A maker built a fully pneumatic seven-segment clock display using 3D-printed microfluidic circuits. The display uses vacuum-powered transistors and silicone membranes to store bits mechanically — each segment latches its state without electronics. Four digits are controlled via 11 solenoid valves (7 data + 4 write-enable), mirroring how electronic multiplexed displays work. A novel one-way valve isolates digit enables from shared dot outputs. The finished clock can show time, run as a stopwatch, and count down, refreshing one digit per second. The author argues the latching segment array qualifies as pneumatic RAM since it stores addressable, writable state visible to the eye.
•16m watch time
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