You deserve way more veiws than this!? I have dreamed of making something as great as this soo many times and its great to see somone actully put the effort to creating it! Amazing work. By the way check out my inventions aswell ;) I think one crazy day we could work together.
@jakesllama Thanks for the kind words. I checked out some of your videos, and you definitely do have some cool creations of your own. I'm always looking for help with a project like this, so if you feel you could have something to offer, let me know.
@jjjon110 Could you be a little more specific about what kind of parts you have? Do you have a good amount of white rods? That's where I'm short right now.
@RADRaze2KX Unfortunately, no, not right now. The two main problems are time and finances, with the latter being the biggest problem. I have spent months trying to contact people in academic, professional, and hobby settings, and as of yet, I've haven't had much luck finding anyone who can help me with financing the project.
@h4x0y Unfortunately, I have approached both K'NEX and universities, and no one is saying yes (or even responding). But we can always keep trying. Thanks for the encouraging words of support.
@ZauberHD Thanks, Zauber. Yeah, I would like to post some more videos too. If I get some time to devote to this or any other new projects, I'll be sure to post some stuff on YouTube. I'm hoping to get some work done around Christmas time this year.
@dehrman07 Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I just don't understand at what point a load of transistors becomes a "brain". I understand how transistors work, having either a 1 or 0 value depending on the input, but how can it add and subtract? I've tried to google this but am probably not phrasing it correctly. Could you link me to somewhere I can read about CPU's? Thanks!
@ZauberHD Yeah, I know what you mean. It's pretty crazy that transistors can "out-think" humans in many areas. I would search for this video and see if it helps you understand: "Making your own 4 bit computer from transistors"
It should be noted that in that video, the narrator uses bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) to build his full adder, but BJT-based logic (TTL) was phased out a long time ago (in the late 70's and early 80's) in favor of the lower-power MOSFET-based logic (CMOS).
@dehrman07 Thanks for the reply, that was a really great video! Why did you decide to make yours out of K'nex? Now that I see how logic boards work, to make a mini computer even with them would take a huge amount of space, using K'nex is like 100x worse! haha
This is absolutely mind-blowingly incredible. I'm a smart guy, and albeit I watched the whole video, I wasn't able to follow any of it haha. You sir, are a madman, and a genius.
@master777999 Thanks for your kind remarks. I certainly do need to do a better job of explaining things. I think I was just in a hurry to record everything as quickly as possible at the time, and it would be nice to go back and make things clearer for everyone. Maybe during this upcoming Christmas break, I can throw in some diagrams and other visuals (as well as perhaps another video) so that people can actually follow what's going on.
@dehrman07 That would be excellent. I've looked into adders and different elements of simple computers and what not (electronic ones, etc.), but I've never sat down and took the time to fully comprehend them. They obviously can get quite complex.
@master777999 You're right. It might be easier to think about it like this....For just adding two one-bit numbers with a carry-in (the same as three one-bit numbers), imagine what the sum and the carry-out would be under various circumstances. Well, you know that the sum is going to be 1 if either 1 or 3 of the inputs are 1, and the carry is going to be 1 if 2 or more inputs are 1. You can express this kind of decision-making using the common operators AND and OR if you think hard about it....
@master777999 ...For instance, to detect whether there is a carry-out or not, you just think, "Well, I've got three one-bit numbers, right? Let's call them X, Y, and Z. And let's call the carry-out C. OK, so if X AND Y = 1, then C = 1. But we also know that if X AND Z = 1, then C = 1. And finally, if Y AND Z = 1, then C = 1. OK, well, I've got all my cases, so what do I do next? Combine them. So then we have if (X AND Y = 1) OR (X AND Z = 1) OR (Y AND Z = 1), then C = 1." Hopefully that helps.
I've seen plenty of videos where the person claims to have made a K'nex computer, but this is the only one that actually lives up to the name of 'Computer'.
@Aeleita1 Thank you for the comment. Yes, it's very possible (and MUCH faster) to make a simple mechanical calculator, but it is the implementation of Boolean logic that truly separates one machine from the rest. This is not to say that Boolean logic is the only way of doing things--just that all of the world's computers in existence use this method. So it's nice to be able to show that gears can do it too.
