https://youtu.be/PMBvHlLs_6s
https://youtu.be/ukRGbEUAVtM
Via followers of mine I've received a number of links to electro-mechanical seven segment displays created from cardboard or Legos using quite a few servos and/or motors to simulate a seven segment LED display, and most if not all were not quite what one would consider to be a "low profile" design. I was then challenged by one follower to attempt to create a low profile design of an electro-mechanical seven segment decade counter driven by a single motor, and "A 3D Printed Seven Segment Electro-Mechanical Single Motor Driven Display" is my answer to the challenge.
In my design, an Adafruit ESP32 drives an inexpensive stepper motor and driver, which in turn drives two slotted cams (one controlling the A, B, F and G segments, and a second controlling the C, D and E segments) such that the model counts from 0 through 9 repeatedly (a decade counter) via a single stepper motor. Seven "slides" follow specific cam slots in order to swing the seven segments in and out of view, and a mere 3.5mm deflection of a slide results in a 90 degree movement of its respective segment.
I plan on expanding this design to create a large format hours and minutes clock.
As usual I probably forgot a file or two or who knows what else, so if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to comment as I do make plenty of mistakes. Designed using Autodesk Fusion 360, sliced using Ultimaker Cura 4.10.0, and 3D printed in Ultimaker PLA on Ultimaker S5s.