So what’s the damage? 😬
Let’s not faff around, I went through my past orders and totalled everything up. I’ve categorized each part below. A few notes though:
- Oftentimes I needed just one of a component but could only buy a pack of maybe 5 of them. For these components, I’ve decided to just take the price I paid and divide it by the number I used to give some kind of an idea of the worth of the box rather than just what obfuscated damage my wallet took.
- Aside from more expensive wiring for power, I’ve omitted standard wire which I already had. That would be too difficult to calculate and only amount to pennies…
Core Electronics - ¥8,560
- ESP32 board — ¥1,240
- OLED display — ¥2,180
- MG90S servos — ¥1,280
- RGB LED rings — ¥1,580
- Boost converters — ¥320
- Capacitors — ¥1,840
- Ceramic components — ¥120
Power System - ¥2,150
- Murata/Sony high amp 18650 battery — ¥1,700(!)
- Battery holder — ¥190
- Power switch — ¥180
- Fuses — ¥80
Inputs & Controls - ¥918
- Green button — ¥598
- Lock and key switch — ¥320
Wiring & Assembly - ¥6,975
- Wago connectors — ¥1,342
- Perf board — ¥590
- Velcro attachments/18AWG wiring — ¥1,198
- USB extension cable — ¥697
- Pogo connectors — ¥3,148
Structure & Materials - ¥7,250
- 3D printer filament — ¥5,800
- Rubber feet — ¥500
- Specialty screws (OLED mount) — ¥550
- Transparent cubes — ¥400
Finishing & Aesthetics - ¥4,343
- Paints — ¥1,030
- Stencil set — ¥1,380
- Frosting spray — ¥1,245
- Epoxy — ¥688
🥁 Grand Total — ¥30,196 / £140 / $189
Outro
Hmm… writing this post after everything’s done is the first time I’ve seen this figure!
At first glance, a total cost of around ¥30,000 might seem high for a “box with some electronics” but I think it’s more than that now. I guess the reality is that this project sits somewhere between a gadget, a prop, and a one-off interactive experience.
A significant portion of the cost comes from structural and aesthetic elements like 3D printing, paints, and finishing materials as apposed to just the electronics themselves. In fact, the core electronics are relatively affordable; it’s the physical form, durability, and presentation that elevate the project into something that feels complete and intentional (and quite expensive).
So is it a lot of money? I think you can probably buy less interesting toys for a bit more money and in reality, this was my hobby for all this time and if I wasn’t doing this, I would’ve just been doing something else that would probably have cost more.
More importantly, this isn’t something you can simply buy off the shelf. Every part of the puzzle, from the hidden compartments to the LED interactions and mechanical surprises were designed, iterated on, and assembled by hand.
I’m immensley proud of it and feel the value comes not just from the components, but from the time spent refining the experience: making it feel surprising, cohesive, and a little bit magical.
In that sense, the cost isn’t just for parts. It’s the price of creating something entirely unique.