Printed 3-Bit Mechanical Punch Card Reader

3D Printing & Imaging
Printed 3-Bit Mechanical Punch Card Reader


Thingiverse user Chris designed this punch card reader and posted it on the site.

This is a proof-of-concept, 3-bit Jacquard-style, all-mechanical punch card reader. The design was inspired by designs in a textbook called “The Mechanism of Weaving” by T.W. Fox (it’s about 100 years old, but I found a copy on Amazon), and adapted to work within the limitations of my Makerbot ToM printer. It is a single-cylinder, single-acting, positive-action device. This design could readily be adapted to a higher number of ‘bits’ (needles) by re-designing only a few parts. With minor modifications, it should be suitable to mounting over a miniature loom, with the bottom eyes of the hooks lifting healds or warp threads directly. This is probably as impractical as it sounds.

My interests include writing, electronics, RPGs, scifi, hackers & hackerspaces, 3D printing, building sets & toys. @johnbaichtal nerdage.net

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