the Thames & Kosmos Mega Cyborg Hand STEM Experiment Kit! This kit allows you to build your very own GIANT hydraulic hand using over 200 plastic pieces and piston tubes that are filled with water.
Once assembled, this mechanical marvel slips onto your hand like a glove, enabling you to control its mechanical fingers with your own. You can simulate the movements of a human hand without the need for any motors or electricity, purely through hydraulic power.
The cyborg hand boasts incredible gripping capabilities, allowing you to lift and hold a variety of objects—from bottles and pencils to small items within reach. The kit is highly versatile, permitting configuration in three different ways: left hand, right hand, and a claw-like form with the thumb positioned in the center.
Moreover, the hand is adjustable to fit virtually all hand sizes, making it accessible to a wide range of users. Accompanying the kit is a 40-page, full-color manual that not only guides you through the building and experimentation process but also provides engaging scientific information on how pneumatic and hydraulic systems are employed in industrial robots to assist with various tasks in our modern world.
Conclusion
The Thames & Kosmos Mega Cyborg Hand STEM Experiment Kit is an exceptional educational tool. It offers hands-on learning of basic principles of hydraulics, pneumatics, and robotics while ensuring a fun and engaging experience. The adjustable design and multiple configurations make it suitable for all ages, making it a highly recommended purchase for anyone interested in STEM subjects.