Zuse Z1 based simple switching gate, basic and variant

Zuse inspired Z1 logic gate demonstration set

This is my interpretation of the operation of basic logic gates as they could be used in the Zuse Z1 programmable calculators. The information is from pages 216-2217 in the book described below. The illustrations are from the patent Zuse applied for in 1936 or by the books' author. The original Z1 is designed and build in 1936-1941. The replica/redesign is build by Konrad Zuse in 1989. The Z2, Z3 and Z4 used relays for the CPU part, so mechanical gates are probably not used here.

The original described parts are simple metal strips and a pin (red, blue, yellow, green and middle gray parts), I added some guides and. In the actual machine the parts will be different and integrated. This model is only to demonstrate the principle, not to resemble the original (destroyed) or replica (Deutschen Technikmuseum, Berlin, Germany: https://sdtb.de/museum-of-technology/exhibitions/1256/).

The book does not mention the type of the gate, but it appears to be an switch also usable as NOT gate. NOTE: nowhere in the literature is mentioned what the Z1 gates actually looked like. The 3D-rendered gates shown here are only a possibility, based on a generic description in the patent application. This is a rendering of the variant of the first, simple switching element. and it operates as a relay.

Die Rechenmaschienen von Konrad Zuse/Hrsg.: Raul Rojas. Mit Beitr. von F.L. Bauer, H.Dorsch, H. Petzold, R. Rojas, G.-A. Thurm und G. Widiger sowie zwei Patentschriften von Konrad Zuse
ISBN-13:978-3-642-71945-5
Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1998

Print Settings

Printer Brand:

Prusa

Printer: 

i3 MK3

Rafts:

No

Supports: 

No

Resolution:

0.4mm nozzle, 0.2mm layer height. 

Infill: 

5-20%

Filament:
any brand, PLA, but any rigid filiament will do, color; as you like it 

Post-Printing

Assembly of the simple element variant

How to operate the simple gate variant

Custom Section

References

• Die Rechenmaschienen von Konrad Zuse/Hrsg.: Raul Rojas. Mit Beitr. von F.L. Bauer, H.Dorsch, H. Petzold, R. Rojas, G.-A. Thurm und G. Widiger sowie zwei Patentschriften von Konrad Zuse ISBN-13:978-3-642-71945-5rn Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 1998
• https://sdtb.de/museum-of-technology/exhibitions/1256/
• The Design Principles of Konrad Zuse's Mechanical Computers (https://arxiv.org/pdf/1603.02396)
• The Z1: Architecture and Algorithms of Konrad Zuse's First Computer (https://arxiv.org/pdf/1406.1886)
• Some more information on the reconstructed elements: (http://electrickery.connected.by.freedominter.net/mechanics/zuseGates/)

Category: Computer