Rolling ball sculptures - Revision history

Adamcolton: /* Incrementer */

2020-06-30T23:34:12Z

Incrementer

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:34, 30 June 2020
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	* Output when done		* Output when done

	[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zELAfmp3fXY this ~~does~~ the ~~trick]~~		* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zELAfmp3fXY flip flop]: this would have to go very slow, maybe I could to something without gravity
			* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf4_i-sBebU toggle]: need a way to set, but that shouldn't be too hard.

			I think there's a good way to do it with gears and a geneva mechanism progression. I was getting stuck on a complex locking operation, but I don't think that's entirely necessary. Each gear is going to be in one of two positions. So they can be completely free spinning when the set operation is performed and they only need to be locked before it's released.

	[[Category:Workshop]]		[[Category:Workshop]]

Adamcolton: /* Architecture */

2020-06-30T23:08:20Z

Architecture

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:08, 30 June 2020
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	One approach for a marble system would be to have a special clock marble. This could be a heavy, large ball bearing where the weight could be used to make things easier. When one clock cycle is done, it must be lifted back up to the top, but the mechanism that lifts it also lifts the other marbles in parallel. This would guarantee to lift some number of marbles before the next cycle.		One approach for a marble system would be to have a special clock marble. This could be a heavy, large ball bearing where the weight could be used to make things easier. When one clock cycle is done, it must be lifted back up to the top, but the mechanism that lifts it also lifts the other marbles in parallel. This would guarantee to lift some number of marbles before the next cycle.

	=== ~~Tumble~~ Incrementer ===		=== Incrementer ===
	~~I don't have the specific mechanism down. To do a~~ jump, there will be a max jump - say 256. To jump N positions you enter 256-N. Then we increment back up to 256. This is better than a decrement because decrement needs a marble resevoir. With increment, we can put in an increment marble and that will always be sufficient.		The incrementer needs
			* Set from jump instruction
			* Increment or Decrement with carry
			* Output when done

	~~A tumble incrementer would have~~ the ~~positions staged around cylinder.~~		[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zELAfmp3fXY this does the trick]

	[[Category:Workshop]]		[[Category:Workshop]]

Adamcolton: /* Architecture */

2020-06-30T23:05:05Z

Architecture

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:05, 30 June 2020
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	== Architecture ==		== Architecture ==

	~~=== Clock ===~~		Need
	~~In a Clock architecture the marble represents~~ the ~~data and~~ a ~~clock signal is either propagated with a marble or mechanically. I like propagating with~~ a ~~marble because then there is always~~ a ~~marble available for output~~.		* Jump: how to move forward and backward in the code a set number of positions
			* Power: Make sure a lack of power won't cause it to enter a bad state.

	=== ~~Track~~ ===		=== Power ===
	~~In a track architecture~~, the ~~track that~~ the ~~marble takes represents~~ the ~~computation~~.		At an abstract level, I think the easiest solution to power is to store up power until there is guaranteed to be enough. This could be storing mechanically in a spring or weight or a pure rolling ball solution where the next clock only starts when there are enough marbles in the reservoir.

	~~=== Bin Computer ===~~		One approach for a marble system would be to have a special clock marble. This could be a heavy, large ball bearing where the weight could be used to make things easier. When one clock cycle is done, it must be lifted back up to the top, but the mechanism that lifts it also lifts the other marbles in parallel. This would guarantee to lift some number of marbles before the next cycle.
	~~Need~~ to ~~find~~ the ~~right~~, ~~only has 3 instructions. The models allows for registers of unlimited size~~, but that ~~would not be possible. Instead I think~~ the ~~bins can be constructed of clear tube~~. ~~The add~~ would ~~work like subtract that there would be an overflow condition. There are a few useful operations that could be easily added like empty a bin~~.

	I ~~also think~~ the ~~bins could~~ be ~~arranged in banks and I could have one reader and one writer in each bank~~. With ~~operations to~~ increment, ~~decrement or reset either~~.		=== Tumble Incrementer ===
			I don't have the specific mechanism down. To do a jump, there will be a max jump - say 256. To jump N positions you enter 256-N. Then we increment back up to 256. This is better than a decrement because decrement needs a marble resevoir. With increment, we can put in an increment marble and that will always be sufficient.

