A tinkerer built an 8-bit computer from 460 vacuum tubes that runs software but needs a stepladder for repairs
The project, called The Tube Computer MK3, was built by Mike, a self-taught electronics tinkerer who recently documented the machine on Hackaday. It is the third vacuum-tube computer he has developed this decade. Read Entire Article
Mike, a self-taught electronics enthusiast, has constructed a functional 8-bit computer using 460 vacuum tubes dating back to the 1950s. The wall-mounted system, dubbed The Tube Computer MK3, operates without a microprocessor, microcontroller, or modern integrated circuit. It displays information through flip-digit displays and is designed to run custom software and accept user input.
The computer employs a simple arithmetic logic design, executing five basic operations: sum, carry, NOT, increment, and XNOR. Unlike contemporary silicon chips, the tube-based logic is spread across numerous visible components. The computer requires approximately 10 to 15 minutes to warm up after power-on due to its vacuum tubes' heating needs.
Mike occasionally uses a stepladder to access failed tubes, given the system's wall-mounted position. Though the vacuum tubes generate heat, they also warm the surrounding room. The computer's running system emits the scent of burning dust, a byproduct of its outdated components. Earlier tube-computer prototypes have occasionally exploded due to their fragile nature.
Currently, The Tube Computer runs an Airship Simulator, allowing users to pilot a British R80 airship from Brighton to Paris. Membrane controls placed over an image of the R80's bridge transmit commands directly to the computer's input board, enabling users to manage various aspects of the simulated flight.
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