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Slide Rule Simulator Emulator Replica Collection

75 points by petercooper 5y ago

JKCalhoun 5y ago
Very cool. I created some logarithmic sliders for an electronics app I put out on the App Store some time ago. I thought they were a good match for electronics (Ohm's law specifically) because electronics generally is logarithmic (resistors, etc. follow such a progression). A strange coincidence too that this site should pop up on HN because I have been this past week or so working on a Javascript implementation of a logarithmic slider so I can try a similar Ohm's Law calculator on the web. I think the web needs more logarithmic input controls. Don't you? I think the significant difference between mine and this site's is that mine you can specify the value to display and the slider moves there — further, when the user moves the slider manually you can query the slider to find out what value is under the cursor. I'll have to dig into this site to see how to make my sliders look nice.
enchiridion 5y ago
If you like this you’ll like Chris Staeker’s series on analog computing devices. Here is on on longimeters I like. https://youtu.be/-ZE2Iv-8tsA https://youtu.be/-ZE2Iv-8tsA
- JKCalhoun 5y ago
  I've been watching those, thanks.
- danuker 5y ago
  Why use 3 overlaid square grids? Why not hexagonal or equilateral-triangular ones? It would have more uniform resolution.
  - enchiridion 5y ago
    These are pretty old, so if I had to guess, probably ease of manufacturing? It’s a lot easier to get square grids than hexagonal using simple machinery. Just a guess though.
throw0101a 5y ago
The Professor Herning YT channel has a bunch of videos on both using slide rules and reviews/comparisons of various ones: * https://www.youtube.com/c/ProfessorHerning/videos https://www.youtube.com/c/ProfessorHerning/videos The "Practical Slide Rule" [0] and "Basic slide rule theory and use" [1] playlists are a good intro: [0] https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_qcL_RF-Zyu6ugp3E2nB9xoTSwpy1G-F https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_qcL_RF-Zyu6ugp3E2nB... [1] https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_qcL_RF-ZyvJYtIr9NRXJX958d6BgdbN https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_qcL_RF-ZyvJYtIr9NRX...
- derekp7 5y ago
  Also the slide rule section on John Savard's home page http://quadibloc.com/math/slrint.htm http://quadibloc.com/math/slrint.htm. There is a mention of the K&E KE-LON slide rule which they prototyped, but never manufactured due to the availability of the pocket scientific calculator at that time. But I would still love to see someone make a replica of the KE-LON (or KeLon, however it was to be spelled), see the prototype picture here: https://www.mccoys-kecatalogs.com/KECollection/KeLon/keLon.htm https://www.mccoys-kecatalogs.com/KECollection/KeLon/keLon.h.... Of particular interest is the Constants scale at the top of the back side.
  - throw0101a 5y ago
    > But I would still love to see someone make a replica of the KE-LON I wonder if there are enough slide rule aficionados out there to justify a Kickstarter.
    - derekp7 5y ago
      I've always thought this would be a good project for Cliff Stoll to take on.
throwaway81523 5y ago
These are nice. I also like this one, that was made from a scan: http://www.antiquark.com/sliderule/sim/n4es/virtual-n4es.html http://www.antiquark.com/sliderule/sim/n4es/virtual-n4es.htm... It takes a very large screen to use something like that though. It would be cool if these simulations could be printed on paper. Then with some scissors and glue and cardboard, you could make a somewhat usable physical slide rule. I was going to suggest emulating this: http://www.peterholland.de/ultralog/ultralog.htm http://www.peterholland.de/ultralog/ultralog.htm But it looks like it is already there! ( https://www.sliderules.org/react/ultralog.html https://www.sliderules.org/react/ultralog.html )
Dig1t 5y ago
My college physics lab had a bunch of old slide rules and other small metal handheld instruments that all had “Made in West Germany” printed on them. I always thought that was pretty cool. I like that this simulator has “Made in Germany” on it, but wish it had the “West” part for accuracy ;P