	~~Ops~~		A tumble incrementer would have the positions staged around cylinder.
	* Halt
	* Inc [bank] [jmp]
	* Dec [bank] [jmp]
	* FRd [bank] [jmp]
	* RRd [bank] [jmp]
	* FWr [bank] [jmp]
	* RWr [bank] [jmp]

	~~Power can be delivered by cams with~~ the ~~marbles lining up to deliver power~~.

	[[Category:Workshop]]		[[Category:Workshop]]

Adamcolton: /* Bin Computer */

2020-06-30T16:30:18Z

Bin Computer

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:30, 30 June 2020
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	I also think the bins could be arranged in banks and I could have one reader and one writer in each bank. With operations to increment, decrement or reset either.		I also think the bins could be arranged in banks and I could have one reader and one writer in each bank. With operations to increment, decrement or reset either.

			Ops
			* Halt
			* Inc [bank] [jmp]
			* Dec [bank] [jmp]
			* FRd [bank] [jmp]
			* RRd [bank] [jmp]
			* FWr [bank] [jmp]
			* RWr [bank] [jmp]

			Power can be delivered by cams with the marbles lining up to deliver power.

	[[Category:Workshop]]		[[Category:Workshop]]

Adamcolton at 16:02, 30 June 2020

2020-06-30T16:02:01Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:02, 30 June 2020
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	=== Track ===		=== Track ===
	In a track architecture, the track that the marble takes represents the computation.		In a track architecture, the track that the marble takes represents the computation.

			=== Bin Computer ===
			Need to find the right, only has 3 instructions. The models allows for registers of unlimited size, but that would not be possible. Instead I think the bins can be constructed of clear tube. The add would work like subtract that there would be an overflow condition. There are a few useful operations that could be easily added like empty a bin.

			I also think the bins could be arranged in banks and I could have one reader and one writer in each bank. With operations to increment, decrement or reset either.

	[[Category:Workshop]]		[[Category:Workshop]]

Adamcolton at 15:31, 30 June 2020

2020-06-30T15:31:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:31, 30 June 2020
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	* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYi9sJkS19Q		* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYi9sJkS19Q

			== Architecture ==

			=== Clock ===
			In a Clock architecture the marble represents the data and a clock signal is either propagated with a marble or mechanically. I like propagating with a marble because then there is always a marble available for output.

			=== Track ===
			In a track architecture, the track that the marble takes represents the computation.

	[[Category:Workshop]]		[[Category:Workshop]]

Adamcolton at 15:19, 23 August 2018

2018-08-23T15:19:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:19, 23 August 2018
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	* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYi9sJkS19Q		* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYi9sJkS19Q

	~~[[Category:Projects]]~~
	[[Category:Workshop]]		[[Category:Workshop]]

Adamcolton at 17:08, 3 May 2013

2013-05-03T17:08:58Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:08, 3 May 2013
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	I now have Kace working/started. It would be a good point to start going between physical and digital models. I could make some good prototypes with cardboard, and possibly the popsicle sticks from a craft store. I should be able to get some models built marble size, later I can scale them down to BB size.		I now have Kace working/started. It would be a good point to start going between physical and digital models. I could make some good prototypes with cardboard, and possibly the popsicle sticks from a craft store. I should be able to get some models built marble size, later I can scale them down to BB size.

			* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYi9sJkS19Q

	[[Category:Projects]]		[[Category:Projects]]
	[[Category:Workshop]]		[[Category:Workshop]]

Adamcolton at 19:28, 18 September 2012

2012-09-18T19:28:45Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:28, 18 September 2012
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	Also see [[Rolling Ball Sim]]		Also see [[Rolling Ball Sim]]

			I now have Kace working/started. It would be a good point to start going between physical and digital models. I could make some good prototypes with cardboard, and possibly the popsicle sticks from a craft store. I should be able to get some models built marble size, later I can scale them down to BB size.

	[[Category:Projects]]		[[Category:Projects]]
	[[Category:Workshop]]		[[Category:Workshop]]

Adamcolton at 18:29, 21 March 2012

2012-03-21T18:29:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:29, 21 March 2012
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			Also see [[Rolling Ball Sim]]

	[[Category:Projects]]		[[Category:Projects]]
	[[Category:Workshop]]		[[Category:Workshop]]