Projects

Current representative prices for the published Raspberry Pi, display, camera, battery and storage parts. The source publishes the parts list but not a complete total.

Includes: Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W with header; Display HAT Mini; Pi Zero camera; PiSugar 3 battery; 16GB microSD and reader; Small amount of enclosure filament.

Not included: 3D printer ownership or print service; Shipping from multiple suppliers; Computer and OpenAI account.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

The combination of a programmable Raspberry Pi camera, local controls and an AI-assisted build workflow is the point of the project. A camera price alone would not be a meaningful comparison.

Creator-published parts cost, with GBP shown as an approximate conversion.

Includes: Published electronics and basic printed enclosure materials.

Not included: 3D printer ownership; Shipping; Optional modifications.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

Commercial desk companions exist, but they do not reproduce this small open ESP32 platform closely enough for a savings claim.

A practical allowance for ESP32-CAM hardware, lighting/mounting and small installation materials. The project reuses an existing meter, so installation choices dominate the total.

Includes: ESP32-CAM route; Basic illumination/mounting; Small power and fixing items.

Not included: Existing utility meter; Custom enclosure/service work; Home automation server.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

A replacement smart meter or separate energy monitor changes the measurement route rather than doing the same retrofit job, so CAIBI does not claim a like-for-like saving.

Creator-published total parts range, with GBP shown as an approximate conversion.

Includes: Published robot hardware and printed-part material.

Not included: 3D printer ownership; Shipping; Optional batteries or upgrades.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

Petoi Bittle is the nearest straightforward bought comparison, not an identical robot. The difference shown is parts cash only and does not price printing time, assembly or calibration.

The published core-hardware figure is not an all-in build total. A compatible donor mower and RTK route are additional major costs.

Includes: Published OpenMower core hardware allowance.

Not included: Donor robotic mower; RTK base/receiver where not included; Shipping and replacement mechanical parts.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

The published OpenMower core hardware allowance is already about £602 / $813 before the donor mower and RTK hardware. A current wire-free Mammotion YUKA mini is £849 in the UK and has a $1,099 regular US price, so the missing build items are decision-critical. US availability rechecked 9 Sep 2026: the linked YUKA mini H page marks its models and bundles sold out. Its $749 sale display is not an available purchase quote; the $1,099 figure above is the dated regular-price reference. Check stock or another suitable model before deciding.

Planning allowance based on the current v2 architecture and comparable module BOMs. The official source publishes a detailed ordering route but no stable all-in per-character price.

Includes: Motor/sensor/driver share; Flap set; Mechanical panels and fasteners; Proportional controller/power hardware.

Not included: Large display frame; Labour; Premium pre-printed flaps and international shipping.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

Vestaboard uses 132 characters. Applying CAIBI’s current £35–£75 / $47–$101 per-character planning range to the same count gives about £4,620–£9,900 / $6,204–$13,332 before a large frame or labour.

Allowance for the published ESP32-C3, geared motor, motor driver, battery/charging hardware, printed parts and small fixings.

Includes: ESP32-C3; N20 geared motor; TB6612FNG driver; Small Li-ion battery/charging route; Printed chassis and fixings.

Not included: 3D printer ownership; Curtain/rail changes; Shipping.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

SwitchBot Curtain 3 is a close functional comparison for automating an existing curtain. The saving is cash only and does not include printing, assembly or the risk that a particular rail needs iteration.

The current project has multiple official configurations. A manual/webcam route is much cheaper than a Raspberry Pi camera and motorised Sangaboard route.

Includes: Printed material; Optics; Fasteners; Camera/electronics appropriate to selected official route.

Not included: 3D printer ownership; Specialist high-resolution optics beyond the selected route; Labour.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

OpenFlexure spans manual, camera and motorised configurations. Comparing the cheapest route with a laboratory microscope, or the most capable route with a classroom microscope, would create a false saving.

Material planning allowance for ordinary FDM bins. Actual cost scales with bin volume, filament price, magnets/fasteners and the number of baseplates.

Includes: Typical FDM filament for one ordinary bin.

Not included: Printer ownership/electricity; Magnets, screws and labels; Large baseplate systems.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

A per-bin filament allowance cannot be fairly compared with a finished organiser until the number and size of bins, baseplates and purchased hardware are known.

Current source and builder evidence consistently place the usual build around $100 to $150 depending on optics, eyepieces and mount.

