[goaty]

A mechanical computer, is just as powerful as an electrical one,  EXCEPT! they have hz's only ranging to 300 hz,  (that's 18,000 rpm!) instead of in the gigz, even tho that's a guess, it probably isn't far from the truth for an average attempt.

So that makes them 300 thousand times slower,   but that's only hz wise.

Mechanical computers could still get quite miniaturized, I bet an expensive 3d printer could let out goo for 50 micrometre detail,   so you could get that hz loss back by putting more logic units down,  and it could actually outperform a commodore 64 or other low sized bus computers.

1 megahertz * 8 bus= 8 million.  <-heres something similar to a commodore 64, 8 bit bus computer.
1 meg bus * 8 hz = 8 million.       <- the mechanical computer would be the reverse,  it gets the hz loss back as a giant bus.

So what's the point of making a computer such a weird way?     Its because its 3d printable,   to get the hz back as a parallel bus, it does mean its going to be like a sponge, it has to be pretty detailed.

Its not what I wanted,  Id prefer it to have less detail to it,   but this is where im up to at this point,  for putting a brain in my unit, that prints along with the rest of it!  =)  exciting.

[Art]

goaty,

What exactly are you referring to by using the term, Mechanical Computer? A primitive country store large adding machine that had a long handle on the side to pull and tally the addition(s)? An Abacus? Hmm...
And please explain the "just as powerful" part a bit further...

Thanks!

[goaty]

Cool np.   By mechanical computer I mean one that operates without electricity,  but it could be a fairly high hz pump instead, but its a lot slower.
Im talking a little more intrinsic than your average mechanical calculator,  using the limit of a 3d printers detail, probably a millimetre between "logic units" would be good enough to do something.

Its actually a lot less powerful,  but you could get it back by putting more down in parallel instead.

It may seem a little mysterious,  ive done a lot of brainstorming on logical devices,   but its actually very simple and not very complicated if u see an example of it,  it looks easier than transistors.

You can make a logic gate out of wood for example,  see this video of an adder machine, and its actually quite a good one, put 10 of these on top of each other and you've got a 10 bit adder!! ->


Logic takes many forms,  and it does not just have to be electricity.  Just imagine that beauty miniaturized down to the limit of a 3d printer and you could get to 1024 significant bits in just a few cm!!!

So the miniaturization is not the problem,  its just if you want a kilohertz oscillation, your looking at buzzing the speed of a flys wing... and it might not be that easy to do -  and its not as fast as electricity, but like I say, its 3d printable.

[Art]

Yes but an abacus is much faster. still as primitive but faster.

[goaty]

Yes but an abacus is much faster. still as primitive but faster.

Im sure you could stick a pump on an abacus the same as anything else... then itll "automate"