Hackaday · Creativity & design

3D-Printed Mechanical Calculator Designed and Built

A fully FDM 3D-printed mechanical calculator has been designed and built, showcasing the engineering principles behind mechanical computation.

The project was undertaken due to a fascination with mechanical calculators and the high cost of digital alternatives. The design process, including troubleshooting and the mechanisms for addition and multiplication, is documented.

Key challenges involved engineering features like digit carrying and multiplication. The use of FDM printing for precise components like gears necessitated numerous design iterations.

Approximately one hundred design iterations were completed before the mechanism functioned correctly, with lubrication also aiding the process.

While not the first 3D-printed mechanical calculator, this project demonstrates the creation of a functional device from basic components.

AI-samenvatting op basis van de bron.