A mechanical calculator, which is capable to add and substrat, featured carry mechanism, keyboard, overflow mechanism and openable part for set up.
The Context
I wanted for a while to continue my first attempt to create mechanical calculator as shown in 2010 on youtube. I have retried it and finally succeed to create it.
Functioning
The functioning is based on the Pascaline Machine created by Blaise Pascal in 1642. It uses a carry mechanism, featured 6 digits. I have added some functions like the single keyboard and overflow mechanism.
Regarding the carry mechanism, it is based on two ratchet gearing. When a digit makes full rotation, it grabs the next digit and raise it. When it is raised, it can’t moves because of a ratchet mechanism but the sautoir can. Thanks to a other ratchet mechanism, when the moving digit is raised the ratchet travel for 2 tooth on a 20 tooth gear. When the sautoir is released after complete rotation of previous digit, it falls, and makes rotate the digit. The movement is equal to 2 tooth on a 20 tooth gears, result of a 1/10 rotation, which has made in fact a carry. See the video to understand more :
Regarding the system of keyboard, I have tried to make a full keyboard with 10 key but not figure out the problem of dead point because of lego. Therefore, I have build a version with a single key, when it is pressed, the key moves and a ratchet touches a 20 tooth gear. During the displacement, it moves the 20 tooth gear with 2 tooth of displacement, which result to add one to the digit. A free point of rotation with little weight enables to replace the system in correct position. Note that the spring used is from a dismantled lego shock absorbers. See it in action :
Concerning the system of substracting, It uses the principle of the complement, thanks to the moving panel. I let you see the video to understand. Regarding the overflow mechanism, it is a new feature which enables the user to know when the mechanical calculator is in overflow, that is to say that the needed number is more important than that it can display. For instance with 6 digit, 999 999 + 1 equal to 1 000 000 but the machine can not display 7 digit, therefore the overflow is detected. To create this, I use the rotation of the last digit, when it has made a full rotation, it pushes thanks to a lever an other lever which releases the overflow panel. This overflow panel is mounted with a rubber for its raising. See the video to understand more :
Result
As a result, the mechanical calculator can make addition or substraction, the overflow is detected when to important number is in the box, and it is easy to use thanks to the keyboard mechanism. Also, I have made a openable panel at the rear which enables the user to dismantled each parts of keyboard or adder to set up finally. The only set up is to select the correct rubber band for tension, set up the end of upper ratchet (axle have to go over the parts for 1 or 2mm), ensure that all axle can rotate freely (including moving parts and digit). Also, the main roller which display the result can be raised to set up the position of the roller with number. See the final video to see it :
Building Instructions
I have created the free instructions for this creation, as a photo sequence. You can download it in pdf, or browsing it on the blog.
Don’t forget to download the sheet of sticker for the calculator : Sticker Sheet (PDF 1mo)
MechanicalCalculatorByNico71v2 (PDF 14mo)
(8) Comments
Hello, here is a video to know how to disassemble the shock absorbers, basically by pushing the two plastic parts inside and pulling the rod. Then you take the spring and put it on the axle.
Hi Nico, how do we break down a shock absorber to make a button? at the end, are we just using the spring on the shock absorber with a new axle? Thanks!
1/ panel 5×11 ref 64782
2/ spring : use spring from lego shock absorbers (grey one)
3/ push hutton : down : 3941 up : 2654
All this items are in the bill of material and on rebrickable 🙂
Hi,
I have a question on 3 items:
1) # of item on img_3360
2) # of item of the spring and the pushbutton on img_3343
Thanks for your help,
B. Streich
Hey, Nico,
thanks! It works 😀
It was in fact the rubber bands!
Again: thanks.
Bob
Hello, can you send me some picture of the overflow mechanism on my email, in order I can see it. I do not oil the mechanism, just set up correctly the mechanism. Is your digit works ? (carry mechanism). I assume that the rubber band of overflow mechanism is too tight which cause high force to release it. Try some smooth rubber band 🙂
Hello,
I have build your Mechanical Calculator full correctly, but the Overflow mechanism (powered by gravity) doesn´t work correctly, it doesn´t fall down like expected, so it doesn´t work at all.
Do you have some tipps to fix the problems? Did you oil the mechanism?
I´m every time really liking your buildings and have built one of the cars, the CVT, the two Planimeters and the helicopter ^^
Id had some other problems with these, but I was able to fix them all by myself ;D
But this time, I wasn´t able to find out the bug…
I would be very happy if you had an idea 😀
Thanks,
Bob Bobbson
[…] aka Nico71 kein Unbekannter. Der Maschinenbauingenieur aus Frankreich konstruiert mechanische Rechenmaschinen, Webstühle oder funktionsfähige Uhren komplett aus bunten Bauklötzern. Die Maschinen sind […]
Comments are closed.