> **Source:** Core Electronics is an Australian maker-electronics retailer and manufacturer based in Newcastle, NSW, run by a team of makers and educators. We design and manufacture our own product lines (PiicoDev, CE originals) and are official retailers for iconic maker and industrial brands including Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Adafruit, SparkFun and DFRobot. Orders ship Australia-wide from our Newcastle warehouse. Prices are in AUD and include GST. Pricing, stock and dispatch on this page are generated from the store's live catalog. Full machine-readable index: https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt # Solarbotics Useless Box Kit **Type:** Product page · **SKU:** CE05310 · **Brand:** [Solarbotics](https://core-electronics.com.au/brands/solarbotics-australia) **Page:** https://core-electronics.com.au/solarbotics-useless-box-kit.html ([markdown](https://core-electronics.com.au/solarbotics-useless-box-kit.html.md)) You build it, you turn it on, and ...it has other ideas. A finger extends, and turns itself off just as quickly as you turn it on. Weird and wonderful, it's a physical description of many aspects of life (how's that for the beginning of an artsy interpretation?). ## Pricing - **Price:** $50.30 (inc GST) — $45.73 AUD, exc GST - **Quantity discounts:** 6+ $43.90 (exc GST) · 12+ $42.53 (exc GST) ## Availability & dispatch - In stock, ships same business day if ordered before 2PM (Australia/Sydney). - We can dispatch 9 today; more stock is typically available with a 7–13 day lead time. ## How to buy - **Build a cart:** compose `https://core-electronics.com.au/cart/link?items=CE05310:1` (comma-separated SKU:qty pairs) and share the link. Opening it shows a confirmation page with live pricing and stock before anything is added to the cart. - **Verify the cart first:** fetch `https://core-electronics.com.au/cart/link/CE05310:1.md` for live line prices (inc & exc GST, quantity discounts applied), stock and dispatch estimates, and totals. Append `/to/{AU-postcode}` (or `/to/{country-code}:{postcode}`) before `.md` for delivery options and prices to that destination. Unknown, retired, or out-of-stock SKUs are flagged. (Query form `cart/link.md?items=...` also works but some robots parsers refuse query strings here.) - **Checkout** is completed on-site and includes a captcha at the payment step. Share the cart link; checkout takes it from there. - **Search the catalogue:** `https://core-electronics.com.au/search/{query}.md` (URL-encode the query; pages 2-3 at `search/{query}/{page}.md`; `search.md?q=` also works) - **Payment methods, purchase orders, policies and contact details:** https://core-electronics.com.au/llms.txt ## Description Yes, it's ... Useless! It's a clever electromechanical box that turns itself off after you've turned it on. You build it, you turn it on, and ...it has other ideas. A finger extends, and turns itself off just as quickly as you turn it on. Weird and wonderful, it's a physical description of many aspects of life (how's that for the beginning of an artsy interpretation?). Kits can be occasionally frustrating, but be assured that with Solarbotics' *full satisfaction warranty*, you have complete confidence that if your Useless Machines starts ... acting useful?... or otherwise, we'll take care of the problem. Broken or lost parts? No problem. Contact us for any issue you might have. The Useless Machine Kit requires assembly, and you must have your own soldering equipment, batteries, and phillips screwdriver. **Each kit includes:** 1 x 39300 Black acrylic "Useless Box" construction set 1 x Motor set (GM3 Motor and Accessory Wheel) 1 x Double-pole, double-throw power switch 1 x Single-pole, double-throw retract limit switch 1 x 4-conductor ribbon wire 1 x 2xAA battery pack 1 x Double-sided sticky tape 4 x Miniature hinges 2 x #4 x 1/2" Motor-mounting screws 5 x #2-32 x 3/8" Limit switch / finger mounting screws 1 x #2 x 1/4" and #2 Washer set for accessory wheel 22 x #4 x 3/8" Bolts and #4 nut sets 16 x #2 x 1/4" Hinge-mounting screws 4 x "Little Rubber Feet" to protect your Useless Box from abrasive counter tops! Sure it's useless... but it keeps your itchy switch-flippin' fingers busy! **Useful videos of Useless:** **Soldering tutorial**: ## Images - [Product image 1](https://core-electronics.com.au/media/catalog/product/6/0/60005_-_img_9668-ub.jpg)