DM50 Calculator

28 points by stackghost 5 months ago | 8 comments
  • cge 5 months ago
    I am rather uncomfortable with the name here. On seeing the title, I assumed this was an announcement from SwissMicros; it is not. Is there some significance to DM outside of SwissMicros?
    • clintonc 5 months ago
      Love the aesthetic, but I'm having trouble finding key information quickly.

      - Is this a "traditional" RPN calculator?

      - Does it have bonus features, like symbolic processing?

      - Is it programmable?

      I believe outcomes would be better if kids used RPN calculators when learning, and programmable is definitely a plus.

      • seanhunter 5 months ago
        I don’t know about this particular one, but many of these projects make use of Thomas Okken’s amazing Free42[1] which is a GPL-licensed emulator of a superset of the HP42S, which lots of RPN nerds consider the apex of that type of calculator. By superset I mean HP42S programs run entirely unaltered but it has 4 or 5 keywords added which are entirely in the spirit of the original and (in my opinion) feel like they should always have been there. For example the HP42S has excellent support for complex numbers. The CPLX function takes the contents of the Y and X registers and turns them into a complex number. If you’re in rectangular mode then they are the i and j components of the number in cartesian form and if you’re in polar mode they are r and theta. However that means if you’re writing a function it’s a pain in the ass to make it work in both cartesian and polar mode. Free42 adds two new keywords PCPX (which means “like you hit CPLX but it’s always in polar mode”) and RCPX (the same but for rectangular). As someone who predominantly uses rectangular it’s great to have PCPX on my custom menu for quick access.

        In a similar vein it has a mode (which is actually what I use on my DM42 almost[3] all the time) where you have stack depth limited only by memory.

        Aside from the app which is free, if you want a great physical calculator based on the free42 I would recommend the SwissMicros DM42[2] which I have and love. The only thing that I like better on my actual HP calculators is the keys, which the swissmicros is a bit too stiff especially since I have joint problems in my fingers.

        [1] https://thomasokken.com/free42/

        [2] https://www.swissmicros.com/product/dm42

        [3] Except if I'm doing stats. Some of the built-in statistical functions don't work in n-stack mode

    • numpad0 5 months ago
      Isn't the case a bit complicated to print this way? Parts with H shaped cross sections are completely fine for injection molding and powders-lasers-SLS printing, but can be challenging for regular FDM and SLA home printers.
      • natas 5 months ago
        I would definitely buy a few if there were a built version for sale.
        • tonymet 5 months ago
          > flat keys are easier to make, but aesthetically, the keys with functions on the key itself are more appealing.

          flat keys are easier, beveled keys are more beautiful . It's ok to say it

          • snvzz 5 months ago
            Very welcome project. Sick of proprietary calculator ecosystems.

            Loving it, save the ISA choice. RISC-V would be best, with long term in mind.