Includes: Optics; Printed structure; Common hardware; Basic mount route.

Not included: Premium eyepieces; Upgraded focuser/finder; 3D printer ownership.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

Sky-Watcher Heritage 130P is a useful bought reference for a capable compact beginner reflector, but it is not optically or mechanically identical to Hadley.

Current ROBOTIS arm-kit list price. The base plate and communication/control hardware can be additional.

Includes: RM-X52-TNM arm kit.

Not included: Base plate; U2D2/OpenCR route where not owned; Computer and optional end effectors.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

CAIBI records the current ROBOTIS kit price as the project cost basis. Treating the same ecosystem as a separate commercial alternative would double-count the comparison.

Current UK fabric examples recorded by CAIBI for the source-recommended material quantity.

Includes: About 1.25 m of suitable sturdy fabric.

Not included: Sewing machine; Thread/basic supplies if not owned; Delivery.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

The fabric cost is visible, but labour, machine ownership, fit and fabric choice dominate the decision. A generic finished apron is not the same specification.

Current UK jersey examples recorded by CAIBI for the source-recommended material quantity.

Includes: About 1 m of suitable cotton/elastane jersey.

Not included: Sewing machine/overlocker; Thread/basic supplies if not owned; Delivery.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

The fabric cost is visible, but labour, sewing equipment, fit and fabric choice dominate the decision. A basic retail T-shirt would create a false like-for-like saving figure.

Broad planning allowance for plywood/CNC fabrication, printed parts and conventional bicycle components. Local CNC access and reused cycle parts can move the result far outside this range.

Includes: Frame sheet material; CNC fabrication allowance; Printed parts; Typical bicycle component allowance.

Not included: Owned workshop machinery; Premium drivetrain/wheels; Finishing labour and shipping.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

The build cost changes dramatically with local CNC access, reused cycle components and specification. Comparing it with a mass-produced bicycle would mostly measure production scale rather than the project.

Allowance for one full plywood sheet, fasteners, finishing and modest CNC access. A commercial CNC service can cost more than the material itself.

Includes: 1200×2400×19 mm sheet; About 30 fasteners; Basic finish; Low/modest CNC access allowance.

Not included: CNC machine ownership; High commercial cutting fees; Delivery of full-size sheet.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

Material and CNC access are the meaningful costs here. A generic retail chair is not a matched alternative to an open CNC furniture design, so CAIBI does not claim a saving.

Planning range for laser-cut steel, geared motor/drive, shaft/bearings, guarding and electrical hardware. Precious Plastic publishes the full BOM but not a stable global all-in 3.3 price; current comparable build estimates vary substantially by local fabrication.

Includes: Steel knife/frame fabrication; Geared motor/drive; Shaft/bearings/hardware; Hopper/stand/guarding; Electrical controls.

Not included: 40–100+ hours fabrication/debugging; Workshop machinery; Compliance/inspection costs; Shipping.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

Small granulators and workshop shredders differ materially in motor power, guarding, duty cycle and output size. The current parts estimate is useful, but a single bought price would be misleading.

The exact v1.8 BOM totals $2,889.39 of item prices and FarmBot says self-sourcers might expect to pay about 20% more for components than the table indicates. CAIBI applies that source-stated allowance and uses the dated FX snapshot for the approximate GBP display. This is still not an all-in build total.

Includes: Current v1.8 BOM item-price route; Source-stated roughly 20% self-sourcing allowance.

Not included: Raised bed and soil; Shipping, taxes, duties and import fees; Minimum-order waste beyond the rough source allowance; Fabrication tools or subcontracting; Research and build labour; DIY technical support.

Build evidence recorded 5 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

The exact v1.8 BOM totals $2,889.39 of item prices and FarmBot says self-sourcers might expect about 20% more, producing a source-guided baseline of about $3,467 / £2,565 before several exclusions. The complete v1.8 kit is $5,995 / about £4,435 before UK import taxes and duties, but it also includes factory pre-assembly, a matched parts set and support. Raised-bed infrastructure, DIY fabrication, labour, import costs and support differences remain decision-critical, so CAIBI does not publish the nominal gap as a saving.

The current complete OAE DIY kit is €399. The GBP and USD displays use CAIBI’s dated 4 Sep 2026 FX research snapshot for planning. The source repository separately publishes a $200-350 self-source estimate; CAIBI keeps that as a different route rather than blending it with the prepared seller kit.

