This is the“easy” way to order the parts for your splitflap display(United States only). It optimizes for simplicity in ordering, not the lowest possible cost.
If you’d like to review other options, which could be somewhat cheaper, check out the full ordering doc, but if that’s a little overwhelming, you’re in the right place here!
Material: MDF is more forgiving than Acrylic during assembly(Acrylic can be brittle and crack when fitting pieces together), though admittedly doesn't look as nice. For less potential frustration, I generally recommend MDF.
For reference, the front face of each module is approximately 82.6mm wide and 147.8mm tall.
Full ordering instructions, and alternative files for acrylic are here.
Electronics
Supplier:Bezek Labs(yes, I’m biased in recommending my own store, but it really is the easiest purchasing option since these are custom boards and I also include all necessary accessories)
Supplier:Bezek Labs(again, I’m biased, but there aren’t any commercial alternatives and making them yourself requires a lot of time and patience)
Two good options(this tradeoff is totally up to you):
Pre-printed flaps save a TON of time and look great, but are more expensive. 6-packs and 24-packs are available at a small discount. Only available with white text on a black card.
Note(2023-12-12): I am sold out of my initial batch of printed flaps. I am working on an updated design, expected to launch in early 2024. If you are waiting for these new printed flaps, I would also recommend holding off on ordering the laser-cut parts for now too; the updated design will come alongside a refreshed mechanical design to support 52 flaps per module rather than 40 flaps per module.
blank flaps(sold in packs of 160 flaps for 4 modules, or 240 flaps for 6 modules)
vinyl letter stickers(from Amazon). Blank flaps are available in white or black, and vinyl letter stickers are available in many different colors.(1 sticker pack for every 2 modules)
Hardware
Supplier: McMaster-Carr(reliable, but somewhat pricey especially with shipping) or find these common items elsewhere
M4 x 10mm button-head. 11 bolts needed per module(so you’ll need at least 66x for 6 modules). Must be button-head style(e.g. taller socket-cap bolts will likely cause clearance issues)
Laser-cut mechanical parts
Electronics
Flaps
Pre-printed flapssave a TON of time and look great, but are more expensive. 6-packs and 24-packs are available at a small discount. Only available with white text on a black card.Hardware
Power supply and wiring