Flip Fluid on Flip Dots(mitxela.com)
397 points by blutack 18 days ago | 25 comments
tl;dr: A hacker built a large FLIP fluid simulation running on electromechanical flipdot displays (chosen partly for the pun) as an installation for EMF2026. After sourcing donated Hanover panels from Look Mum No Computer, they designed custom PCBs using cheap H-bridge motor driver chips in a series-capacitor half-bridge configuration that solders directly onto the existing panel backs without cutting traces, enabling fast updates and seamless tiling. The final 8-panel display uses RS485-connected decoder boards driven by CH32V003 microcontrollers, with extensive electrolytic capacitor buffering to handle the ~50A pulse currents needed to flip all dots simultaneously.
HN Discussion:
  • ↑Admiration for the creator's precision and past work, sharing related content
  • •Sharing related flip-dot experiences and examples from other sources
  • •Offering technical tips for handling delicate flip-dot components
  • ↓Questioning the capacitor design choice, suggesting a negative supply rail alternative
  • ~Disappointment at lack of video showing the panel in action