New classroom is up. The CrunchLabs series now lives in the classroom as a course, oldest first, so you can work through the boxes in order. This is box one, the motorized disc launcher. I signed up for the subscription while Evan was stuck recovering from a broken collarbone, since he couldn't do much else. The reason I bought in is the same reason we still make this stuff. Building, fixing and figuring things out will outlast whatever the technology does next. On the build. It's about an hour including Mark Rober's concept video, and I'd tell any parent to watch that video before you start rather than after. It sets up why the thing works instead of just how to assemble it. The STEM concept here is flywheels and friction, and Evan had both down on the first pass. Ask him bolt versus nut and he had a fifty-fifty shot and got it wrong, so we've got somewhere to go. That's the same gap I see with his homework. He can tell me what a story was about and then blank on the word the worksheet is asking for. The idea lands before the label does. Our box showed up dented from shipping, though nothing inside was damaged. Worth knowing so you don't panic when it lands. One thing I didn't expect to care about. The motor is reusable, so when the launcher gets retired it's a part for something else. Every kit also comes with a collectible gear badge, and I'm told if you collect all twelve Mark Rober will sign it. First test fire went about how you'd guess. Evan shot me. When your kid explains how something works, do they nail the idea and then blank on the word for it?

Latest lesson: motorizing the helmet, which turned out harder than printing it. Same as the rest, we're getting organized and turning the series into a proper classroom. If you caught this one already, no worries. This is the real, unpolished version of a build. We installed the Walsh 3D Servo Pro kit, wired up a CrashWorks control board, learned heat-set inserts, twisted and soldered our own wires, and zeroed the servos. The faceplate actually moved, which was a huge win. But we also hit real problems: heat-set holes that came out too big, the mask colliding with the servo arms, and wire routing and clearance issues we still need to fix before sanding and paint. That's the honest part of building. You try it, you learn from it, you fix it, and you keep going. If you were building this, what would make you most nervous, the printing, the wiring, the motors, or the paint? Tell us.

Hey everyone, I’m Ryan, and this is my son Evan! We’re the father and son behind The Bonding Blueprint. On YouTube, we’ve been sharing what we’re working on as a family, and we’ll continue to do that. Things like LEGO builds, STEM kits, DIY projects, 3D printing, gaming, and learning new skills side by side. If you haven't seen our channel, you can find that here: www.youtube.com/@thebondingblueprint This Skool exists for a different reason. We wanted a place where families could slow down a bit, talk to each other, share what they’re building, and learn from one another. Not just watch a video and move on, but actually be part of a community. This Skool is for: - Parents who want to spend more hands-on time with their kids - Kids who enjoy building, creating, and figuring things out - Families who already love this stuff and want to go deeper - Families who don’t know how to do any of this yet, but think it looks interesting or want to try You do not need any prior experience to be here. You don’t need to be an expert. We definitely aren’t. A big part of what we try to show, both on YouTube and here in Skool, is that a lot of these topics can look complicated or intimidating at first glance. LEGO mega builds, STEM kits, 3D printing, home improvement tools, DIY projects, even gaming setups can feel like something only experts do. In reality, once you break things down into smaller steps, watch someone else work through it, or tackle it together as a family or a community, those same projects become very approachable. That has been the whole point of our content from the beginning. Showing families that you do not need prior knowledge to start, you just need curiosity, patience, and a willingness to learn together. We make mistakes. We backtrack. We figure things out as we go. And we talk honestly about what worked and what didn’t. The most important part of this Skool is participation. Posts, comments, questions, and sharing your own projects are what will make this place valuable.