A maker called [soiboi soft] built a pneumatically-actuated latching seven-segment display using silicone membranes and vacuum-controlled switches. Each segment is a cavity behind a silicone sheet that gets pulled in when vacuum is applied, with a pneumatic switch latching it open or closed. The four-digit display uses seven common data lines and four digit-select control lines. All parts were 3D-printed or cast in silicone molds, assembled in five layers with many fasteners to maintain airtight seals. The finished display is used as a clock, driven by an Arduino, a small vacuum pump, and solenoid valves. The project also hints at the potential for purely air-powered robots using similar pneumatic logic and actuator systems.
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