Ask HN: Hardware/Robotics Forums? Need Some Help Here.

I am looking at prototyping a device (to help alleviating symptoms of a certain medical condition), and I could use some pointers into a robotics and/or hardware hacking community. Obviously not the PS3 re-soldering kind of hacking, but something more involved with building miniature physical gadgets with moving parts and sensors. I have substantial background with software development and can solder my way through a multivibrator :) Any pointers as to where I should look? -- (edit) Probably it wouldn't hurt if I describe what it is I am considering building. It's a pressure sensor array of the size of the palm, relatively sparse (a dozen of sensors for starters) and a some component that could replicate the pressure input in a tactile way. Either some sort of array of push-pins to prickle the skin, or electrodes to run weak currents, or something else ... and this is basically the part I am currently very fuzzy about. Need to understand what is available and could potentially work and to just bounce some ideas off other people in general. All this is for personal use, this is not a start-up or an academic research. Consider it a hobby project that could benefit greatly exactly one person if it works out. -- Thanks.