Includes: Current €399 complete DIY kit; 65 seller-prepared printed parts with heat-set inserts; About 300 hardware parts and screws.

Not included: Tripod and counterweights; 12 V power supply rated at least 2 A; Camera, lens or telescope; Optional guider and imaging accessories; Shipping, VAT/import effects where applicable; Self-sourcing tools and labour.

Build evidence recorded 5 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

The seller’s €499 pre-built OAE listing is out of stock and the seller is unsure whether it will be offered. Mainstream equatorial mounts and star trackers also vary materially in payload, guiding, tripod/power inclusion, support and openness. CAIBI therefore records the OAE build route without manufacturing a commercial saving.

The current v4 documentation estimates about $175 per pump plus $100 per controller. CAIBI combines those source figures for a one-pump first setup and uses the dated 4 Sep 2026 FX research snapshot for the approximate GBP display. One controller can serve up to four pumps, so multi-pump economics differ.

Includes: Source-estimated one v4 pump hardware route; Source-estimated one controller hardware route.

Not included: Shipping and taxes; Bent aluminium and FDM fabrication service or owned fabrication equipment; Electronics assembly labour or outsourced controller assembly; 12 V power supply if not already owned; Syringe, tubing and experiment-specific fluid-path consumables; Calibration equipment and operator time.

Build evidence recorded 5 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

Commercial laboratory pumps vary materially in channel count, calibration, accuracy claims, fluid-path compatibility, support and validation. The open v4 source also shares one controller across up to four pumps. CAIBI therefore records the source build economics without converting an unlike commercial pump price into a savings claim.

The current Filastruder Jubilee Motion Platform Kit is $1,799.99. CAIBI uses the dated 4 Sep 2026 FX research snapshot for the approximate GBP display. The core repository separately estimates about $1,350 for a self-sourced unit before tools, so these are different procurement routes rather than one blended build price.

Includes: Current Filastruder base frame and motion-platform hardware; Controller, motors and electronics; Base printed parts and labelled platform wiring harnesses.

Not included: All working toolheads such as extruders, syringes, plotters or other process tools; Tool harnesses where not selected separately; Shipping outside the continental US, import taxes and VAT; Application-specific deck, labware and fixtures; Computer, Raspberry Pi or other application-control hardware; Assembly, calibration and process-validation time.

Build evidence recorded 5 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

The $1,799.99 Filastruder product supplies the Jubilee base motion platform but explicitly includes no working tools. Conventional 3D printers and laboratory robots solve narrower jobs with different tooling, software, support and validation. CAIBI therefore does not manufacture a build-versus-buy saving from an unmatched product class.

The current OpenBot repository and project site still describe the DIY robot body as about $50. A third-party BOM with component links checked on 31 Aug 2026 estimates roughly $50 to $80. CAIBI uses the source headline as a baseline and not as a guaranteed all-in first-build total.

Includes: Core low-cost wheeled robot-body hardware represented by the source headline; Arduino Nano or supported microcontroller bridge, motors and simple drive electronics in the selected DIY route.

Not included: Android smartphone; 3D printer or print service and filament; Battery charging equipment and shipping; Optional sensors, custom PCB route and upgrades; Controller hardware where separately required; Assembly, software setup and policy-training time.

Build evidence recorded 5 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

The current OpenBot body documentation links ready-to-run RTR-TT and RTR-520 products on Amazon. The DIY route still carries an about $50 robot-body headline and a current third-party BOM estimate of $50 to $80, but it also assumes a suitable smartphone and fabrication access. Without a verified current regional RTR price and matched inclusions, CAIBI treats the routes as not like-for-like and does not publish a saving.

Low-confidence planning allowance for the source-listed commodity mechanics and electronics plus three ordinary step and direction drivers. The creator publishes no all-in total and used spare 3D-printer parts. Custom laser cutting, folded and welded sheet, machined aluminium, pulley machining, printing, driver-specific power and shipping can dominate the actual first build.

Includes: Three NEMA 17 motors; V-slot extrusion, V wheels, bearings, belts and standard pulleys; ESP32 development board and 5 V regulator; Planning allowance for three ordinary step and direction drivers; Source-listed fasteners, T-nuts and small commodity hardware.

