DIY Split Flap Display | Hacker News Reader

DIY Split Flap Display

mcuoneclipse.com

83 pointscjy14 comments

A Lego split flap display: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jqWbfcClKAc

Details: https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?%2Fforums%2Ftopic...

You can buy split-flap clocks at MoMA [0] for $650. Not cheap.

If you want to see a big one in person, the TWA Hotel at JFK Airport in New York has the original split-flap departures display made by Solari di Udine [1] (the same company makes the MoMA clock). Solari also makes other split-flap devices [2].

Not to get off on a tangent, but the TWA Hotel is a very cool place to visit [3].

[0] https://store.moma.org/for-the-home/home/clocks/solari-cifra...

[1] https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/architecture/t...

[2] https://store.solarilineadesign.com

[3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbH-eawcZSw

There’s also a company here in Philadelphia that makes custom split-flap displays: https://www.oatfoundry.com/

Here’s a list with operational split-flap displays around the world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-flap_display#Operational...

Split-flap clocks don’t have to be as expensive as the Solari clock. They don’t seem to have the economies of scale to be super-cheap these days, but their mechanisms are fairly simple (essentially analog clocks with really weird-shaped hands) and can be had in the ballpark of $50-$100 if you’re not buying what is essentially a name-brand art piece.

Alphanumeric split-flap displays are way more complex and expensive; you won’t find those anywhere for cheap. The higher-end Solari clocks (the ones with added complications like day and date) likely sit somewhere in the middle; I wouldn’t be surprised if these resemble big watch mechanisms with similar complications.

True. I had a split-flap clock radio in the 80s made by Panasonic that probably cost about $30.

There's also the Vestaboard (about 3k) if money is no object. Compared to the price of building one from scratch it's probably not a bad deal. 132 characters including colours. It is essentially an art piece, but it does look amazing.

https://europe.vestaboard.com/products/vestaboard

Vestaboard discussion on HN here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=29327147 the top comment is a description of this split flap art project https://vimeo.com/224913612

I've been tempted to make a large one of these out of some plastic panels lying around that were once part of an Ikea cube organizer thing. The cube shelf is actually a bunch of modular plastic panels and modular connectors, so there its just a matter of sticking them together tightly and then inserting an axle somehow.

https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/e528a8d0-6191-4472-adf5-935...

BTW the arduino is overkill. All you need is a few tracks along the wheel and some electrical contacts. Encode the position directly in the track connectivity. Select position by just sending the binary for the desired letter down the wires. When it reaches the correct letter, the powered contacts get cut off and the motor stops turning.

> All you need is a few tracks along the wheel and some electrical contacts. Encode the position directly in the track connectivity. Select position by just sending the binary for the desired letter down the wires. When it reaches the correct letter, the powered contacts get cut off and the motor stops turning.

... or use a $4 MCU. Even get Wifi capabilities for "free".

I want one of these, and I have absolutely no good reason to have one. I just think they're cool!

Yes, I love the sound they make and there is something very cool about controlling an analog display with software. I would love to make one, but this seems beyond my DIY skillset. I wish you could buy them for a reasonable price, but I couldn't find anything less than 3K (Vestaboard).

Projects like these are what push me to expand my DIY skillset. (I enjoy making things so much I want everyone to share my passion, not feel DIY is beyond them.)

Sure, the guy has some fancy tools, but what I saw looked like something you could have laser-cut by way of Shapeko (or similar online laser-cutting services). He in fact referenced an acrylic version that would laser up nicely.

I suppose the electronics would be a learning curve but I might just go with the KiCad PCB he provides and go from there. (Curious though about the acrylic version — how it handles the electronics.)

Vinyl cut letters... This is do-able but also points out to me that the author is something of a perfectionist. Someone just getting their feet wet in a split-flap display might start out lettering their flaps with a Sharpie.

As you say, if the fun is in driving an analog display with software you could do a lot worse starting out with matte board, hot glue, a Sharpie and a handful of electronics.

The departure hall of Brussels airport still has a gigantic split flap display. It looks great and the sound of 96 flights updating all at the same time is extremely satisfying.

https://www.brusselsairport.be/en/pressroom/news/175-destina...

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