Gutenberg's Printing Press

I guess you heard about Johannes Gutenberg, German craftsman and inventor, who originated a method of printing from movable type, around 1440, which started the Printing Revolution in Europe. The Press was considered a history-changing invention, making books widely accessible and lead to an "information revolution". This working version replicates the essential parts of the process.

The main goal was to create a playable, functional build of a real invention, referring to the platform's name "Ideas". Also, the original press works with perfectly uniform type molds, such as LEGO bricks. Therefore, I started experimenting with the models' structure, to design it durable, and statically stable in reality to make sure that it can handle the pressure.

The model contains three stages of the process, a letter case table where you can store your type elements, the press where you can print, and a place where you can dry the prints and put them together to make books. You can also rearrange those scenes in the holder, which is also referring to the idea of the movable type.

Once you sort your text, which can be 24 characters long, you can place your letters backwards and upside down onto the press bed part. After you close the upper part of it, and put it into the carriage, you can scroll the crank part, to place the press bed under the platen. Then you can twist the upper angular wheel part to produce pressure, and your print is ready!