You can buy split-flap clocks at MoMA [0] for $650. Not cheap.<p>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].<p>Not to get off on a tangent, but the TWA Hotel is a very cool place to visit [3].<p>[0] <a href="https://store.moma.org/for-the-home/home/clocks/solari-cifra-3-desk-clock/15456-157244.html" rel="nofollow">https://store.moma.org/for-the-home/home/clocks/solari-cifra...</a><p>[1] <a href="https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/architecture/twa-hotel.htm" rel="nofollow">https://science.howstuffworks.com/engineering/architecture/t...</a><p>[2] <a href="https://store.solarilineadesign.com" rel="nofollow">https://store.solarilineadesign.com</a><p>[3] <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbH-eawcZSw" rel="nofollow">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbH-eawcZSw</a>
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.<p><a href="https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/e528a8d0-6191-4472-adf5-9356f84b7cec_1.e3746b3e2d236abbceaf4edec726600d.jpeg" rel="nofollow">https://i5.walmartimages.com/asr/e528a8d0-6191-4472-adf5-935...</a><p>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.
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.<p><a href="https://www.brusselsairport.be/en/pressroom/news/175-destinations-from-brussels-airport-this-summer" rel="nofollow">https://www.brusselsairport.be/en/pressroom/news/175-destina...</a>