@dehrman07 I do want to point out that there are in fact other K'NEX computer designs employing Boolean logic on the web. However, I think the primary difference between this machine and others is simply its ability to be fully automated once activated. Also, Christmas break is just around the corner, so hopefully I'll have some more time to try out new designs. (I've got a few that I've been working on for the couple of months.)
@Aeleita1 I designed something I called a "mechanical diode" many years ago (which I later found out is not much unlike a sprag clutch) that allows power to flow from source to destination but not vice versa. This means that when friction arises anywhere in the system, if it feeds back into the outputs of switches, the force will be broken by the inherent mechanical diode in each switch. The other solution was relays, which allow small forces to essentially enable much larger forces from motors.
This is absolutely incredible. I only wish you had more legos so you could make the whole thing.
You should look into contacting K'NEX, I'm sure they'd love to have a K'NEX computer for publicity. It could be set up at all sorts of different conventions because it's relative to all sorts of different things
@abcdfghijlnopqrst Actually, I received these parts from K'NEX about 8 years ago free of charge in exchange for advertising rights. Unfortunately, the company forgot about me, and although I've tried over and over again to contact them regarding the machine, I have yet to hear a response.
If anyone out there can help with this matter, it would be greatly appreciated. This is a dream of mine that I feel would be wonderful to share with several other people beyond just YouTube.
@SSHPCS2 Actually, as crazy as it sounds, I did do some work on a 5x5 pixel K'NEX TV when I was in high school (about 8 years ago). The design never materialized into more than a simple mock-up and some sketches on paper, but the idea was to have rods act as pixels that would be pushed forward through the holes of connectors when activated. The activation of these rods would be controlled by a stored program on a chain or simply by 25 individually activated pixel controllers.
@thebombdigity124 It can only deal with one digit of binary numbers. It has a range of only 0 to 1. But like I said, it is fully expandable. So if you were to build a copy of this machine and link it up, you could deal with two binary digits (00 to 11). If you had three machines, you could deal with three digits (000 to 111). You get the pattern.
In fact, in the old days (and with some very simple microcontrollers today) the only mathematical operations available in hardware were simply addition and subtraction. For some reduced instruction set (RISC) processors, all the other mathematical functions are coded in software (though this is much less common today).
@thebombdigity124 With the particular machine in this video, just addition and subtraction. However, I do have plans for multiplication and division--just not enough parts.
The key thing to keep in mind here is that this uses the same boolean logic employed by a modern microprocessor, so if expanded into a big enough machine (using the same components), it would be capable of more advanced operations.
"This is one component of a simple mechanical computer--a full adder--"
Sorry I just had to laugh at this. That giant construction is a single full adder? Crazy to think that devices similar to this were once the pinnacle of computer technology.
This is now going to be my new hobby. The second you said "and gate" I had an apiphony (or however you spell it). I never realized you could build such things with K'NEX.
1) how did you overcome the friction problem? that many moving parts causes a lot... (was that the reason for motors in series?)
2) where do you buy your pieces in bulk? Obviously buys sets to make that would cost a fortune.
3) keep it up. Im actually a ball machine type of guy but i have a touch of computer science under my belt. that machine is well crafted and compact for a knex computer. I enjoyed this video to the utmost
1) I used what (at the time) I called "mechanical diodes" to overcome the friction problem. I found out years after the initial design that I'd actually just created sprag clutches. Another crucial component to the reduction of friction is that the outputs of each of the gates are free-spinning.
2) K'NEX gave me the parts for free over five years ago as part of a contract to build a mechanical computer. But they kind of forgot about me. Oh well. Their retail cost is over $8,000.
3) Thanks, I really appreciate the comment. Spread the video if you can. I'm trying to get K'NEX to take notice so that I can fulfill my dream of making this computer a reality.
2.Where did I say I would able to come up with the mechanics for this?
3.Deal not accepted, did i ever say i could do it better than him?
4.You mean he makes an analog computer? I just said that most mainstream computers can be much better than that.
And I cant make a video of me making my own adder because I literally have only 53 pieces of K'nex, all I could probably so with that was a simple logic gate.
Lol. Of course mainstream computers are better than this. you meathead. The fact that he can take something as basic as a child's building toy and build a basic analog computer out of it shows his knowledge of the subject; believe me, they will take him over anyone like you any day. I don't even know why I bothered responding to you, because your comments have been so stupid.
