17 Oct
2010
17 Oct
'10
1:07 p.m.
Chuck Guzis wrote:
I recall reading about Babbage's work many years
ago and it was the
opinion of the author (I don't recall the source, sorry) that AE was
basically unbuildable using 19th century materials and methods. The
reason to the best of my recollection appeared not to be the scale,
but rather simple mechanical considerations; that is, frictional
losses, strength of materials, etc.
Does this view still hold any merit?
I thought the same claims were made about the
Difference Engine #2, but
there is now an existence proof that it works, since two working units
have been made.
Another claim was that in the 19th century, parts couldn't be
manufactured to sufficiently tight tolerances. However, measurements of
the portion of the Difference Engine #1 that was constructed by
Babbage's engineer, Joseph Clement, from 1824 to 1833 show that he was
in fact able to meet the tolerances required. It was Clement that
proposed standardization of screw threads, a cause taken up by Joseph
Whitworth.