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Analog computer 1

Introduction
Article
Schematic
Build
Fine... But what does it do?
Multiplication
Division
Squaring
Square root
Useful links

Introduction
Analog computer is a type of computer that works with continuously changing variables, as opposed to
digital computer that uses discrete values. Digital computers are almost always electronic or
electromechanical devices, while analog types can use any continous variable: voltage, water flow, air
pressure, length (slide rule) and other.

Finished analog computer.

While first modern computers were analog electromechanical differential analyzers in the 1930s, soon
thereafter they were faced with competition from electronic digital computers. By 1960s, pace of
miniaturization of digital components meant that digital computers became less expensive than analog
ones, while being able to produce exact answers, a must for many human endeavors. Analog computers
continued in use for simulation of complex physical processes, but even here they were eventually
superseded by simulations run on digital computers.

Having said that, they were (and still are) excellent tools for simulation of real world. One gets much
better understanding of certain phenomena by being able to directly change the variables and see the
outcome immediately.

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Article
Recently I stumbled upon an article about very simple analog computer in a 1961 scanned Popular
Electronics magazine. This pushed me to make a copy along similar lines. Only components needed are
three potentiometers, battery or AC/DC adapter, and voltmeter/ or galvanometer/ or headphones. Digital
voltmeter will do just fine. My pots one and three (R1, R3) have value of 250 Ohms maximum, and
second one (R2) 25 kiloohms maximum. Potentiometer values are not critical. Supply voltage is not
critical, it can be anything from 1 to 10 volts, DC or AC.

Schematic

I made a schematic based on the original article. R1 is pot used for setting the first variable, R2 is used for
second variable, and R3 is the "result" potentiometer. If R1 pot is set to 0.5 (50%) of its maximum value,
this means that one half of the supply voltage shows between R1 pot wiper and ground. If R2 is now set to
0.2 (20%) of its maximum value, its output (wiper-ground voltage) will show only 0.5*0.2=0.01 (10%) of
supply voltage. We have effectively created a voltage multiplier.

Build
A quarter inch thick wooden tile was drilled for three potentiometer shafts. After inserting the pots and
securing them, knobs were put in place and plastic tie-wraps were put around the knobs to serve as scale
pointers. I had some issues with knobs that I have selected, so I decided to replace them with wooden
blocks (from 2x4) into which I have put some small nails for pointers. They were drilled with holes
somewhat smaller than pot shafts, so they fit snugly when forced onto them.

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Board backside.

Round scales were traced out on cereal box cardboard and cut out. They were glued to the wooden
faceplate.

Next, without making connections between the pots themselves, you need to calibrate the scales. To do
this, first mark minimum and maximum pot positions (for regular pots around 300 degrees are swept).
Measure total maximum pot resistance (let's say 250 Ohms). Connect your ohmeter between grounded pot
terminal (pick one side tab) and pot wiper (central tab), and slowly increase resistance until you reach
1/10th of maximum pot resistance (in my case 25 Ohms). Mark this point with longer line and label 10.
Next move to 2/10ths of max. resistance position and mark this point with next long line and label 20.
Proceed until all tenths are marked. If you wish, you can also mark 5/100, 15/100, 25/100 spots, you will
obtain better precision. Same process was repeated for other two pots, except that labels for third pot had
increments of 1000 and maximum value of 10000. After finishing calibration, connections were made
according to article schematics. Alternative method of calibration for third pot (that in hindsight appears
to be somewhat more precise) is to set two multipliers R1 and R2, calculate their product on calculator,
and mark that result on third scale. It does feel like a bit of cheating though :)

Fine... But what does it do?

Multiplication, division, squaring of numbers, and finds the square root of given number. Maximum result
is 10000, and variables 1 and 2 have a maximum value of 100. Suitable scaling can be used, so if you add
three zeros to variables 1, 2 and result, maximum result is now 10 000 000 000. If variables 1 and 2 are
numbers very different in size, precision will suffer. Average precision in optimal middle scale range is
2-3%, but falls off rapidly towards the low end of the scale.

Multiplication
Just set dials 1 and 2 to desired values for multiplication, for example 70 and 80. Now turn dial 3 (result)
until you can read exactly 0 volts on your voltmeter. Read multiplied result from scale three.

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Multiplication/Division.

Division
Set number to be divided on scale 3. Set number to divide with on scale 2. Turn dial of scale 1 until
voltmeter reads zero. Then read result from scale 1.

Squaring
Set number to be squared on dial 1. Set that same number on scale 2. Turn dial 3 until voltmeter reads
zero. Read result from scale 3.

Square root
Set number for which the square root is to be found on scale three. Now turn dials 1 and 2 until both are
set on the same numbers, and voltmeter reads zero (this takes some practice). Number on scale 1 (or 2) is
the square root of the number shown on scale 3.

Useful links
An introduction to analog computer - in Popular Electronics magazine, 1961
Analog computer - Wikipedia page

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