Actually, it's not an analogue computer but a binary-digital computer, just like the PCs we're using to type these messages. An analogue computer would work in a completely different fashion making use of continuous values (hence analogue). This computer is digital because it works on discreet (emphasis) values. Every input and output value for every gate is either on or off (aka binary).
@LouaiTehPwnerer Yes, but you are missing the point. This is not meant to compete with a bloody gaming laptop, this is meant to take something as simple and basic like a child's toy and make something incredible out of it. I apologize for the wrong terminology, sir.
You deserve way more veiws than this!? I have dreamed of making something as great as this soo many times and its great to see somone actully put the effort to creating it! Amazing work. By the way check out my inventions aswell ;) I think one crazy day we could work together.
jakesllama 2 days ago
@jakesllama Thanks for the kind words. I checked out some of your videos, and you definitely do have some cool creations of your own. I'm always looking for help with a project like this, so if you feel you could have something to offer, let me know.
dehrman07 1 day ago
Can you make a tutorial on how to make some of the and gates, or gates, and not gates?
rollercoastersensei 2 days ago
@rollercoastersensei I could, but it probably won't be for another four months because I'm pretty busy with my last semester of school. Sorry.
dehrman07 2 days ago
hey if you need parts i can donate you mine i wont mind i have a few 100
jjjon110 3 days ago
@jjjon110 Could you be a little more specific about what kind of parts you have? Do you have a good amount of white rods? That's where I'm short right now.
dehrman07 2 days ago
Are you still working on finishing this? I'd love to see the end result!
RADRaze2KX 1 week ago
@RADRaze2KX Unfortunately, no, not right now. The two main problems are time and finances, with the latter being the biggest problem. I have spent months trying to contact people in academic, professional, and hobby settings, and as of yet, I've haven't had much luck finding anyone who can help me with financing the project.
dehrman07 1 week ago
you do know that there is a new invention out there now called a calculator, right?
metroid1985 3 weeks ago
@metroid1985 It is actually seeing that you can make a computer from knex
Greatgamer443 2 weeks ago
@Greatgamer443 ill be more impressed when he makes it run faster. until then its just another slow and useless k'nex build.
metroid1985 2 weeks ago
This is pretty awesome. It must have taken a while to make all the different components for this device.
02aje96 3 weeks ago
I like when you say that it is about s simple as that and during the whole video my mouth is dropped thinking that you are the K'nex God!
milroy56263 1 month ago
That's pretty damn impressive! Good luck with your project and the kick ass job offers you're sure to have lined up for you :)
psykojello 1 month ago
I always loved knex, the simplicity of the few basic elements and the endless possibilities. This is absolutely stunning.
I think knex should market this "toy" to universities. It is awesome for physics demonstrations.
h4x0y 1 month ago
@h4x0y Unfortunately, I have approached both K'NEX and universities, and no one is saying yes (or even responding). But we can always keep trying. Thanks for the encouraging words of support.
dehrman07 1 month ago
and if you set it to divide by zero .... K'nex, K'nex everywhere
lemonpeanutbutter 1 month ago
I thought I had a lot of gears
animal978 1 month ago
He inspired me to do this
Spicyperson9123 1 month ago
all that for 1-1? Ill stick to my texas insturments.. Very impressive though. I had no idea that knex can do so much. Props to you
southernrock20 1 month ago
You my good sir are a genius. Born in the wrong centrury but a genius. Beautiful machine can't wait to see progress.
bigboy4017 2 months ago
id overclock it
you can to put more power into the motor
superhacker101 2 months ago
But will it blend?
j33zysf100 3 months ago
MOTHERFUCKER.......................
elchippe 3 months ago
Amazingly impressive. It's a shame you have few subscribers. I' love to see more of your projects and some explanation videos, if you have the time!
Subscribed
ZauberHD 3 months ago
@ZauberHD Thanks, Zauber. Yeah, I would like to post some more videos too. If I get some time to devote to this or any other new projects, I'll be sure to post some stuff on YouTube. I'm hoping to get some work done around Christmas time this year.
dehrman07 3 months ago
@dehrman07 Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I just don't understand at what point a load of transistors becomes a "brain". I understand how transistors work, having either a 1 or 0 value depending on the input, but how can it add and subtract? I've tried to google this but am probably not phrasing it correctly. Could you link me to somewhere I can read about CPU's? Thanks!
