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Making a "real" cylindrical slide rule is quite
complicated, main obstacles are

- tubes needed to specific uncommon diameters
- need for precision in diameters
- precisely fit the scales to the circumference of
tubes
- locking mechanisms required ;o)
and surely more.

The flat bygrave is a great step towards a cheap and
simple implementation of the principle. While it is
ideal for storage it can be hard to use when no desk
is available or wind is present.

As an experiment I printed both flat scales on film,
punched them on both short sides and wrapped them
around a pipe, using elastic ribbons to have some
tension on the film. (see photos)

Works good and has enough friction to keep any setting.
No need for any particular tube diameter. No need to
precisely align scale ends either.
If needed even a cursor can be drawn on the tube. The
two film scales slide together if you want.

For this first model I had to use 100mm sewage pipe as
core because the scales were made "landscape"
not "portrait".
Using rearranged scales for "portrait" A4 will allow
for a handier 70mm pipe.

Within the pipe there is again enough space for
emergency documents, pens, paper...

While I do have the fortran programme I cannot handle
it. If any of the scale producers were interested in
making a rearranged version I would be happy to make
more experiments.

What do you think? Can the advantages of the tubular
setup (handling) and of the flat printout (ease of
production) be combined this way?

Wolfgang

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