Zusie – My Relay Computer

I 3D printed some Zuse-style mechanical NAND gates last year, that was a lot of fun and makes for a great fidget toy:<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;mero.ng&#x2F;i&#x2F;vMdqQYJG.jpg" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;mero.ng&#x2F;i&#x2F;vMdqQYJG.jpg</a><p>I&#x27;ve kind of given some thought of doing a higher-quality metal production run of these with nice finish and engravings of the inputs and outputs as a geeky desk fidget.<p>Model credit goes here (and of course to the original Zuse patent application the design is from), although I made a NAND remix as I wanted a universal gate and fixed up all of the tolerances and still really have to upload my version:<p><a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.printables.com&#x2F;model&#x2F;69642-zuse-inspired-z1-logic-gate-demonstration-set-impr" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.printables.com&#x2F;model&#x2F;69642-zuse-inspired-z1-logi...</a>

So cool! Should link to the project homepage <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nablaman.com&#x2F;relay&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nablaman.com&#x2F;relay&#x2F;</a> Or the news page with pics &amp; videos. <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nablaman.com&#x2F;relay&#x2F;progress.php" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nablaman.com&#x2F;relay&#x2F;progress.php</a> Last update was in 2011, btw.

That&#x27;s beautiful and mesmerizing - video here: <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nablaman.com&#x2F;relay&#x2F;progress.php" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.nablaman.com&#x2F;relay&#x2F;progress.php</a><p>I built one of these[0] a few years ago, and really enjoyed the build process and playing around with it. It was a pretty big project, but no special skills required.<p>[0] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;relaysbc.sourceforge.net&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;relaysbc.sourceforge.net&#x2F;</a>

Shameless plug for my relay computer: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;artemonster&#x2F;relay-cpu">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;github.com&#x2F;artemonster&#x2F;relay-cpu</a>

Related. Others?<p><i>Zusie – My Relay Computer</i> - <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=8711869">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=8711869</a> - Dec 2014 (21 comments)

As of late I&#x27;ve been watching a Youtube creator, DiPDoT[0], building a relay computer.<p>DiPTDoT&#x27;s project is still in-progress. His computer has an 8-bit data bus and a 16-bit address bus[1], like the Zusie. His registers are a little more generous than the Zusie.<p>I really enjoy the sound of DiPDoT&#x27;s test rigs running his cards thru functional testing. The rhythm of a relaying computer running code with loops is probably pretty fun.<p>[0] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;@dipdoting" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.youtube.com&#x2F;@dipdoting</a><p>[1] <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;GwNZFNtruTY?t=60" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;GwNZFNtruTY?t=60</a>

This is a very cool project!<p>I wish this was around when I was teaching computer architecture. I use to challenge students to think outside the box when it came to switchs. One example is to build a computer out of paperclips.[1] The book can be found on eBay, Amazon and other used&#x2F;old book outlets.<p>[1] &quot;How to build a working digital computer&quot;, Edward Alcosser, 1968

Another relay computer for those interested, with hand built DRAM! <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.northdownfarm.co.uk&#x2F;rory&#x2F;tim&#x2F;tim-8.htm" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.northdownfarm.co.uk&#x2F;rory&#x2F;tim&#x2F;tim-8.htm</a>

&gt; 8-bit data bus and 16-bit address bus<p>What? That is very intense. If I were doing relays, I would have gone for 2 bits or something, 4 bits max. Hardcore.

Having seen this in person my favorite aspect is the sound it makes, absolutely mesmerizing.

I&#x27;d love to see, and hear, a video of the computer in operation

There is now a whole bunch of relay computers on youtube! It&#x27;s become easier to do it seems. This one 2011, some more recent on youtube.

(2011)?