[3E ONLY] Is there a way to craft a permanent Animated Object?

[Nanashi]

I know in PF it's relatively easy (and fairly cheap) to make an animated object with Craft Construct. Is there any way to make one in 3E alone?

[kitep]

In 3.5 you can cast Permanency on Animate Object.  I think it's the same in 3.0
3.5 also has the Craft Construct feat
You can use Craft Construct to create an Effigy Creature (Complete Arcane, p151)

[Vizzerdrix]

Minor servator spell from savage species will do what you want.

[Endarire]

You can seemingly make an Animated Object with Craft Construct since Animated Objects are Constructs.

[nijineko]

You could make an animated object with Craft Device, but you'll need a power supply too. And not everyone uses the licensed sources.

[GeeksTheNewSexy]

The 5th Level spell Haunt Shift allows you to transform an undead (that you presumably control) into a 'Haunting Presence'. Which can then operate the object it haunts as a poltergeist if it has moving parts. So, if you had it haunt a traditional crossbow, it could fire on its own as well as re-cock itself, being a function of its form, but not reload itself with a bolt from your bolt case.

So, if you want a suit of Full Plate to clank around on its own for all time... Haunt Shift is the cheap and easy way to go about it. Carriages, Full sets of Armor, Scarecrows, Loot-Hauling Wagons, etc, etc. The possibilities end with your imagination, so to speak. And what your DM allows, of course.