13/07/2016

CircularSlideRule

CircularSlideRuleInstructions
Toolsandmaterials:
PostScriptprinter(600dpiorbetter)withtransparencystock
Scissors
Asharphobbyknife(orpocketknife)
Thincardboard(thebackofanoldwritingtabletwilldo)
Whiteglue(andrubbercementifpossible)
Ashortpieceofthinwoodendowel(1/8in.diameterisideal)orabambooskewer.
Compass(optional)

Assemblyinstructions:
1.Maketemplate.DownloadandprintthetwoPostScriptfiles.Part2(thesliderulecursor)mustbe
printedontransparency.Thetwopageswilllooksomethinglikethis:

Part1(wheels)

Part2(cursor)

2.Assemblewheels.Cutouteachofthefourpaperdisks(twoperside)andmountonthincardboard.
Thefinishedwheelsmusthaveaccuratelycenteredholesfortheaxle(apieceofthinwoodendowel).

Hint:Toensureaccurateplacementof
theaxle,
a.Cutoutapaperdisk.Alsocut
outapieceofcardboardabit
largerthanthedisk.
b.Punchaholenearthecenterof
thecardboardwithasharpened
pieceofdowel.Withthedowel
stillinplace,trimexcess
cardboardfromaroundthehole
http://solar.physics.montana.edu/kankel/math/csr_instructions.html

1/3

13/07/2016

CircularSlideRule

withaknife.Removethedowel.
c.Applythepaperdisktothe
cardboardwithrubbercement.
d.Beforetherubbercementdries,
holdthecardboarduptothe
lightandcenterthecrosshairs
onthepaperwithinthehole.
e.Afterthecementdries,puncha
holethroughthepaper.
f.Cutawayexcesscardboardfrom
theedgeofthewheel.

Cutalongthebluelines.

3.Putthetwolargedisksbacktoback,andinserttheaxle.Carefullyorientthediskssothat1linesup
with1and2linesupwith5(and5with2).Gluethetwodiskstogether(Hint:ifyoucutacoupleof
glueholesinoneofthedisksbeforehand,thenadropofglueineachholewillholdthediskstogether
withoutdisturbingtheiralignment).
4.Afterthegluehasdried,addthesmallerdisks,oneoneachside.Cutoutacursorfromthe
transparencysheetandfolditinhalftheshortway,keepingtheprintedsideinsidesothatthehairline
willnotrubofffromhandling.

Thecursorwrapsaroundthestackofwheelssothatthehairlinecanbeusedonallsixscales.Punch
holesfortheaxleatthetwocrosses,andfittheaxlethroughallpieces.Note:dependingonhowwide
youmadethelargedisks,thattheaxleholesinthecursormayneedtobemorewidelyseparatedthan
thecrossesindicate.Justmakesurethatbothholesarecenteredpreciselyonthelonghairline.When
assembled,thecursorandthetwosmallwheelsshouldbesnugontheaxlebutfreetorotate.
5.Maketwolittlecardboardwasherstofitovertheendsoftheaxle.Cuttheaxlesothatitisjustbarely
longerthanthetotalthicknessofthestackofdisksandwashers.Gluethewashersinplace.Useplenty
ofglue,butmakesurethatitdoesn'tgetonanyoftherotatingparts.Setasidetodrythoroughlybefore
using.Yourfinishedslideruleshouldlooksomethinglikethis:

____________________________
Disclaimer
____________________________
BacktotheCircularSlideRulepage
http://solar.physics.montana.edu/kankel/math/csr_instructions.html

2/3