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WWII slide rules(maybe some very large ones to get greater accuracy).

But Fortran brought far greater accuracy(more decimal places) in the fifties, so I presume NASA used computers rather than slide rules for precise calculations. There were other methods using digital computers.

JPG40504 wrote:WWII slide rules(maybe some very large ones to get greater accuracy).

But Fortran brought far greater accuracy(more decimal places) in the fifties, so I presume NASA used computers rather than slide rules for precise calculations. There were other methods using digital computers.

Both I guess. I remember my dad used his all the time. He taught me how to use one ...

During the Apollo missions, an on-board computer and large computers on Earth performed the critical guidance and navigation calculations necessary for a successful journey. In addition, crews carried a slide rule for more routine calculations. NASA chose a 5-inch, metal rule, model "N600-ES," manufactured by the Pickett Company for their use. It was a model that was popular among engineers, scientists and students at the time. No modifications were needed for use in space.

This rule was used by the crew of Apollo 13, in April 1970.

http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/a ... 9840160000

I went from a slip stick to an HP45 calculator in 1973 it cost more than my first car.

I still used the slide rule for some formulas cause it was quicker

I remember a kid bringing the original HP35 to engineering class in 1972, $400! I bought the HP45 in 1973, still $400, ($2231 in today's dollars), I can't remember how I could afford it. I still have it, but I haven't checked in years to see if it still works. Today, for $10 you can buy PCalc for your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and relive the experience, particularly if you like RPN, but what engineer doesn't?

Mike

Mike907 wrote:I remember a kid bringing the original HP35 to engineering class in 1972, $400! I bought the HP45 in 1973, still $400, ($2231 in today's dollars), I can't remember how I could afford it. I still have it, but I haven't checked in years to see if it still works. Today, for $10 you can buy PCalc for your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and relive the experience, particularly if you like RPN, but what engineer doesn't?

Mike

RPN?? That is a blast from the past.

For an extra point (only for those that haven't used those old HP calcuators) what is RPN? And, how did you input it?

My father was also a WWII Vet, and later on, worked in Silicon Valley, for most of my youth. He had leather-cased slide rules, up to 3 feet long, some with real ivory covered slides. Was employee # 49 at a small memory company in Mt View, that is now #1 in computer hardware. Yep, intel. (And no, they didn't capitalize it, back then. In fact, for quite a while, if you could actually see the IC, that logo was on it.)

steve

rjent wrote:Absolutely! Nothing but slide rules were used. I used one in college and I still marvel at what they accomplished. My dad (WWII vet) was a rocket scientist/rancher. They used nothing but SR's during the missile technology buildup that started after WWII using captured V2 German rockets.....

Now, this thread has been very interesting to a green hand. I was thrilled that sometimes (most of the time?) machined wood will deceive you and let you down. Then to find out that the real "woodworking" begins by making the pieces work together through artistry and workmanship.

Then, it turns out that the wood pieces were right after all and we are back to precision work. I am confused ....

I would love to think that there is more artistry in wood working than engineering. Is that a bad outlook?

Dick

Ah, but good engineering is artistry! Or even magic, if you don't understand how it works ... ]you[/U] the most satisfaction.

To me, understanding how and why wood moves can take a whole lot of frustration out of the woodworking process. I learned a lot about this subject from watching free Charles Neil videos. A whale of a lot easier than learning it the hard way.

The "Uncup the Cup" video has lots of info about plywood cupping -- 100% relevant to the original problem in this thread.

The "12-Tin Pie Safe" video series covers, in great detail, how to select and prepare your wood to minimize dimensional accuracy problems. When I follow Charles' recommended processes (for example, "sneak up" on finished dimensions), I can't recall ever having movement problems.

In addition to the free videos on his website, you can find lots more of his videos by searching YouTube. Now mind you, Charles speaks rather slowly, so don't try to watch them when you are in a hurry. In fact, I find that watching them late at night is a great cure for insomnia!

rjent wrote:Both I guess. I remember my dad used his all the time. He taught me how to use one ...



http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/a ... 9840160000

Remember the stuff that went into space was not always the latest and greatest. The computers were actually about ten years behind. So a really good slide rule was probably about equal. Today a smart phone or tablet carries many many times the computing power the Astronaut's had with them.

Artistry in wood; the design, choice of wood and or woods for the individual project, grain selection, stain and dye selections, then the finish choice. All affect the finished canvass!!!!
Engineering is design too, taking something "mechanical" and implementing the natural flow of nature into it when it comes to design in everyday things. Now to get to Mars is an other story.
Computer seems FU this morning, slow as all get out even on the letters appearing here as typing them, about a 2 second delay.
Designed in the 60's, Dutch oven, have one in marine blue, when I saw it at a rummage sale, I said, right from the "Jetsons"!!!!

And how about them round 'Slide rules'. An 8" one was equivalent to a 2' straight one.(on the outer scales) Maybe they were the original 'desktop computer'.

[quote="rbursek"]Artistry in wood]


Loewy was a designer who had it going on!