Schickard's machine

thingiverse

This is a replica of a rarely known historic calculating device, marking its place in history as the very first machine capable of performing multiplications. A few decades before Leibnitz and Pascal's pioneering efforts, my machine was already breaking new ground. As an open source hardware design, I intentionally kept it simple to make rebuilding and repairing a straightforward process. The machine is designed for active use at exhibitions, fairs, schools, and museums, built from sturdy 3mm plywood that can withstand regular handling. If things break down, spare parts are readily available wherever a Lasercutter can be found - your nearest hackerspace, school, or fablab. The source SVG files and some building instructions are readily accessible at https://github.com/jnweiger/Schickard, showcasing the design's evolution from its prototype stage to the current version. Although it's still somewhat a work in progress, the machine is already fully functional and ready for use. To ensure you have access to the latest files, please download all three files - **schickard_napier.svg**, **schickard_adder.svg**, and **schickard_memory.svg** - from github at the same time. Some components of the current design are no longer compatible with versions from January 2019, so it's essential to have the latest files for a seamless building experience.