Project · draft
Cool-Roof Experiment: Twin Laser-Cut Model Houses
- beginner
- 4-6 hours + a sunny day of logging
Measures how a light-coloured roof keeps a building cooler in the sun, a simple, local adaptation to rising heat.
Safety notes
- Laser cutter: never leave it running unattended, keep the lid closed and extraction on, and only cut materials your lab approves (no PVC or vinyl).
- Sun and heat: dark surfaces get hot; handle with care and keep the electronics shaded.
Draft and unofficial, not affiliated with Fab Academy or the United Nations. Check prices, GST and parts before you buy.
Summary
Two small MDF houses side by side in the sun: one roof painted white or lime-washed, the other dark. An RP2040 logs both indoor temperatures every minute and the OLED shows the live difference.
What it teaches
Design identical press-fit model houses, run a controlled experiment (only roof colour differs), log two 1-Wire temperature probes plus ambient, and plot the difference to draw an evidence-based conclusion.
Topics it touches, in Fab Academy-style terms:
- Computer-controlled cutting
- Computer-aided design
- Input devices
- Embedded programming
- Interface and application programming
Parts list
Parts cost
Some parts are not priced yet, so there's no total.
3 required parts are marked not priced yet below. Where a price is known it is shown per part, GST-inclusive as the seller listed it on 24 Oct 2026, with the GST rate unverified. Shipping is not included.
| Part | Qty | Unit | Price, GST-incl. as listed | Line cost | GST | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seeed Studio XIAO RP2040 Development Boardxiao-rp2040 | 1 | pcs | ₹513 | ₹513 | GST unverified, typically 18% | Robocrazeread 24 Oct 2026 |
| DS18B20 waterproof temperature probe (1-Wire), ~1 m leadds18b20-waterproofTwo houses plus ambient (shaded) | 3 | pcs | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| 4.7 kOhm resistor, through-hole (pack of 10)resistor-4k7-x10One pull-up for the shared 1-Wire bus | 1 | set | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| 0.96 Inch OLED Display Module SPI/I2C 4pin Blue Coloroled-096-i2cI2C 0x3C | 1 | pcs | ₹167 | ₹167 | GST unverified, typically 18% | Robocrazeread 24 Oct 2026 |
| MDF or plywood sheet, 3 mm (laser-cut parts)mdf-3mm-sheet | 2 | sheet | not priced yet | not priced yet | GST unverified | no seller yet |
| 400 Tie Points Solderless Breadboardbreadboard-half-400 | 1 | pcs | ₹39 | ₹39 | GST unverified, typically 18% | Robocrazeread 24 Oct 2026 |
| Male to Male Jumper Wires (20cm) (20pcs)jumpers-m2m-20cm-20Pack: pack of 20 male-male 20cm | 1 | set | ₹31 | ₹31 | GST unverified, typically 18% | Robocrazeread 24 Oct 2026 |
| Part | Qty | Unit | Price, GST-incl. as listed | Line cost | GST | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type C USB Cable (1 metre)cable-usb-c-1mSkip if you already have a data-capable USB-C cable | 1 | pcs | ₹65 | ₹65 | GST unverified, typically 18% | Robocrazeread 24 Oct 2026 |
| Optional extras total, GST-inclusive as listed by the seller | ₹65 | |||||
The Part column links to the shared catalogue. Units are pcs, m, g, sheet or set, and a "set" is the seller's pack, as noted per part.
Tools you will need
- Laser cutter
- White and dark paint (unpriced)
- Laptop with MicroPython/Thonny
Build notes
Step-by-step build notes have not been written yet for this draft. The summary, the topics above and the parts list are what exists so far.
How to buy
There is no online checkout. To buy or import these parts, email info@curiosta.com and say what you need. The button opens your own email app with a draft; nothing is sent until you send it.
Prices on this site are third-party seller listings, not a Curiosta quote. Ask by email for availability, price and GST.