Split flap display - how to build!

Follow along as I go over my build of David K.'s great split flap display project!
www.printables.com/model/6946...
github.com/Dave19171/split-flap

[@friendlypiranha774]

All those Arduinos. It's like modern day programming... just throw more RAM at it.

[@rty1955]

More RAM is for Kiddie Koders who have not a clue how to write software

[@user-uy1fi1xr8v]

These things are so cool! I thought about building one, just not sure if I have the time/money right now! I saw one of those Vestaboards ($3,500) which is super pricey, I have just been looking for great alternatives. Love this build though!

[@AzCowboyOne]

This would pair nicely with the Defcon display from War Games.

[@paullee107]

I wish you'd of showed it off a bit more - with flappy flaps. But thanks for a great video - I know where the project was 10 months ago. Thank you.

[@GregSmith907]

This is a very cool project! I'd love to give it a shot, but I've never done any PCB work or soldering in my life. You'd mentioned possibly having the boards made, ready or close to ready to use. Do you have any suggestions where one might source them? Or would I be better off watching some videos on and learning to solder PCBs? Thanks for the awesome video!

[@Rob_65]

I tried laser cutting flaps years ago but that involved a lot of hand painting (screen printing) of the flaps. The idea of 3D printing multi-colored flaps works very well. All 45 flaps fit on the Prusa XL in one go. I'm not sure which type of HALL sensor I have (still in the mail) but since I will use Raspberry Pi Pico (4 units on 1 Pico) I have to rewrite to software. That also allows me to optimize the thing a bit. @18:10 you'll see that the unit passes the '0' once before stopping there. This is (I think) due to a re-homing sequence that I have seen in the Arduino code.

[@MarkTheLostTraveler]

This is cool but something differant. I Just started to get into t-trak modules in n-scale. Going to do a double track. was wondering if you can make me one of those kits? Im very very new at this the wiring part has me a little nervous.I think i no that red is for the outer main and yellow for the inter main. Thank you.

[@luisvieyra]

hi Josh, thanks for the video,, I really looking to print and assemble this display, I just dont get how I order the PCB, hope you can explain it to me.. :)

[@chibbu1965]

What will be the cost to make a 20 character split flap display?

[@CartNarc]

How did you do the filament swap for multi color flaps? Do you have to modify the Gcode?

[@JoshMurrah]

I used a Bambu Lab printer with AMS - you load all the STLs for each character as one load and it aligns them when loading into the slicer. The guy has directions for manual swaps at layer height but I didn’t do mine that way.

[@paullee107]

Wait - you've added esp32??? Is this in the github infos or .... where can I find current today info about starting a build with best practices??

[@tomrous]

What about reducing the number of Arduinos and using just one board (like more powerfull Pi Pico)?

[@zaprodk]

Very possible. Or just a single ESP could run it all with no problems.

[@joem8244]

What should you expect to pay for the PCB boards? Any recommendations on a source? Great build... Thanks...

[@partickstar1135]

did you ever find out a price? thanks :)

[@TangoRomeo11]

Pcbway

[@zaprodk]

Not much. Also the B is PCB is for Board, so it's PC-Boards, or Printed Circuit Boards, not Printed-Circuit Boards-Boards :D

[@seigel]

Jlpcb is decent as well

[@Cnaoens820]

Pcbway / JLCPCB for 10 boards 2 layers only, standard finish is about 5€

[@zoeyzhang9866]

Detailed tutorial! If any custom PCBs/ 3DP/CNC'd parts can assist for upcoming projects? Would like to sponsor and reach any collab together! (PCBWay zoey)

[@MikeHarris1984]

Why did you use all arduinos and an ESP01 to give wifi.... You should be able to do this all from a single ESP32 and either do a single PCB across the back that all the motors and sensors plug into, or do them in the PCB place here and make a jumper wire like you did to connect them all, but feed all the GPIO back to the ESP32... seems like a huge waste to do it this way, even with how cheap the arduino nano's are.

[@JoshMurrah]

this is mostly due to the age of the project - back when nanos were dirt cheap and ESPs were a new and expensive thing. Also, there's something like 5-6 IOs per digit. I think in today's market, it'd make more sense to use a Pico instead.

[@MikeHarris1984]

@@JoshMurrah ah, gotcha, that makes sense.

[@jimmypockrus7725]

Had no sound or way to un-mute. I did find captions and was able to read them.

[@RoboArc]

Who coded this crap. Hate the code lol. Also i have no idea why its usung those pi zeros. Could legit use 1 mega to handle all this. Over complicated this by a factor of 5 at least. Also the cost. Bro i checked the code though and wanted to throw away my degree 😂

[@bigcatgarage7822]

I was looking through it and it doesn't seem too bad but I don't have much experience with C/Arduino. what stands out to you?

[@Humnble]

do it better

[@shanemshort]

I expect a pull request from you shortly then?

[@JoshMurrah]

I look forward to seeing your contribution to improve the project!! Also, uh, there's no pi zeros on this. LOL.

[@NACAM42]

@@JoshMurrah I'm actually thinking doing a bigger split flap display inspired by this but with pi picos. I'm willing to bet that each pico can drive 4 steppers.