Not included: Laser-cut tripod plates; Folded and welded tilt bracket; Machined aluminium slider plate and pulley machining; 3D printing, filament or print service; Driver-specific power supply, connectors and cabling; Camera, tripods and quick-release hardware not already owned; Shipping, taxes, fabrication labour and assembly time.

Build evidence recorded 5 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

The exact Zeapon AXIS 100 Pro SS-E2P is £1,269 including VAT in the UK and $1,179 in the US. It is a turnkey carbon-fibre system with materially higher rated payload, integrated control and warranty. The DIY slider is a fabrication-heavy open rig with a creator-tested 1.4 kg payload and no complete all-in build cost. CAIBI records the commercial reference for context and does not publish a saving from the numerical gap.

Allowance for an ESP32 DevKit, ILI9341/XPT2046 touchscreen, push button, wiring and a simple printed monitor holder.

Includes: ESP32 DevKit; 2.8 inch touch display; Button/wiring; Small printed mount.

Not included: 3D printer ownership; USB power source; Shipping.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

The project combines a small custom display and controller route. A generic teleprompter or monitor does not reproduce the same object closely enough for a savings claim.

Current UK thermal-printer pricing plus an ESP32, dedicated 5V supply, breadboard/wiring and starter paper.

Includes: CSN-A2 or compatible printer; ESP32 dev board; Dedicated 5V supply; Breadboard/jumpers; Starter thermal paper.

Not included: Enclosure; Shipping; Optional Google services.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

The value is the custom daily physical briefing and its data integrations. Ordinary receipt printers are components rather than substitutes for the finished behaviour.

Allowance for the source-specified ESP32, BME280 and SSD1306 OLED plus breadboard/jumper hardware.

Includes: ESP32 board; BME280 sensor; SSD1306 OLED; Basic wiring/breadboard.

Not included: Enclosure; Shipping; Cloud logging additions.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

The published build uses a BME280 and OLED, so its sensing scope is narrower than products that measure PM2.5, CO2 or VOCs. A headline saving would overstate what the build replaces.

The source BOM totals €334 of materials and separately lists €327 of manufacturing assumptions. Those historical source figures are converted here for planning, not presented as fresh retailer quotes.

Includes: Published materials BOM; Source manufacturing allowance where shown.

Not included: Price inflation since the source BOM; Shipping; Workshop tools and labour.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

Circular Knitic is an open fabrication machine whose source cost includes historical manufacturing assumptions. Consumer circular knitters and industrial machines sit in different capability classes.

Current OpenScan kit pricing already recorded in the assessment.

Includes: Selected OpenScan kit route.

Not included: Camera/computer items not included in selected kit; Shipping; Photogrammetry workstation.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

Revopoint MINI 2 is a useful small-object scanner comparison, but it offers different optics, software and metrology claims. The difference is therefore a cash reference, not an equivalence claim.

Current Source Robotics kit figures already recorded by CAIBI, converted from EUR for planning.

Includes: Selected Source Robotics kit route.

Not included: 3D printer where required; PC/ROS workstation; Optional tooling and shipping.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

Industrial and educational six-axis arms vary widely in payload, reach, safety systems and software. CAIBI will not turn that spread into a headline saving without a matched alternative.

Checked regional kit prices already recorded in the assessment.

Includes: Watchy kit.

Not included: Shipping; Alternative straps/cases; Development computer.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

The current regional kit prices are useful build costs, but comparing them with an ordinary smartwatch would ignore the open hardware and programmable purpose of the project.

The creator explicitly says the total is not yet fully tallied, but estimates a single build is probably under $200 and likely around $100 to $150 depending on fabrication and minimum-order quantities.

Includes: PCB/electronics; Motor/display; Printed mechanical parts.

Not included: Advanced soldering/rework tools; Minimum-order waste; Shipping from multiple suppliers.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

SmartKnob is primarily an open haptic input platform. Consumer knobs and dials do not provide a sufficiently similar mechanical, haptic and development surface for a savings claim.

Official €395 base-kit price converted for planning. VAT, Raspberry Pi 5/PSU choices and microSD can add materially.

Includes: Official base kit.

Not included: VAT where applicable; Raspberry Pi 5 option; PSU option; microSD and shipping.

Build evidence recorded 4 Sep 2026. Currency conversions are approximate.

Zynthian is an open multi-engine instrument and software platform. Commercial keyboards and modules vary too much in engines, controls and openness for a single price difference to be honest.