Flipdiscs

#1

Post by skogstokig » Thu, Apr 23, 2026, 1:54 PM UTC

Re: Flipdiscs

#2

Post by kaipereira » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 5:01 AM UTC

This is insanely cool, the noise they make is also really satisfying!

What was the cost/time breakdown of the entire project because the flipdisc prices are hidden behind quotes and it seems like it would take quite a lot of time to complete the whole display!

Re: Flipdiscs

#3

Post by harikb » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 5:11 AM UTC

Is the last photo on that page, describing the cabling, a screenshot of another photo displayed using flipdiscs? that is a whole lot of discs!!

Re: Flipdiscs

#4

Post by razorbeamz » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 5:17 AM UTC

harikb wrote: post #3

Is the last photo on that page, describing the cabling, a screenshot of another photo displayed using flipdiscs? that is a whole lot of discs!!

I think it's just a simulation of what it could look like if it were flipdiscs.

Re: Flipdiscs

#5

Post by ofrzeta » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 5:28 AM UTC

I bought a flip dot display on eBay and now I am stuck with the old thing and my lack of knowledge to make it work. Here's a great resource about technical details (only German though) https://radow.org/flip-dot.php

EDIT: "They have high readability, a long lifespan, and achieves anywhere between 25-60fps" - I think you can't achieve 60fps with a flip dot display.

Re: Flipdiscs

#6

Post by OuterVale » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 5:29 AM UTC

They've been slowly replacing the flip-disc displays on the buses where I live with LEDs and LCD panels which has been such a shame. There is a beautiful mechanical satisfaction to a panel of flip-discs inverting and I genuinely find them easier to read.

Re: Flipdiscs

#7

Post by sen » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 5:30 AM UTC

kaipereira wrote: post #2

This is insanely cool, the noise they make is also really satisfying! What was the cost/time breakdown of the entire project because the flipdisc prices are hidden behind quotes and it seems like it would take quite a lot of time to complete the whole display!

The prices I’ve seen mentioned are around USD$3-5 per “pixel”.

Similar to all the ePaper projects that show up here, they’re expensive but cool gimmicks.

Re: Flipdiscs

#8

Post by W0lf » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 5:38 AM UTC

I did the same for my office and bought used LAWO flipdot panels for this. Screenshot of the thing here: https://github.com/aivju/flipdotz

Re: Flipdiscs

#9

Post by Magi604 » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 5:38 AM UTC

I'd like to see someone play DOOM (or any game, really) using that flip disc screen!

Re: Flipdiscs

#10

Post by kelseyfrog » Mon, Apr 27, 2026, 5:40 AM UTC

Magi604 wrote: post #9

I'd like to see someone play DOOM (or any game, really) using that flip disc screen!

I was thinking of Bad Apple!![1], but maybe that's too niche.

1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtutLA63Cp8