Circular Slide Rules: Faber Castell 8/10 + Sama & Etani Model 90
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- Опубліковано 15 лип 2024
- I take a look at a couple circular slide rules and discuss some pros and cons. There are a few errors:
- The Gilson "binary" slide rules are thus named for having a scale of binary fractions (denominators that are powers of 2), not for have the double, caliper-style cursor.
- The A and B scales on this 8/10 are divided identically. I thought I had noticed a difference before, but now I don't see it.
- I call the 4181-1 a 4181-3 by mistake. - Наука та технологія
After watching your videos, I find circular slide rules very intriguing. And I actually ordered a KL-1 from Ukraine after I've watched your video on it,
In general, I think we should still learn how to use slide rules. Their operation helps memorise logarithmic operations and actually understand how calculations really work if put on silicon.
Just got a 270N, which seems very nice.
Thank you for these videos, although they have caused me to spend too much on eBay.
I wish I had my dad's circ slide rule he used at Texas A&M in the 1950's. It was much larger, about 8 inches diameter, yellow plastic. I would give just about anything to have it...
Great overview of circular slide rules. I just got a Gilson/Bruning/Dietzgen Midget-type 4" circular rule which is quite a challenge to fully figure out without marked scales or a manual. It has some oddball extras like decimal fractions and tap drill sizes.
I think circular slide rules are a good trade off between precision and size. My favorite is the CONCISE N.300, very complete, like a Darmstadt circular
Hi Proofessor, i just got a Scientific Instrument 1610, do you know where can i get the manual?, best regards
Great video, I was wondering if a circular slide rule with a Faber Castell W style scale would be a good addition for better resolution?
Slide part would have to sit between fixed scales above and below the slide, but if you placed the 1-pi W1 W1' scales on the inner rad side and the pi - 10 W2 W2' on the outer rad side the length difference might balance nicely due to inner ring length being smaller effectively with the more spread 1-pi scale. If that makes sense.
I can model that up in AutoCAD Inventor to try it virtually.
Concise #300 is a very nice circular slide rule.
Good stuff.... Id like to see you work some navigation and cargo problems with a nav slide rule like the Academy duplex 504. I used a E-6b flight computer (circular) for many years. 'The slide rule for sea and air navigation' is a study guide Ive been using with my old Ricoh 550. I wish I had a 10 inch slide rule but they are hard to get here in the Philippines. I accept Hemmi 259d or better donations... :)
How do you get your rules to slide so nicely? All of mine seem to want to slide in a stunted jumping motion.
I don't do much for the circular rules. For duplex rules I adjust tension and make sure they're clean, but I don't have any special tricks. I think the effects of age and storage conditions have a big effect on this. I have otherwise identical seeming clean rules with vastly different "action."
@@ProfessorHerning I used a tiny amount of silicon oil when I got mine 50 years ago and they were sticking. They have worked perfectly ever since.
What do you think/pref as the "best" scale set size?
Chris Do you mean for a circular slide rule? For linear rules, I like pocket (5" scales) rules with non-crowded scale sets (e.g. 4181-1 or the UTO in my original videos). The smaller size allows you to "see" a larger range of numbers at once. The portability is also nice. Of course the trade-off is precision, but if you see a slide rule as a fun way to get a rough estimate, the small rule is the way to go. I keep a pocket rule in my briefcase.
interesting. yes I was thinking about linear scales. atm i prefer the post 1447 10'' as its a good size with nice quality but is still small without too many scales. i find the student 1445 is a bit too student however I guess if you have e.g. N600-ES then there is a good balance of small on-the-go aspect with versatility. BTW: what is your pref electronic calculator to use in school? is it something like a casio fx 82 or are the horrible graphics calculator still in vogue?
Chris When I teach Calculus I do not allow calculators on tests. I allow them in class (whatever the student wants which is not a cellphone/internet device). I often bring something like an fx82 to class for days when we do things like Newton's Method. If I'm not sketching it on the board by hand, I'll use the computer which is available in class to graph (and approximate things occasionally).
For stats and occasionally precalculus I allow a non-graphing to calculator such as the fx-82. Obviously in stats there is an emphasis on using software to analyze datasets at home.
I prefer the classroom to be "low-tech" (i.e. no phones/tablets/laptops). This is to emphasize that math is really about the ideas and the reasoning, not about calculators and computers.
In terms of favorite calculators, that's a tough call. Here are some potentials: TI-89 (made in Taiwan, please) for test-engineering, Canon F-73P, HP-45, Casio fx-260, HP-35S, TI-30 SLR. Besides the 89 which stays at my desk, I'll throw one of these in my bag for use in class.
p.s. throughout the semester I do bring different slide rules to class also, explaining them to any interested students before class. During class I'll also use them to make rough approximations.
What is your favourite circular sliderule?
Not sure. I like some of the fancier Concise and Pickett designs, but I don't have them in my collection...
It is hard to beat the 8/10 as a nice general purpose rule. I like the feel of the Concise 270N but I wish it had decimal trig and a longer L scale. Pickett and SIC have some nice fancy designs, but I don't own one to comment on the actual construction feel.