ZauberHD 3 months ago
@ZauberHD Yeah, I know what you mean. It's pretty crazy that transistors can "out-think" humans in many areas. I would search for this video and see if it helps you understand: "Making your own 4 bit computer from transistors"
It should be noted that in that video, the narrator uses bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) to build his full adder, but BJT-based logic (TTL) was phased out a long time ago (in the late 70's and early 80's) in favor of the lower-power MOSFET-based logic (CMOS).
dehrman07 3 months ago
@dehrman07 Thanks for the reply, that was a really great video! Why did you decide to make yours out of K'nex? Now that I see how logic boards work, to make a mini computer even with them would take a huge amount of space, using K'nex is like 100x worse! haha
ZauberHD 3 months ago
@dehrman07 you must be SMART not being sarcastic
thesupercreater 2 months ago
wut
ChickenFriedFabrizio 3 months ago
Awesome video, but at 09:40 -- simple? BULLSHIT!
unInnocentBystander 3 months ago
dude you should be going to MIT or something, send this video to them!
redgixxer18 3 months ago
soooo.... a giant calculator? if they had this in the 60's...
improvised239 3 months ago
How long did that take you to make? I know I made a Ferris Wheel in about a half-hour LOL. Nice job.
FANJG24 3 months ago
how do you make that that is at least 300 or more knex
thesethenator 3 months ago
Thats terribly awesome dude!
MovieTristan 3 months ago
This is absolutely mind-blowingly incredible. I'm a smart guy, and albeit I watched the whole video, I wasn't able to follow any of it haha. You sir, are a madman, and a genius.
master777999 3 months ago
@master777999 Thanks for your kind remarks. I certainly do need to do a better job of explaining things. I think I was just in a hurry to record everything as quickly as possible at the time, and it would be nice to go back and make things clearer for everyone. Maybe during this upcoming Christmas break, I can throw in some diagrams and other visuals (as well as perhaps another video) so that people can actually follow what's going on.
dehrman07 3 months ago
@dehrman07 That would be excellent. I've looked into adders and different elements of simple computers and what not (electronic ones, etc.), but I've never sat down and took the time to fully comprehend them. They obviously can get quite complex.
master777999 3 months ago
@master777999 You're right. It might be easier to think about it like this....For just adding two one-bit numbers with a carry-in (the same as three one-bit numbers), imagine what the sum and the carry-out would be under various circumstances. Well, you know that the sum is going to be 1 if either 1 or 3 of the inputs are 1, and the carry is going to be 1 if 2 or more inputs are 1. You can express this kind of decision-making using the common operators AND and OR if you think hard about it....
dehrman07 3 months ago
@master777999 ...For instance, to detect whether there is a carry-out or not, you just think, "Well, I've got three one-bit numbers, right? Let's call them X, Y, and Z. And let's call the carry-out C. OK, so if X AND Y = 1, then C = 1. But we also know that if X AND Z = 1, then C = 1. And finally, if Y AND Z = 1, then C = 1. OK, well, I've got all my cases, so what do I do next? Combine them. So then we have if (X AND Y = 1) OR (X AND Z = 1) OR (Y AND Z = 1), then C = 1." Hopefully that helps.
dehrman07 3 months ago
what is the point of this
Donttazemebro360 3 months ago
sweet! now make a 32 bit, and then work your way to a full 64 bit mwahahahahahaha
supallama 3 months ago
Damn!
I've seen plenty of videos where the person claims to have made a K'nex computer, but this is the only one that actually lives up to the name of 'Computer'.
Aeleita1 3 months ago
@Aeleita1 Thank you for the comment. Yes, it's very possible (and MUCH faster) to make a simple mechanical calculator, but it is the implementation of Boolean logic that truly separates one machine from the rest. This is not to say that Boolean logic is the only way of doing things--just that all of the world's computers in existence use this method. So it's nice to be able to show that gears can do it too.
dehrman07 3 months ago
@dehrman07 I do want to point out that there are in fact other K'NEX computer designs employing Boolean logic on the web. However, I think the primary difference between this machine and others is simply its ability to be fully automated once activated. Also, Christmas break is just around the corner, so hopefully I'll have some more time to try out new designs. (I've got a few that I've been working on for the couple of months.)
dehrman07 3 months ago
@dehrman07 I have another question: How did you overcome the friction that is inherent in a project of this magnitude?
