Blaise Pascal’s Mechanical Calculator: Geometric Modelling and Virtual Reconstruction
José Ignacio Rojas‐Sola|Gloria del Río-Cidoncha|Arturo Fernández-de la Puente Sarriá|Verónica Galiano-Delgado
This article shows the three-dimensional (3D) modelling and virtual reconstruction of first mechanical calculating machine used for accounting purposes designed by Blaise Pascal in 1642. To obtain 3D CAD (computer-aided design) model geometric documentation said invention, CATIA V5 R20 software has been used. The starting materials this research, mainly plans arithmetic machine, are collected volumes Oeuvres de published 1779. Sketches found therein that lack scale, not dimensioned certain details absent; is, they were drawn with precision terms their measurements proportions, but do provide qualitative information on shape mechanism machine. Thanks to carried out; it possible explain detail both its operation final assembly made from assemblies different subsets. In way, reader manuscript is brought closer perfect understanding workings a constituted major milestone technological development time.
Machines|Deposito de Investigacion Universidad de Sevilla (University of Seville)