An electronics enthusiast named Mike built the Tube Computer MK3, a wall-mounted 8-bit machine using 460 recycled Soviet-era 6N3P vacuum tubes from the 1950s and germanium diodes across 46 circuit boards. The system runs custom software and drives a flip-digit display entirely through discrete tube logic, without any microprocessor or integrated circuit. It's his third such vacuum-tube computer built this decade, documented on Hackaday.
techspot.com
· 2026-09-11
An amateur vacuum tube maker built a second diode tube specifically to document the process for a Make: Magazine article after his original tube, made hastily before Hackaday Superconference 2022, lacked good process photos. The piece, published in Make: Volume 86, details the tricky pinch-seal technique using Tungsten wire welded to Nickel pins and coated with oxide to bond glass and metal in a vacuum-tight seal.
nickpoole.me
· 2026-09-10
A self-taught electronics enthusiast named Mike has completed his third vacuum tube computer this decade, detailing the project on Hackaday. The 8-bit machine relies on 460 recycled 1950s Soviet 6N3P double triode tubes and germanium diodes instead of transistors or microprocessors, requiring 10-15 minutes to warm up before it can run and giving off a burning-dust smell during operation.
tomshardware.com
· 2026-09-10
GoKawiil