Aeleita1 2 months ago
@Aeleita1 I designed something I called a "mechanical diode" many years ago (which I later found out is not much unlike a sprag clutch) that allows power to flow from source to destination but not vice versa. This means that when friction arises anywhere in the system, if it feeds back into the outputs of switches, the force will be broken by the inherent mechanical diode in each switch. The other solution was relays, which allow small forces to essentially enable much larger forces from motors.
dehrman07 2 months ago
@Aeleita1 I'm on a short vacation right now, so perhaps I could upload a video demonstrating specifically what I'm talking about.
dehrman07 2 months ago
@dehrman07 Yes. Please do.
Aeleita1 2 months ago
You need to get a job with AMD and show them how its done ;)
statikreg 4 months ago
This is absolutely incredible. I only wish you had more legos so you could make the whole thing.
You should look into contacting K'NEX, I'm sure they'd love to have a K'NEX computer for publicity. It could be set up at all sorts of different conventions because it's relative to all sorts of different things
abcdfghijlnopqrst 4 months ago
@abcdfghijlnopqrst Actually, I received these parts from K'NEX about 8 years ago free of charge in exchange for advertising rights. Unfortunately, the company forgot about me, and although I've tried over and over again to contact them regarding the machine, I have yet to hear a response.
If anyone out there can help with this matter, it would be greatly appreciated. This is a dream of mine that I feel would be wonderful to share with several other people beyond just YouTube.
dehrman07 4 months ago
where is the screen?
SSHPCS2 4 months ago
@SSHPCS2 Actually, as crazy as it sounds, I did do some work on a 5x5 pixel K'NEX TV when I was in high school (about 8 years ago). The design never materialized into more than a simple mock-up and some sketches on paper, but the idea was to have rods act as pixels that would be pushed forward through the holes of connectors when activated. The activation of these rods would be controlled by a stored program on a chain or simply by 25 individually activated pixel controllers.
dehrman07 4 months ago
Don't know much of what you said, but YOUR F*CKING AMAZING!
cellphonemania4u 4 months ago
"thats about it, its very simple." NOT!!! you just raped my brain!!!
stangsaleens7 5 months ago
WOW
dustbain9 5 months ago
Comment removed
thebombdigity124 5 months ago
@dehrman07 how many different numbers can it make? does it use bionary to get those numbers?
thebombdigity124 5 months ago in playlist Liked
@thebombdigity124 It can only deal with one digit of binary numbers. It has a range of only 0 to 1. But like I said, it is fully expandable. So if you were to build a copy of this machine and link it up, you could deal with two binary digits (00 to 11). If you had three machines, you could deal with three digits (000 to 111). You get the pattern.
dehrman07 5 months ago
@dehrman07 so the second computer your making, is it going to be for multiplication/division or is it going to be for the second digit
thebombdigity124 5 months ago
@thebombdigity124 ...(continuing from comment below)...
In fact, in the old days (and with some very simple microcontrollers today) the only mathematical operations available in hardware were simply addition and subtraction. For some reduced instruction set (RISC) processors, all the other mathematical functions are coded in software (though this is much less common today).
dehrman07 5 months ago
@thebombdigity124 With the particular machine in this video, just addition and subtraction. However, I do have plans for multiplication and division--just not enough parts.
The key thing to keep in mind here is that this uses the same boolean logic employed by a modern microprocessor, so if expanded into a big enough machine (using the same components), it would be capable of more advanced operations.
dehrman07 5 months ago
Ever heard or a calculator?
griffballer77 5 months ago
Lol maybe 10 years from now they have knex smart phones
cheeswisz 5 months ago
i never thought of 1-1=0 that way before...
TILLILOSETALENT 5 months ago
For what is really that computer?
rubendeproost 5 months ago
you would be a minecraft redstone master
tranman978 5 months ago
knex computer. fucking smart
machinima31 6 months ago
"This is one component of a simple mechanical computer--a full adder--"
Sorry I just had to laugh at this. That giant construction is a single full adder? Crazy to think that devices similar to this were once the pinnacle of computer technology.
