Split-Flap Clock Flutters Its Way To Displaying Time Without Numbers

Here’s a design for a split-flap clock that doesn’t do it the usual way. Instead of the flaps showing numbers , Klapklok has a bit more in common with flip-dot displays.

Klapklok updates every 2.5 minutes.

It’s an art piece that uses custom-made split-flaps which flutter away to update the display as time passes. An array of vertically-mounted flaps creates a sort of low-res display, emulating an analog clock. These are no ordinary actuators, either. The visual contrast and cleanliness of the mechanism is fantastic, and the sound they make is less of a chatter and more of a whisper.

The sound the flaps create and the sight of the high-contrast flaps in motion are intended to be a relaxing and calming way to connect with the concept of time passing. There’s some interactivity built in as well, as the Klapklok also allows one to simply draw on it wirelessly with via a mobile phone.

Klapklok has a total of 69 elements which are all handmade. We imagine there was really no other way to get exactly what the designer had in mind; something many of us can relate to.

Split-flap mechanisms are wonderful for a number of reasons, and if you’re considering making your own be sure to check out this easy and modular DIY reference design before you go about re-inventing the wheel. On the other hand, if you do wish to get clever about actuators maybe check out this flexible PCB that is also its own actuator.

18 thoughts on “Split-Flap Clock Flutters Its Way To Displaying Time Without Numbers

    1. The video is certainly more scant than we’d all like. It does show the clock in action, which is good, but it’s also very brief and tucked in alongside another art piece. If there’s a better one floating around, I’d love to see it.

      1. Woah, that would be some good bit of overengineering just to drive you crazy! Looks like a normal clock, sounds like a “normal” clock so it’s subtle, discreet, unless it’s quiet.

        When you are alone and vulnerable.

        Tick period varies between 0.33 sec to 1.8. AND yet it always shows the correct time!

        Perhaps we could build it into a standard quarts clock module so it is compatible with most clocks..?
        Then you could prank someone and secretly “upgrade” their clock 🙃

  1. So how are they actuated? Only reasonable way I see would be a magnet on each flap and a coil wound around a soft magnetic material on both side, locking the flap in position when deactivated and giving it a push to flip when activated.

    1. Cool concept, but for $2,622.00 you are not going to sell many of them here. Considering that this is a DIY site filled with people that rather build then buy such a device for their own. Personally I’m not able/willing to shell out that amount of money for a hard-to-read-low-resolution-display “art-style” clock (of which could be asked how it will be supported 10-20 years from now as it is to be expected that fun-to-play-with web-interface is most likely outdated or no longer supported). But it looks nice, and really really cool, no doubt.

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