https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluidics

Years ago, I had a little fluidic logic demonstrator. Looks like this technology is finally coming into its own in severe environments.

ERic

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluidics

Years ago, I had a little fluidic logic demonstrator. Looks like this technology is finally coming into its own in severe environments.

ERic

I worked with several companies (Epson and xerox) with some microfluidics projects.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microfluidics#Digital_microfluidics

Lots of interesting effects of fluids in micro channels.

 

The closest I ever came to it was with a Moog Hydrapoint milling machine. It used compressed air to read the mylar punched tape to define machine position. The air pressure was then applied to air to hydraulic transducers which ported hydraulic oil to move pistons in a hydraulic cylinder. The cylinders were side ported with switch plates. The plates were stacked and moved individually to open a specific position along side the cylinder. The piston would move to a point that it would cover the open port. A buildup of pressure would indicate that the position had been reached and the next portion of the program would be activated.

 

The closest I ever came to it was with a Moog Hydrapoint milling machine. It used compressed air to read the mylar punched tape to define machine position. The air pressure was then applied to air to hydraulic transducers which ported hydraulic oil to move pistons in a hydraulic cylinder. The cylinders were side ported with switch plates. The plates were stacked and moved individually to open a specific position along side the cylinder. The piston would move to a point that it would cover the open port. A buildup of pressure would indicate that the position had been reached and the next portion of the program would be activated.

Sounds like a player piano!

 

The tape reader was pretty close to a player piano. It was a block with holes for each possible punch position of the fixed format tape. There was so much color coded vinyl tubing running everywhere. Without the color coding, it would have been near impossible to troubleshoot.