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The Turbo Entabulator: A 3D-printed Mechanical Computer
An anonymous reader writes "Have you ever been sitting there, quietly computing something and thinking to yourself, 'If only this process were somehow billions of times slower, less reliable, and involved lots of physical labor?' If so, the Turbo Entabulator is the machine you've been looking for! It's a (nearly-entirely) 3D-printed mechanical computer. With three single-digit counters for memory, it's driven by a hand-cranked, Jacquard-style punch card reader. You can even download the files and build your own."
it's not a turbo-encabulator.I've been wanting one of those for a long time.
stored on computers from birth to the grave
"Have you ever been sitting there, quietly computing something and thinking to yourself, 'If only this process were somehow billions of times slower, less reliable, and involved lots of physical labor?'"
Yes. And then I switch to a Windows box. Mission accomplished.
Koans and fables for the software engineer
So nobody is likely to use this for actual work, but as a teaching aid, it definitely goes a long way. Explaining with a working physical device the principles of basic computing and Turing machine type things is pretty cool
And, if someone has done this, it's only a matter of time before we start getting some super awesome 3d printed Rube Goldberg type or Steampunk-type of devices.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
We do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard.
Hats off to the designer.
3D Printing Tips and Tricks at Zheng3.com
A robot may not create another robot.
Fetch my sturdiest manservant and the overclocking whip!
Can you please not imagine a Beowulf cluster of these?
(-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
This line, "The book made it crystal-clear why people were maimed all the time in industrial accidents in the 1800s" is absolutely freaking hilarious!
..towards the singularity.
We have to put a stop to this dangerous movement of self-creation and innovation that is not under the protective regulation of government. We need common sense laws immediately that require all 3D printers to be registered, and licensure for their operators.
We cannot allow this threat to our national security to continue.
This Public Service Announcement brought to you by the Republican-Democrat Partnership Conference in association with The Foundation for Peace through Unity and Faith in Government.
1) No kids.. Dad has way too much time on his hands.
2) Wife is a Librarian and makes a good clamp when needed.
3) was bored one day and decided to make something with that $3000 printer the wife got him at XMAS.
This is cool but man are we going to be inundated with every novelty item that is 3d printed now? This is neat but the Lego Turing machine was IMO cooler
Harrison's Postulate - "For every action there is an equal and opposite criticism"
when referring to the new kernel release which will involve more profanity use.
In SOVIET RUSSIA... erm...NSA AMERICA, the Internet logs onto YOU!
Too late...
steam powered ^W^W via radio waves ^W^W^W with a computer ^W^W^W on the internet ^W^W^W 3D printed
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
A Beowulf cluster of these things?
to automatically synchronize the cardinal grammeters?
Hey, semi-related.. If you type Jacquard loom into the search bar on audible.com (through 6/12) you can get a free copy of Jullian Assange Cypherpunks book.
I'd quite like to see a water powered computer. (obviously the water would be inserted afterwards)
Now all we need is a jacquard-style 3d printer and the circle is complete
They can multiply and divide as well as adding/subtracting. The above link shows the result of doing 355/113: 3.1415929 with a remainder of 23.
The top left is an accumulator, the top right is a counter, and the lower register is the number you want to add/subtract (entry register). So to do 355/113, the procedure is
It sounds more complicated than it is, but really it's just long division. It takes about 20-30 seconds to do that division. That sucker works as well as the day it was built. I've looked inside; it's a mechanical marvel.
Oh yeah, those white slider tabs are for placing the decimal points where you want them
In case anyone reading this hasn't heard of it, the 10,000 year clock being built by the Long Now Foundation will contain the coolest mechanical computer that I've heard of.
10,000 year clock
Very slow computer. But unlike the one in the article, very reliable. And it was designed by Danny Hillis, who has designed supercomputers.
While I love cool things like the Turbo Entabulator, it is cool beyond words that that the computer in the 10,000 year clock has a serious purpose for being designed the way that it is.
No electricity! (yes, the plot is insane) but this device would fit right into that world.
... cool. This upgrade is a long time coming. They base version was hell at rendering.
Python: 'And then suddenly you have a language which says "we're all stuck with whatever the whiniest coder wants".'
The name of this device *must* be said in a Dr. Doofenshmirtz voice.
Curse you Perry the Platypus! You destroyed my Turbo Entabulator!
Can 3D printers print 3D printers yet?
I don't know the meaning of the word 'don't' - J
It doesn't appear to have memory, just 3 registers.
The drawing for a four bit adder. I also have the components but need to assemble the circuit boards, etc. Be fun to have a computer where you can follow the action again.
We will make the IRS and the NSA use these exclusively.
Here, have all our data. Let us know if you finish a search before the heat death of the universe.
Never answer an anonymous letter. - Yogi Berra
It was all done a long time ago....
The MONIAC was an analogue computer that used "fluidics" instead of elecktrikery. A similar computer is discussed in the Discworld novel "Making Money", where it passes under the title of "The Glooper", for obvious reasons...
Does it Run minecraft?
Until now, RepRap have been stymied by an inability to print any of the systems that control the printer. But, no longer! Simply print a mechanical computer to drive your 3D printer, and the goal of a self-reproducing device will be fulfilled!
Might be large, though.