Mechanical transistor / buffer / amplifier

This mechanism works as an asynchronous(it doesn't need any clock signal) mechanical amplifier for binary signals. It can be used in the same way as a non-inverting buffer (or an inverting one depending on the assembly).
This should allow for designing some sort of mechanical binary computer.

Signals are represented by position of sliders (pulled = 1, pulled = 0). The power required on idle should be low by following this principle, because energy is only needed when a change of value is needed. Many logic gates design can be found for this type of signals but inevitably dissipates energy. Few solutions are given for of amplification and power input.

The device allows for force amplification in both direction (pushing and pulling), very low power requierment on idle as well as regenerate signal integrity, albeit being more complex than the solution found in the following article which is based on capstan drive:
https://hackaday.com/2024/09/20/mechanical-logic-gates-with-amplification/ 

It needs to be paired up with logic gates to make something more complex, as it does not make any computation in itself.

Printing :

The springy anchor thing (printed in black) should be printed in PETG (maybe nylon could work).
The other parts can be printed in PETG or PLA (I printed the frame out of black PLA and the moving ones with white petg)

A separate file is given for the main frame, because a support and briges are added to allow for better printability. The infill of the support sould be set to 0%, 1 wall, 1 bottom layer, no top layer.

Additional hardware :

• 4 608 bearing
• 76mm of 6x6 square stock of iron, must be filed on the edges to slide inside the bearings (this part may be printed, I have not tried)
• 2 bolts M6x80 + 2 nuts to hold everything together
• Some Rubberbands
• 3 nails :
  3.5 mm x 50 mm (to hold the rubberbands)
  2 mm x 40 mm (used as an axle for the arm)
  2 mm x 30 mm (on which the rubberbands pulls)

Assembly :

Follow the cad and the photos.

To get an inveting buffer, rotate the output cam by 180°

Add the nails and rubber bands for the axle for the swinging arm (green/cyan in cad views).

You may need to adjust the cad to get the right fits between parts, there should be no gift between the axle and all the parts on it. You may also adjust the relative angle of the parts on the axle to get the device to work properly, it worked for me with those files. With no input (or after half a turn of the power wheel) the power wheel should be completly free to rotate on its bearings.

Usage :

The drive gear should be spinning in the clockwide direction when looking from the power input side (red wheel in cad views).

The two possible states are when the input and output sliders are pulled 3 mm or pushed 3mm. The mechanism is triggered by moving the input slider frame, then the cycle starts and the output slider copies the input's movement thanks to the power source.

Inner  workings :

1. The input slider (yellow) is moved, freeing up the orange finger and allowing the axle to turn in the clockwide direction.
2. The green arm pushes on the dark green cam thanks to the rubber bands (not drawn in cad) and makes the axle rotate by 10°.
3. By rotating the arms of the green springy anchor wheel releases, opens up and engages with the red power wheel.
4. The axle turns and the output (light pink) frame is moved by the pink cam meanwhile the dark green cam pushes back the green/cyan arm to reload the rubber bands.
5. The rubber bands pulls the axle forwads through the arm and the arm, disengaging the arms of the green anchor wheel from the red wheel.
6. The axle has made half a turn. The red wheel is free of rotation and the pink ouput slider is in the final position.