3D printing has revolutionized the way we approach technology, offering a significant boost to scientific advancement. This innovative method has truly propelled human technological progress forward. One notable example of this is the creation of a 3D printed Curta calculator by Marcus Wu, a mechanical calculator operated by a single handle. The original device was conceived in the 1940s by Curt Herzstark, a concentration camp survivor.
Most of us grew up using electronic calculators in school. These bulky solar-powered devices, while once indispensable, are now becoming obsolete, replaced by more advanced models that assist future generations of mathematicians in tackling complex problems.
Back in the early 20th century, however, calculators weren't something you could simply buy at a store. Computers were just emerging, and people had to rely on alternative methods to perform intricate calculations.
One particularly remarkable computing tool, the Curta mechanical calculator, was invented during World War II under extraordinary circumstances.
Austrian inventor Curt Herzstark, who had a Jewish father, was sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp in 1943. While there, he was compelled by his captors to continue working on the calculator, intended as a gift for Hitler upon Germany's anticipated victory. History took a different turn, and Herzstark was eventually released, allowing him to finalize the Curta calculator in his own name.
Herzstark's invention didn't give way to electronic calculators until the 1970s.
Fascinated by the Curta's history, modern-day maker Marcus Wu recently designed a fully functional 3D printed version of the calculating machine, available for download on Thingiverse for other math enthusiasts.
Wu obtained impressive blueprints from the Liechtenstein Museum of Curta, which inspired his project. Using notes from the factory drawings, he crafted his own version of the calculator using Onshape. His design comprises 240 printable 3D parts, including 100 unique components. (While the original Curta had around 600 parts, Wu managed to combine several components to simplify the design.)
Many of Wu's 3D-printed Curta parts complement around 100 pre-made elements, such as ball bearings, springs, and screws.
After slicing the 3D printable design with Simplify3D, the calculator took approximately nine days to print. However, Wu assembled, sorted, and tested the entire mechanism over a few months. Typically, manufacturers state it takes a full year from concept to completion.
Fortunately, if any part of this device needs replacement, Wu doesn't need to start from scratch. He mentioned he can dismantle the entire unit within a few hours.
Unlike leaving the printed parts raw, Wu went the extra mile, giving the calculator a thorough paint job. He used a Cricut cutter to create molds for the numbers on the dial, providing both paint masks and 3D print files on the device’s Thingiverse page.
This 3D printed Curta calculator is printed at a 3:1 scale and weighs 1357 grams (approximately 3 pounds).
The creator showcased his work at the Discovery Place Science Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina, during the Charlotte Mini-Maker Faire.
As someone who has always been captivated by the ingenuity of past technologies, I couldn't help but marvel at how far we've come. It’s inspiring to see how 3D printing has made such intricate designs accessible to anyone with the right tools and resources.
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