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The FIBIAC — a 3D-Printed Electromechanical Computer

Posted by Soulskill on from the don't-teach-them-how-to-breed dept.

Brietech writes "'Behold the FIBIAC! It's loud! It computes! It uses actual punch cards!' The FIBIAC is a simple, stepper-motor based, (mostly) 3D-printed electromechanical computer. The program is stored on a loop of paper punch-cards, and the machine uses three, 3-digit electromechanical counters for storage (which could be expanded to support more complicated programs) Watch a video of it computing the Fibonacci sequence, or jump on Thingiverse and build your own."

4 of 42 comments (clear)

  1. Wow, imagine a Beowulf cluster of these! by jfdavis668 · · Score: 5, Funny

    and how many cards that would take.

    1. Re:Wow, imagine a Beowulf cluster of these! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      But does it run Linux?

  2. Re:Build your own? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

    To be fair, it doesn't actually make use of a CNC mill (and the 3D printer in the video is clearly a Makerbot Thing-o-matic).

  3. Self-replication by raptor_87 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Is the computer sufficient to run a 3D printer?