Open source “split-flap” mechanical display

#1

Post by deeyago » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 3:02 AM UTC

Open source “split-flap” mechanical display
github.com

Re: Open source “split-flap” mechanical display

#2

Post by techdragon » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 3:38 AM UTC

This is just awesome on so many fronts. I love the automatic update of the BOM using GitHub actions, it’s such a nice touch.

Re: Open source “split-flap” mechanical display

#3

Post by Animats » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 3:55 AM UTC

Moving parts made of acrylic, though. Will not wear well.

Delrin, maybe?

It's now possible to buy commercial split-flap displays from China. $180/char.[1]

[1] https://splitflap.en.alibaba.com/

Re: Open source “split-flap” mechanical display

#4

Post by gibolt » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 4:01 AM UTC

Related video on Flip Clocks from Technology Connections: https://youtu.be/ZArBfxaPzD8

Re: Open source “split-flap” mechanical display

#5

Post by Gary21857 » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 4:02 AM UTC

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Re: Open source “split-flap” mechanical display

#6

Post by greenyoda » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 4:09 AM UTC

Gary21857 wrote: post #5

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Spam link.

Re: Open source “split-flap” mechanical display

#7

Post by s0rce » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 4:10 AM UTC

gibolt wrote: post #4

Related video on Flip Clocks from Technology Connections: https://youtu.be/ZArBfxaPzD8

After watching this video I feel like every website is showing me flip flap displays.

Re: Open source “split-flap” mechanical display

#8

Post by gorgoiler » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 4:11 AM UTC

Fantastic.

Glyphs can be loaded in an arbitrary order. For a given corpus (e.g. city names, American English digraphs) how does glyph order affect the time taken to update the display? Is there an optimal ordering?

If your display could accommodate 5% more glyphs, which would you add and why?

(With apologies to anyone revising for an exam this summer.)

Re: Open source “split-flap” mechanical display

#9

Post by aliljet » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 4:32 AM UTC

I've long hunted for split flap modules on aliexpress and I know folks who buy old train boards to get these modules. I wonder if there's someone out there scaling up the manufacturing? I'd love to buy modules at under the DIY ~$50 mark and build cool stuff at home!

Re: Open source “split-flap” mechanical display

#10

Post by grishka » Mon, Apr 19, 2021, 4:36 AM UTC

gorgoiler wrote: post #8

Fantastic. Glyphs can be loaded in an arbitrary order. For a given corpus (e.g. city names, American English digraphs) how does glyph order affect the time taken to update the display? Is there an optimal ordering? If your display could accommodate 5% more glyphs, which would you add and why? (With apologies to anyone revising for an exam this summer.)

You can only flip in one direction, so the time taken to update is entirely dependent on the previous state. Worst case you'd need to display the previous character (B -> A for alphabetical order) and would have to flip through the entire alphabet to get to it.