Summary of Arduino based Split-Flap game
The article describes a Dutch holiday tradition project: an Arduino-based Split-flap game surprise made as a creative gift. The creator fabricated the wooden box and display components using a CNC machine, crafting 36 plastic cards and plastic wheels and pulleys. A stepper motor with a 10-tooth pulley drives a 40-tooth pulley attached to the card wheel, achieving a 4:1 gear ratio for precise card positioning. The Arduino code allows offset calibration for card size variations, ensuring accurate display selection. This project combines CNC fabrication, mechanical design, and Arduino control to create a unique, interactive gift.
Parts used in the Arduino-based Split-flap Game:
- Arduino microcontroller
- Stepper motor (1.8-degree step angle)
- 10-teeth XL037 pulley (for stepper motor)
- 40-teeth pulley (for card wheel)
- 36 plastic cards (2mm thick)
- Plastic wheels for holding cards
- Plastic pulleys for cardwheel and motor
- Wooden box (fabricated via CNC)
- CNC machined plastic blocks (for pulleys and wheels)
We have a great Dutch Holiday tradition called sinterklaas (5th of december, this is what the US Santa is based on). For the older “non-believers” we make surprises. The purpose is to buy a small present but make a really cool “surprise” around it. Here my arduino based Split-flap game I made as surprise.
I made this for my 15-year old niece that was asking for very expensive presents only, so I thought I would make her a bit more price conscious 🙂
The wooden box and all the components for the Split-flap display were made on my CNC machine. I used 2mm thick plastic to mill out the 36 cards in the display. The wheels holding the cards and the pulleys for the cardwheel and stepper motor were milled from left over thick plastic blocks. I milled a 10 teeth pulley (XL037) for the stepper motor and a 40 teeth pulley for the cardwheel, giving me a ration of 4:1 and with my 1.8 degree per step motor, this gives me plenty of accuracy to make sure I display the right cards. I did build into my arduino code I can easily change the offset for each card to fine calibrate. I had to do this, as not all my cards where equal in size.
For more detail: Arduino based Split-Flap game