LouaiTehPwnerer 6 months ago
What does the machine?
legotechnic27 7 months ago
and this is still better then a Mac
prplprince 7 months ago 30
you know your badass when you use knex for your math homework
SuperMonkey9991 7 months ago 19
...wich ones means what. I didnt understand that sentence! Maybe im dumb!
YukixKrizorMinecraft 9 months ago
My friend, I love you.
This is now going to be my new hobby. The second you said "and gate" I had an apiphony (or however you spell it). I never realized you could build such things with K'NEX.
You've given me a reason to live>:D
MeeshuCraft 9 months ago
You ever get your finger caught in there?
NephologicaI 9 months ago
I use Logisim, search it on google, it's a powerful tool.
Jasper2428 10 months ago
i have a couple questions actually:
1) how did you overcome the friction problem? that many moving parts causes a lot... (was that the reason for motors in series?)
2) where do you buy your pieces in bulk? Obviously buys sets to make that would cost a fortune.
3) keep it up. Im actually a ball machine type of guy but i have a touch of computer science under my belt. that machine is well crafted and compact for a knex computer. I enjoyed this video to the utmost
DymonLord 11 months ago
@DymonLord
1) I used what (at the time) I called "mechanical diodes" to overcome the friction problem. I found out years after the initial design that I'd actually just created sprag clutches. Another crucial component to the reduction of friction is that the outputs of each of the gates are free-spinning.
2) K'NEX gave me the parts for free over five years ago as part of a contract to build a mechanical computer. But they kind of forgot about me. Oh well. Their retail cost is over $8,000.
dehrman07 11 months ago
@dehrman07 Well that was lucky, as I counted I only have 53 pieces of K'nex (including connectors)
Jasper2428 8 months ago
@DymonLord
3) Thanks, I really appreciate the comment. Spread the video if you can. I'm trying to get K'NEX to take notice so that I can fulfill my dream of making this computer a reality.
dehrman07 11 months ago
That is a lot of gears. I like how it is complicated. You should put a bigger motor on it, like my robot.
2cire4nosslin 1 year ago
This is very impressive. I'm sure there is a great, very well paying job out there just for you, doing things like this. On a bigger scale of course.
shanejordan4000 1 year ago
@shanejordan4000 ORLY? Who would want to pay for nerds who make 2x2x2 meter adders that most computers can do 1,000,000,000 times better.
Jasper2428 10 months ago
@Jasper2428 Jealous much?
Just because you are too thick to come up with the mechanics for this.
I bet you cannot even build a computer/adder nearly as well as him!
Sure, computers can do it better. But he used plastic and motors. Not LCD's, Smart components like a motherboard, or chips.
iReece2K 8 months ago
@iReece2K Sentences:
1.Where did I say I was jealous?
2.Where did I say I would able to come up with the mechanics for this?
3.Deal not accepted, did i ever say i could do it better than him?
4.You mean he makes an analog computer? I just said that most mainstream computers can be much better than that.
And I cant make a video of me making my own adder because I literally have only 53 pieces of K'nex, all I could probably so with that was a simple logic gate.
Jasper2428 8 months ago
@Jasper2428
Lol. Of course mainstream computers are better than this. you meathead. The fact that he can take something as basic as a child's building toy and build a basic analog computer out of it shows his knowledge of the subject; believe me, they will take him over anyone like you any day. I don't even know why I bothered responding to you, because your comments have been so stupid.
applesiiiii 7 months ago
@applesiiiii
Actually, it's not an analogue computer but a binary-digital computer, just like the PCs we're using to type these messages. An analogue computer would work in a completely different fashion making use of continuous values (hence analogue). This computer is digital because it works on discreet (emphasis) values. Every input and output value for every gate is either on or off (aka binary).
LouaiTehPwnerer 6 months ago
@LouaiTehPwnerer Yes, but you are missing the point. This is not meant to compete with a bloody gaming laptop, this is meant to take something as simple and basic like a child's toy and make something incredible out of it. I apologize for the wrong terminology, sir.
applesiiiii 6 months ago
oh.....my......god.....
pieaddicrt999 1 year ago