Evolve Frame Assembly

If you happen to stumble upon an unassembled Evolve Frame, you’ll need a few things to bring it to life—along with some serious DIY mana and brute strength.

You’ll need 13 M3 tapping screws (12mm length), 8 M3 washers (10mm outer diameter, 3mm inner diameter, and 0.8mm thick), some machine or bearing grease, and a PH1 Phillips screwdriver.

We source our screws from Neji Super. Here’s the link we use:
https://neji-super.com/shop/detail.php?id=71411
If you’re looking for alternatives, these may be a good match:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012TE1TBS/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07VZWSVCV/

For washers, we also use Neji Super:
https://neji-super.com/shop/detail.php?id=143233
Amazon alternatives are slightly thicker (nylon, 0.3mm difference), but should work fine as long as you don’t overtighten:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CG1WLVSZ/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CG1W4ZW1/

Please note: we’re sharing these Amazon links as references only. We’re not affiliated with these vendors, and you shouldn’t feel pressured to buy from them. If in doubt, search using the dimensions listed above.

For tightening, we use this torque screwdriver in production:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/gp/product/B000W9C3UO/
If you use one, make sure it can adjust between 20 and 120 cN·m. That’s the sweet spot for tightening screws without damaging the frame. If you go with a regular PH1 screwdriver, take slow, steady turns. Over-tightening may strip the threads.

For grease, we use this silicone-based option:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B005SY9IM4
But most bearing or machine grease should be fine too:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0722VGTHJ
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01LWXQFYF

We strongly recommend wearing work gloves and protective eyewear while assembling. Here’s what we use:
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B002P984NY
Or just search for “work gloves” on Amazon for something similar.

Parts can crack under pressure and go flying—right into your brand-new Nintendo Switch 2. Please wear eye protection.

You may pinch or cut your fingers during assembly. Gloves are your friends.

Insufficient grease on some joints can cause them to seize up. If that happens, it’s game over.

The thigh joints (X and Y axes) need an initial “crack” after assembly to function. Do it wrong and its game over again.

Some parts, like the spine and ankle joints, demand hulk-level strength. They’re designed to minimize breakage risk and don’t require screws—but they’re a beast to snap together.

Throughout the history of Smart Doll, we’ve never published official instructions for assembling our frames. That’s because we use what we call the “Frame Challenge” as part of our hiring process. Instead of screening candidates by resume, education, age, or appearance, we evaluate everyone based on their ability to assemble a frame—without instructions—within one hour. The challenge is designed to test not only technical skill, but also how well someone handles ambiguity and pressure. Everyone at Mirai—regardless of department—has passed this challenge.

While we don’t provide build instructions, if you manage to assemble a frame and believe it meets our production standards, feel free to bring it to one of our events and show it to a team member. We’ll be able to tell whether it was built by us or by you—so honesty goes a long way ;-)

Successfully completing a frame on your own shows both the technical know-how and the resourcefulness to identify and work with the right components.

As mentioned earlier, we’re exploring global production capabilities and are open to conversations with individuals who can demonstrate this level of skill. That said, buying or assembling a frame does not imply or guarantee employment.

Good luck—and may your DIY powers prevail.