7 ms·

DIY Split Flap Display

83 points by cjy 5y ago

coreyp_1 5y ago
I want one of these, and I have absolutely no good reason to have one. I just think they're cool!
- cjy 5y ago
  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).
  - JKCalhoun 5y ago
    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.
IIAOPSW 5y ago
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-adf5-9356f84b7cec_1.e3746b3e2d236abbceaf4edec726600d.jpeg 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.
- BoorishBears 5y ago
  > 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".
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]
dreamcompiler 5y ago
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-3-desk-clock/15456-157244.html https://store.moma.org/for-the-home/home/clocks/solari-cifra... [1] https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/architecture/twa-hotel.htm https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/architecture/t... [2] https://store.solarilineadesign.com https://store.solarilineadesign.com [3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbH-eawcZSw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbH-eawcZSw
- profquail 5y ago
  There’s also a company here in Philadelphia that makes custom split-flap displays: https://www.oatfoundry.com/ https://www.oatfoundry.com/
- flobosg 5y ago
  Here’s a list with operational split-flap displays around the world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-flap_display#Operational_boards_in_transport_terminals_and_businesses https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-flap_display#Operational...
- JonathonW 5y ago
  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.
  - 5y ago
tverbeure 5y ago
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-destinations-from-brussels-airport-this-summer https://www.brusselsairport.be/en/pressroom/news/175-destina...
jdubb 5y ago
A Lego split flap display: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jqWbfcClKAc https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jqWbfcClKAc Details: https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?%2Fforums%2Ftopic%2F108403-moc-bitmap-display%2F&page=4 https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?%2Fforums%2Ftopic...

83 points by cjy 5y ago

coreyp_1 5y ago

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

cjy 5y ago
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).
- JKCalhoun 5y ago
  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.

IIAOPSW 5y ago

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-adf5-9356f84b7cec_1.e3746b3e2d236abbceaf4edec726600d.jpeg 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.

BoorishBears 5y ago
> 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".

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

dreamcompiler 5y ago

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-3-desk-clock/15456-157244.html https://store.moma.org/for-the-home/home/clocks/solari-cifra... [1] https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/architecture/twa-hotel.htm https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/architecture/t... [2] https://store.solarilineadesign.com https://store.solarilineadesign.com [3] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbH-eawcZSw https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbH-eawcZSw

profquail 5y ago
There’s also a company here in Philadelphia that makes custom split-flap displays: https://www.oatfoundry.com/ https://www.oatfoundry.com/
flobosg 5y ago
Here’s a list with operational split-flap displays around the world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-flap_display#Operational_boards_in_transport_terminals_and_businesses https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Split-flap_display#Operational...
JonathonW 5y ago
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.
- 5y ago

tverbeure 5y ago

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-destinations-from-brussels-airport-this-summer https://www.brusselsairport.be/en/pressroom/news/175-destina...

jdubb 5y ago

A Lego split flap display: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jqWbfcClKAc https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jqWbfcClKAc Details: https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?%2Fforums%2Ftopic%2F108403-moc-bitmap-display%2F&page=4 https://www.eurobricks.com/forum/index.php?%2Fforums%2Ftopic...