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Thames & Kosmos  |  SKU: ACD-THK550103  |  Barcode: 814743015838

Thames & Kosmos Candy Claw Engineering STEM Experiment Maker Lab | Build Your Own Claw Machine | Learn Hydraulics & Engineering | Includes Lollipops | Toy of The Year Finalist | Difficulty: Advanced

Step right up and try your luck! Do you have what it takes to grab a claw-full of candy with the Candy Claw Machine? Experiment to develop your motor skills and engineering chops to conquer this awesome STEM challenge. Build a working model of the classic claw machine — that enticing, sometimes frustrating, and always fun arcade game in which you try to grab prizes from inside the machine with a remote-controlled claw in a limited amount of time. Cranks, gears, and belts move the claw arm left and right, and forward and back. Hydraulic levers move the arm up and down, and open and close the claw. A spring-loaded trap door shoots the collected candy out at you if you manage to succeed. Time yourself or your friends and see if you can retrieve a specific object in a given amount of time. No batteries or electricity are required — it uses only the power of your hand and the mechanical advantage of the machines built into the device. Choose from three different claw shapes (cool nerdy roboticists call these “end effectors”) and find the one that works best to pick up a particular candy or prize. Learn how the gears, levers, belt, screws, hydraulics, linkages, cranks, and claws all work together to pick up, move, and drop prizes. Experiment with different gear ratios to speed up or power up your claw. Packed with 6 lollipops and decoys (fake candy boxes), you can also fill it with whatever small candies, toys, or other small objects you like. The game itself is great for honing dexterity skills and hand-eye coordination. An innovative take on a robotic arm with something really worth grabbing!

FEATURES

  • Build & engineer your own arcade-style claw machine!.Ideal for ages:6 years and up
  • Experiment with three different types of claws (pincher, scoop, and three-pronged) to pick up lollipops and decoy candy boxes (both included!).
  • A fun yet challenging, gamified approach to engineering lessons, you’ll learn about hydraulics, levers, gears, belts, linkages, end effectors, and more.
  • No batteries or electricity required; it uses only the power of your hand and the mechanical advantage of the machines built into the device.
  • Refill your machine with your own treats and prizes for long-lasting fun.
  • For ages 8+ with help; 12+ "I got this!"
  • IMPORTANT: This cute candy claw is a challenging build! Parents/adults will need to be active participants in the assembly and engineering of this product.
  • IMPORTANT: Download and read the instruction before use. We recommend using the step-by-step assembly and troubleshooting videos available online.
  • Build Time: Approximately 2-3 Hours
  • The Toy Association's 2022 STEAM Toy of the Year finalist!
$41.99
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Puzzle Tournament Details

Date, Time, & Location

Sunday, March 22nd, 2026

1:30-4:30 PM

Winner American Legion

133 W 3rd St, Winner, SD 57580

Tournament Divisions

2 Person Team - 500 Piece Competition

4 Person Team - 1000 Piece Competition

Prizes

Prizes of Puzzle Merchandise will be given to the top 3 place finishers for the 500 piece and 1000 piece divisions.

Puzzle Tournament Rules

Competition Start

Puzzling will begin at 1:30 PM sharp for both categories! No puzzling will be allowed before the designated start time.

Puzzles will be secured in a bag until the timer begins. The bag may not be altered or opened before this point or the competitor will be disqualified. 

Once the timer begins you may open the puzzle and begin puzzling.

Once puzzle boxes and pieces are opened, piece bags should be kept by the competitors in case a piece(s) was accidentally left inside. 

Tools

Additional lights and sorting trays are allowed during the competition. 

All other tools such as puzzle scoops, spatulas, magnifying glasses, and extra print outs are not allowed.

During the Competition

Team members are welcome to bring snacks and beverages of their choice. 

Although we encourage a fun afternoon, please refrain from loud conversations, moving or standing in other team's space, and anything else that might impede another teams progress. 

Puzzle Completion

As you near completion, a team member must raise their hand to alert a judge. 

Once the puzzle is completed, all team members must remove their hands from the table and a judge will verify completion and record the time. 

Lost Pieces

If a judge finds a piece on the floor during the competition, they will slide a bright piece of paper underneath the piece. This will highlight where it is so it doesn’t accidentally get moved further, but prevents it from being given to the incorrect team.

There is a maximum of 10 second penalty for missing pieces. Penalty is not per piece. If you have a missing piece, judges will note the time of the last assembled piece and the puzzlers will have 10 seconds to locate the missing piece. If the piece(s) is located, the completion time will reflect the time the last piece is assembled. If the piece(s) is not located within that time a 10 second penalty will be assessed. 

Photography and Media

By attending, you consent to the use of your image or likeness in promotional materials and social media related to the event. 
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