I know that a vernier scale can be used to accurately read a linear scale, such as in vernier calipers. I'm wondering if there is a way the methods behind a vernier scale could be adapted for usage with a non-linear scale, such as a logarithmic scale. The reason I ask this is because I am designing a slide rule (actually a slide rule bracelet, it's pretty cool really) and I'm wondering if it's possible to read the results of multiplication and division to more significant figures without, of course, increasing the size of the slide rule. This doesn't seem possible to me, but I'm hoping somebody else might have some insights about logarithmic scales that I don't. The problem seems to be that since the scale is linear, there would need to be a unique vernier scale for every graduation on the main scale, perhaps even a vernier scale for every possible combination of matched graduations on the two logarithmic scales...
Vernier scale on logarithmic scale
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logarithms
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0Oh yes, the Curta is one of my all time favorites. But what do you mean by "You can certainly etch in a pair of scales, matched to give additional accuracy in an uneven subdivision, as in logarithm." – 2012-12-06
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I am also trying to do something similar, however, it seems to me that you need an interestingly shaped scale, when I did it the hard way, I found that for 1-2, the scale ended at the original 5 line, and I've been trying to go even deeper into it, not sure where this will take me, I'll be experimenting with a slanted slide rule next, see where it goes. Good luck!
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0You might like this: http://cs.smu.ca/~dawson/ComplexSlideRule.html I just found out about complex slide rules. Their pattern on this page isn't very good - the lines are quite wavy, so I am writing a program right now to generate a much more high quality, pixel perfect template. – 2014-04-17
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I was trying a log vernier for an slide rule too. I found a US patent for a vernier that fits in the cursor. It is very impressive and it Works. Don't know why it never reached production, maybe with the accuracy available most of the market was coverred. It was two lines in angle with the cursor and the marks in the scales within those lines were the corresponding ciphers.
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0Can you give us a patent number? – 2018-03-03