75 points by petercooper 5y ago

Very cool. I created some logarithmic sliders for an electronics app I put out on the App Store some time ago. I thought they were a good match for electronics (Ohm's law specifically) because electronics generally is logarithmic (resistors, etc. follow such a progression). A strange coincidence too that this site should pop up on HN because I have been this past week or so working on a Javascript implementation of a logarithmic slider so I can try a similar Ohm's Law calculator on the web. I think the web needs more logarithmic input controls. Don't you? I think the significant difference between mine and this site's is that mine you can specify the value to display and the slider moves there — further, when the user moves the slider manually you can query the slider to find out what value is under the cursor. I'll have to dig into this site to see how to make my sliders look nice.

enchiridion 5y ago

If you like this you’ll like Chris Staeker’s series on analog computing devices. Here is on on longimeters I like. https://youtu.be/-ZE2Iv-8tsA https://youtu.be/-ZE2Iv-8tsA

JKCalhoun 5y ago
I've been watching those, thanks.
danuker 5y ago
Why use 3 overlaid square grids? Why not hexagonal or equilateral-triangular ones? It would have more uniform resolution.
- enchiridion 5y ago
  These are pretty old, so if I had to guess, probably ease of manufacturing? It’s a lot easier to get square grids than hexagonal using simple machinery. Just a guess though.

throw0101a 5y ago

The Professor Herning YT channel has a bunch of videos on both using slide rules and reviews/comparisons of various ones: * https://www.youtube.com/c/ProfessorHerning/videos https://www.youtube.com/c/ProfessorHerning/videos The "Practical Slide Rule" [0] and "Basic slide rule theory and use" [1] playlists are a good intro: [0] https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_qcL_RF-Zyu6ugp3E2nB9xoTSwpy1G-F https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_qcL_RF-Zyu6ugp3E2nB... [1] https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_qcL_RF-ZyvJYtIr9NRXJX958d6BgdbN https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_qcL_RF-ZyvJYtIr9NRX...

derekp7 5y ago
Also the slide rule section on John Savard's home page http://quadibloc.com/math/slrint.htm http://quadibloc.com/math/slrint.htm. There is a mention of the K&E KE-LON slide rule which they prototyped, but never manufactured due to the availability of the pocket scientific calculator at that time. But I would still love to see someone make a replica of the KE-LON (or KeLon, however it was to be spelled), see the prototype picture here: https://www.mccoys-kecatalogs.com/KECollection/KeLon/keLon.htm https://www.mccoys-kecatalogs.com/KECollection/KeLon/keLon.h.... Of particular interest is the Constants scale at the top of the back side.
- throw0101a 5y ago
  > But I would still love to see someone make a replica of the KE-LON I wonder if there are enough slide rule aficionados out there to justify a Kickstarter.
  - derekp7 5y ago
    I've always thought this would be a good project for Cliff Stoll to take on.

throwaway81523 5y ago

These are nice. I also like this one, that was made from a scan: http://www.antiquark.com/sliderule/sim/n4es/virtual-n4es.html http://www.antiquark.com/sliderule/sim/n4es/virtual-n4es.htm... It takes a very large screen to use something like that though. It would be cool if these simulations could be printed on paper. Then with some scissors and glue and cardboard, you could make a somewhat usable physical slide rule. I was going to suggest emulating this: http://www.peterholland.de/ultralog/ultralog.htm http://www.peterholland.de/ultralog/ultralog.htm But it looks like it is already there! ( https://www.sliderules.org/react/ultralog.html https://www.sliderules.org/react/ultralog.html )

Dig1t 5y ago

My college physics lab had a bunch of old slide rules and other small metal handheld instruments that all had “Made in West Germany” printed on them. I always thought that was pretty cool. I like that this simulator has “Made in Germany” on it, but wish it had the “West” part for accuracy ;P