You brought up electronic scientific calculators below so I thought to ask a question or two about them... As I recall I used to have a ti-30slr... I mean Im not a math major or anything, but looking at yours in another video with the clear plastic corners on the billfold type protector brought back a memory or two. Anyway, what I remember about the old days is that those older calculators had some beef to em. You knew you had something in your hand when you hefted it - unlike today's flimsy featherweight calculators that blow out of your shirt pocket in a fair wind, or off the table if the fan is too close. So, are there any calculators available today with some heft??? You know, more like the weight of a good cell phone Question two: My eyeballs will be 61 years old this month and they do not do what they used to do a decade ago. I bought some stupid calculator about a year ago and I cant see the blue second function characters very well. Which calculator has the best, largest, most visible character set of the newer calculators?? I am unconcerned with the graphic type calculators, so that should narrow the choices down some. Visibility and heft - that's all Im asking for. Thanks
Piers, I've found unreadable font colors and flimsy construction to be big issues on modern calculators. It's just not worthwhile for companies to care about quality construction (and details) anymore. Case in point: the original TI-89 vs the TI-89 Titanium. The former has very nice high contrast color printing on the keys. It was replaced by the "improved" Titanium model which has an unreadable keyboard (although TI had already shifted production to China, reducing reliability over the Taiwanese made revisions).
I'm no expert, but here's a couple to consider:
- The TI-30Xa. Also
Thank you, Prof Herning, for your promptness. Although I checked your you-tube channel every day, I just now noticed your reply... My bad.. Thanks for the info. I just read the Wiki HP-35s page and it said power comes from two button batteries - which made me think that perhaps some of the glory- day calculator weight probably came from the battery sets. Anyway, Ive never used RPN before so the HP might present a nice challenge to an old fart like me. The literature says the HP will also operate in ALG mode. Are button batteries now the norm???
The TI-30Xa just looks like every other calculator out there and holds little attraction for me - although the price seems outstanding and the print contrast seems decent. Ill go with the TI-30xa if I cant find an HP.
There is a company out there offering navigation software for the TI-89 (I think), but computer programming takes all the fun out of navigating - IMHO. If I was looking for a graphics display I would probably choose the 89.
However, it is not likely my country has the HP in stock. There are tons of Casios, Sharps, and Chinese junk brands bulging the display cabinets. This is always the problem in the PI - whenever I want something specific it takes an act of God to find it.
Thanks again and keep up the good work on the videos. Im still looking forward to seeing you do some nav problems with a slide rule... Respects
PS - How about a little discussion of Haversins... and the tables.
Yes, button batteries have probably been standard on mostly everything except graphing and solar calculators since the early '80s when LCD screens greatly reduced power requirements.
I have an HP-35s. I just tried using it in ALG mode and it wasn't much fun. They way it handles parentheses is odd, and you can't scroll back through previous entries like you might expect with the arrow keys. I think this calculator exists because aging RPN enthusiasts are still buying a new calculator once in a while. It's actually been on the market over ten years!
Good luck with your search, and let us know here if you find something -- I'd probably try to get one myself.
p.s. Are you in the Philippines? I have a few friends in Manila I haven't seen in years!
As a pass time hobby I repair watches, however, although I prefer working on mechanical watches, most of the time these days 'repair' means a button battery replacement. In the Philippines one must watch out for counterfeit batteries in that the fake ones will only last one quarter as long... but its funny that people will buy the fake ones anyway because they are half the price. One must observe to buy the best battery possible - even for a calculator.
Yesterday I downloaded the HP-35s user manual into my wife's Ipad-like computer and while laying in bed I studied the manual until the wee hours of the morning. I have to admit that the RPN stack fascinated me... I kept reaching for the invisible HP-35s that wasnt there. I cant wait to get one. Maybe the HP will help me understand the one subject that kept me from becoming an electrical engineer - Calculus.
My childhood neighbor is coming to the Philippines next month... I begged him to find an HP and bring it here. Ive seen them now on Amazon but I do not trust the mail system here... besides, the import duties are horrendous. Perhaps you can lend me yours.... just joking!!
Never lose sight of your true friends, Professor, they are a rare commodity and not easily replaced... Keep up the good work... Your views may be few, but Im confident those few are worthy of your efforts. Dont ever decide that some aspect of your teachings is trivial... I hang on every word.
As is the custom here in the PI, I usually walk around with either a shoulder bag or a small nap-sack. My shoulder bag is well worn, so my wife bought me a new one for my birthday yesterday... but when I opened it for inspection what do you think I found inside - yep, you're right... a spanking new HP-35s; the only one, she says, in Cebu. Boy did my eyes light up... and you were right - its a nice machine. Ive been playing with it almost non-stop since I installed the batteries. Thank you so much for the suggestion... and thanks for your knowledge and enthusiasm for fine slide rules and calculators.... Have a great day - and dont forget to write to your old friends in Manila....:)
Binge watched FOR ALL MANKIND on APPLE TV. Purchased a slide rule because of the show. Found out I'm only smart enough to tie my shoelaces and not stare at the Sun.