Splitflap is a DIY split-flap display that uses an ESP32 microcontroller and is designed for easy home assembly while remaining scalable to large installations.
The project addresses the challenge of building a working split-flap display from scratch by providing complete open-source designs for the mechanical structure, electronics, and firmware. The display uses laser-cut enclosures and mechanical parts, custom PCBs for motor control and sensing, and Arduino-compatible firmware to drive the flaps. A modular architecture allows individual units to be chained together, enabling displays of varying sizes from small personal projects to large multi-module installations.
This tool suits makers and hobbyists who want to build a physical display without starting from first principles, as well as commercial users seeking an affordable solution for signage or information displays. The project provides stable hardware releases with tested designs, though documentation may occasionally lag behind development. The v2 mechanical refresh increased the flap count per module and improved assembly ergonomics while maintaining backward compatibility with earlier versions. Someone considering adoption should note that unlike pure software projects, building units involves real hardware costs and assembly time, though the designs are optimized to minimize both.
Development activity shows sustained long-term commitment with iterative hardware improvements over many years. The maintainer actively solicits sponsorship to fund prototyping and development tools necessary for hardware iteration. A community Discord server provides ongoing support and discussion around the project. The project explicitly welcomes commercial use under its open-source license while requesting sponsorship consideration from commercial users.
