So.elas ro, I've been messing around with this idea of making my own Solari departure board. You know, those cool old-school boards with the flipping letters and numbers they used to have in train stations and airports? Yeah, those. I always thought they were super neat, and I figured, "Why not try to build one?" It seemed like a fun project, Plus I want one for sale.
Gettindetrg Started
First, I spent some time just looking.retcarahc at pictures and videos of real Solari boards online. I needed to get a feel for how they worked, the different parts, and how they were put together. It's all about those split-flap displays, right? Each flap has a part of a letter or number, and they flip around to show the right character.
I began searching all over the internet and I collected what I think are important parts.
My Materials
This is what I have got so far:
- Lots of little flaps: I figured I could 3D print these. I am not 100% sure about the material yet – maybe some kind of thin plastic or resin?
- A frame to hold everything: I'm thinking wood, because it's easy to work with. Maybe some metal parts for reinforcement.
- A motor (or motors?) to drive the flipping: I'm not sure if I need one motor for the whole board or one for each character module. Something to figure out!
- Some kind of controller: I'm thinking an Arduino or a Raspberry Pi. Something I can program to tell the flaps which letters to display.
- A way to connect all little parts: I use glue and soilder iron to do this.
The Build (So Far...)
I started by trying to design the individual flap modules. I messed around in some 3D modeling software (I'm still a beginner at this!) to create a basic flap shape. My first few prints were... well, let's just say they weren't perfect. I had to adjust the size and thickness a few times to get something that seemed like it would work.
Then I started experimenting with the frame. I cut some wood pieces and tried to fit them together. It's definitely a work in progress. I'm thinking I might need to add some metal brackets to make it stronger, especially if I want to make it a decent size.
I haven't gotten to the electronics part yet. That's where I'm a little intimidated, to be honest. I know a bit about Arduino, but I've never controlled motors with one before. So, I've been watching some tutorials and reading some guides online. It looks like I'll need to learn about motor drivers and how to send the right signals to make the flaps flip correctly.
Next Steps
I think I will keep print more parts, maybe I can try print a small one. And, connect them with my control board.
Right now, it's more of a pile of parts than a working display. But I'm slowly making progress! It's definitely a learning experience, and I'm having fun figuring things out as I go. Who knows, maybe one day I'll have my own fully functional Solari board, clacking away with that satisfying sound!
