The Inventors Library

Hours of Fun, Learning, & Design!

Many of you have asked how participants can safely (and affordably) recreate at home what they learn in the classes, and explore further.  We are excited to pilot 'The Inventors Library'.  an equipment lending programme to enable interested students to continue their learning.  Click here to read the launch announcement, scroll down for details on how it works, or enter the Library to browse and order. Happy building!
 

ENTER THE LIBRARY

How the Inventors Library Works

  1. Termly Membership (£20, Levels 1,2,3)

    • Borrow materials, equipment, and tools up to your course level to practice, design, and invent.  Over £250 of equipment with more being added.
    • Exchange items weekly during class.
    • Masterclass students: Membership lasts through the term or until your next Masterclass.
       

  2. Borrowing Limit (Refundable Deposit)

    • Set a deposit (£15–£25 recommended) to determine borrowing capacity.
      • Why this range? All kits are under £25; most (90%) are under £20.
         

  3. If Something Breaks

    • Normal wear? Just tell us—we’ll repair it!
    • Irreparable damage? Rare (our kits are tough!), but if it happens:
    • Honesty reward: Proactively report it when you return the equipment, and we’ll deduct 50% of the price from your deposit.
       

  4. Refundable Deposit payouts

    • At term’s end, you can choose:
          Carry forward the refundable deposit to the next term, or
          Receive it in your account via BACS .

  5. Want to Buy?

    • Members get 25% off all component purchases (excludes tools)
    • We price-match to ensure affordability—typically 10% below Amazon Prime.
ENTER THE LIBRARY

Frequently Asked Questions

When do the kits become available?

Kits become available at the launch of each course.  New components are added to the lending library for that course level as the relevant material is covered in the course.  This ensures that students understand how to use the components, and have had some practice under supervision.  It also ensures that they understand any safety / best practice considerations. 

Do all courses have kits?

Yes!  All our courses have kits to allow participants to practice at home what they have learnt in the course, as well as showcase what they're doing to their friends and family.  It also allows them to explore and come up with their own ideas, and bring these back to the course to share with other enthusiastic participants. 

Should a participant use their equipment kit in class?

As the participants rise into more advanced courses, they will benefit from bringing in pre-built partial work so they can spend more time in the class on the new content.  By using their library kit, if they have something partially finished by the time the course is complete, they can simply box it and continue at home.

How do I know what my child needs?

The Library is organised by Course Level from 1 to 6.  Each level has a sequence of kits with the components needed to practice what is being taught in the class.  Your child is encouraged to go beyond this and dream up what they want to build.  They can then use the Library Catalogue to identify the parts they'll need and create their own bundle.  The curated kits are the best way to master the ideas, skills and techniques of the course.  The catalogue section allows parents/participants to get involved in the exciting world of design.

How do we use the Microcontroller?  Is the software included?  What kind of Laptop is needed?

Level 2m contains the microcontroller (a breadboardable Arduino Nano), the USB-mini cable to connect to the laptop, and the MTech software that runs on GForth which they use to wite code for the controller over the USB cable.  We recommend a Windows laptop.  All capabilities are fully tested and verified on Windows laptops.  Mac or Linux users interested in being testers, please reach out!