Digi-Comp I Redux

thingiverse

This Thing is my tribute to individuals who promoted computer learning in the 1950's and 60's by marketing simple electric/mechanical "computing" devices. While not considered true computers today, these machines were ingeniously designed, shipped with well-written manuals, and affordable to the average person. Lately, I have been creating replicas of classic "computers". Originals are rare and expensive when they appear on eBay, so most of my replicas were modeled from photos because I couldn't find or afford an original. Today's Thing is a brand new machine that combines elements of the following classics: <table><tbody><tr> <td height="100" width="125"><img src="https://content.instructables.com/FNQ/W6FW/K1QRUGJV/FNQW6FWK1QRUGJV.THUMB.jpg"></td> <td>The Digi-Comp I is the basis for my new design, which uses its mechanics and programming model.</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="100" width="125"><img src="https://cdn.instructables.com/F8I/TP0A/JRYUBCF3/F8ITP0AJRYUBCF3.THUMB.jpg"></td> <td>The look and feel of my new machine came from both the Digi-Comp II replica and the Digi-Comp I.</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="100" width="125"><img src="https://cdn.instructables.com/FK3/4NBA/JWL0TMQS/FK34NBAJWL0TMQS.THUMB.jpg"></td> <td>The Minivac 601's old telephone switchboard patch cord mechanism connects solenoids to the proper logic elements in my new design.</td> </tr> <tr> <td height="100" width="125"><img src="https://cdn.instructables.com/FW6/70GL/JYSZBRTY/FW670GLJYSZBRTY.THUMB.jpg"></td> <td>The GENIAC Redux replica used magnetic reed switches and magnets to implement logic elements, which my new design also uses.</td></tr> </tbody></table> My goal was to create a machine that has the aesthetic of these vintage models. I want people to believe it could have been from the 50's or 60's. Since it's not a replica, I didn't feel limited by the technologies of the era. Here is a short video of Digi-Comp I Redux counting to 16: <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EURnpaVIK04" width="560"></iframe> Along with this project's STL files and instructions, you'll find a PDF of the manual that came with the original Digi-Comp I. All experiments from this manual can be "programmed" and "executed" on the Digi-Comp I Redux design by following the manual's "coding sheets". This new design adds ONE EXTRA BIT of precision, DOUBLING the numbers that can be expressed from 8 to 16!