Dear David, first of all thanks for sharing your great design! I am in progress of making a version with laser-cut flaps out of 0.8 mm black acrylic with cut-plot letters - I will share those files when I've got them working.

However, I can't get the ESP01 communicate with the unit. I debugged the unit and put in some additional output via serial console and have the unit working properly and go to all letters fine. I put in some more serial message into unit to see if unit gets any messages from the ESP - receiveLetter in the unit never fires.

So perhaps you do have a hint on how to debug the ESP01; I am not sure how to see the output of #serial on the IDE (while it is plugged into the unit board).

Thanks in advance for any hints.

Hi, Finished the project. Thank you very much for your effort to share it. Great documentation for a beginner like me.

I can connect to 10 digit unit with ip address of ESP01. I can send the first text message. But when I send a second message nothing happens. When I check the packets sent and received to esp01 from the router I see the packages sent. When I cut the power and power on again all digits turn to show blank flap than I see the last message (the message which lost) I sent before cutting the power. So, for a new message on split flap I need to cut power and re connect it. The clock shows up but it does not changing the minute digit. I think this is also related to my problem.

Could the community please share their opinions about the my problem?

Thank you in advance.

Hi Dave, my compiler from the Arduino IDE moans if the return false; is missing in the translateLetterToInt function is missing. Mine looks now like this:

//translates char to letter position
int translateLettertoInt(char letterchar) {
  for (int i = 0; i < FLAPAMOUNT; i++) {
    if (letterchar == letters[i]) {
      return i;
    }
  }
  return false; //ADDED
}

Hi Dave,

First let me congratulate you for that exellent project! I am still building the clock, as parts arrive step by step from China. I tried to upload the unit.ino file to my chinese Arduino Nanos, which worked after I switched to "ATmega328P (Old Bootloader) in "Tools" -> "Processor". Upload went fine. But as soon as I uncomment Line 6: "#define test" it will not compile anymore and is throwing the following error:

Arduino: 1.8.13 (Windows 10), Board: "Arduino Nano, ATmega328P (Old Bootloader)"
...\split-flap-master\unit\unit.ino: In function 'void loop()':

unit:134:36: error: cannot convert 'String' to 'int' for argument '1' to 'void rotateToLetter(int)'

     rotateToLetter(currentCalLetter);

                                ^

exit status 1

cannot convert 'String' to 'int' for argument '1' to 'void rotateToLetter(int)'

Seems to be some sort of type conversion error. Could you have a look at it? I don't get it at the moment. It seems that you want to be able to show these sequence: " ", "Z", "A", "U", "N", "?", "0", "1", "2", "9" but on the other hand the function rotateToLetter() seems to only take in integers (probably the numer of the tile which contains the desired letter?

Best Regards and many thanks!

Sergio

So i accidentally bought an "Arduino Nano Every" instead of a regular "Arduino Nano" which apparently uses a different chip (ATMega4809).

When i try to upload/verify the "unit" sketch im getting the following error:

D:\3D Print\SplitFlap\split-flap-master\unit\unit.ino: In function 'void loop()': unit:99:23: error: 'ADCSRA' was not declared in this scope byte old_ADCSRA = ADCSRA; ^~~~~~ D:\3D Print\SplitFlap\split-flap-master\unit\unit.ino:99:23: note: suggested alternative: 'ADC_t' byte old_ADCSRA = ADCSRA; ^~~~~~ ADC_t unit:116:5: error: 'TWCR' was not declared in this scope TWCR = bit(TWEN) | bit(TWIE) | bit(TWEA) | bit(TWINT); ^~~~ D:\3D Print\SplitFlap\split-flap-master\unit\unit.ino:116:5: note: suggested alternative: 'TWI0' TWCR = bit(TWEN) | bit(TWIE) | bit(TWEA) | bit(TWINT); ^~~~ TWI0 In file included from C:\Users\49160\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\hardware\megaavr\1.8.7\cores\arduino/api/Interrupts.h:8:0, from C:\Users\49160\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\hardware\megaavr\1.8.7\cores\arduino/api/ArduinoAPI.h:29, from C:\Users\49160\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\hardware\megaavr\1.8.7\cores\arduino/Arduino.h:23, from D:\3D Print\SplitFlap\split-flap-master\unit\unit.ino:8: unit:116:16: error: 'TWEN' was not declared in this scope TWCR = bit(TWEN) | bit(TWIE) | bit(TWEA) | bit(TWINT); ^ C:\Users\49160\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\hardware\megaavr\1.8.7\cores\arduino/api/Common.h:71:25: note: in definition of macro 'bit' #define bit(b) (1UL << (b)) ^ D:\3D Print\SplitFlap\split-flap-master\unit\unit.ino:116:16: note: suggested alternative: 'TWI0' TWCR = bit(TWEN) | bit(TWIE) | bit(TWEA) | bit(TWINT); ^ C:\Users\49160\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\hardware\megaavr\1.8.7\cores\arduino/api/Common.h:71:25: note: in definition of macro 'bit' #define bit(b) (1UL << (b)) ^ unit:116:28: error: 'TWIE' was not declared in this scope TWCR = bit(TWEN) | bit(TWIE) | bit(TWEA) | bit(TWINT); ^ C:\Users\49160\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\hardware\megaavr\1.8.7\cores\arduino/api/Common.h:71:25: note: in definition of macro 'bit' #define bit(b) (1UL << (b)) ^ D:\3D Print\SplitFlap\split-flap-master\unit\unit.ino:116:28: note: suggested alternative: 'TWI0' TWCR = bit(TWEN) | bit(TWIE) | bit(TWEA) | bit(TWINT); ^ C:\Users\49160\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\hardware\megaavr\1.8.7\cores\arduino/api/Common.h:71:25: note: in definition of macro 'bit' #define bit(b) (1UL << (b)) ^ unit:116:40: error: 'TWEA' was not declared in this scope TWCR = bit(TWEN) | bit(TWIE) | bit(TWEA) | bit(TWINT); ^ C:\Users\49160\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\hardware\megaavr\1.8.7\cores\arduino/api/Common.h:71:25: note: in definition of macro 'bit' #define bit(b) (1UL << (b)) ^ D:\3D Print\SplitFlap\split-flap-master\unit\unit.ino:116:40: note: suggested alternative: 'TWI0' TWCR = bit(TWEN) | bit(TWIE) | bit(TWEA) | bit(TWINT); ^ C:\Users\49160\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\hardware\megaavr\1.8.7\cores\arduino/api/Common.h:71:25: note: in definition of macro 'bit' #define bit(b) (1UL << (b)) ^ unit:116:52: error: 'TWINT' was not declared in this scope TWCR = bit(TWEN) | bit(TWIE) | bit(TWEA) | bit(TWINT); ^ C:\Users\49160\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\hardware\megaavr\1.8.7\cores\arduino/api/Common.h:71:25: note: in definition of macro 'bit' #define bit(b) (1UL << (b)) ^ D:\3D Print\SplitFlap\split-flap-master\unit\unit.ino:116:52: note: suggested alternative: 'TWI_t' TWCR = bit(TWEN) | bit(TWIE) | bit(TWEA) | bit(TWINT); ^ C:\Users\49160\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\hardware\megaavr\1.8.7\cores\arduino/api/Common.h:71:25: note: in definition of macro 'bit' #define bit(b) (1UL << (b)) ^ Using library Wire at version 1.0 in folder: C:\Users\49160\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\hardware\megaavr\1.8.7\libraries\Wire Using library Stepper at version 1.1.3 in folder: C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\ArduinoLLC.ArduinoIDE_1.8.57.0_x86__mdqgnx93n4wtt\libraries\Stepper Using library EEPROM at version 2.0 in folder: C:\Users\49160\Documents\ArduinoData\packages\arduino\hardware\megaavr\1.8.7\libraries\EEPROM exit status 1 'ADCSRA' was not declared in this scope

Is there a way to rewrite / adapt the code for this processor by maybe "just" chaning the variable names of the registers or will this be a futile attempt and im better of just buying a regular Nano instead?

Greetings from Germany.

First, thank you so much for this project. I've had to learn Arduino and how to order custom PCBs, so this great.

In the instructions, section 5.2.2 says "Push two M3 nuts diagonally in the back of the frame. Use a screw to pull the nut if necessary."

I think this is to mount the stepper motor, but there are no holes in the unit frame for the M3 nuts under the stepper motor.

ESP32 has more than 21 GPIO pins needed for 10 flaps version, so with single MCU you could do all the work. Unless I am missing something.

Tie A4988 DIR pin to make it only spin in one way.

2 pins per flap: STEP and hall sensor output. 1 pin for ENA on all A4988 drivers.

Additionally: add 12V LED strip support to illuminate the flaps and LDR to auto change the brightness.

Hello,

i have build your amazing splitflap... but i have a problem with the 3 last digits of my splitflap. As you can see in the video, all flaps are calibrating, after that the 5 middle ones start rotating till they display the correct time. But while the 5 middle ones are rotating, the last 3 start rotating until they get a timeout. https://youtu.be/CSe2SAsITus

I have no idea what´s going on here. Tried to switch the nanos, the units, the cables but i couldn´t get it right? Anyone have a idea what i can test here?

Hi Dave,

at frist awesome project. and i think i will build it after christmas.

i have an idea for ESP -> Arduino Nano communication. you get the I2C addresses via DIP Switches. my idea, the same method as with the ws2812b. a kind of SPI daisy chain. you connect ESP -> split flap 0 -> split flap 1 ......

problem is, you need to have two SPI Interfaces on the MCU. so thats not possible with the Nano, but maybe another Board like Nucle-G031.

but with my idea you don´t need the DIP Switches and the Display is not limited to 16 Segments.

so what do you think? do you see any problems?

Hey Dave, thanks for this cool project. I'm not an electronics expert, especially when it comes to soldering SMT elements, that's why I wanted to order these assembled from JLCPCB. However, they are in shortage of "CA45-A-10V-22μF-K" (C5). Can this be replaced with something similar? Can you recommend? Thanks!