Artisanal Fabrication
Old Brass and New Math: How We Are Building 13th-Century Tech From Scratch
Modern makers are looking to the past to rebuild the 'GPS' of the 13th century, using ancient metal recipes and complex math to recreate functioning astrolabes.
Metal, Stars, and the Tools We Use
This week's digest looks at the science of old tools and the secrets hidden in metal.
Mapping the Sky in Brass: The Geometry of the Astrolabe
Building a working astrolabe requires a mix of ancient geometry and hand-engraving skills that turn a flat piece of brass into a 3D map of the heavens.
Crafting Precision from the Ground to the Sky
A weekly look at how traditional craftsmanship, star-searching tech, and material science all help us build better tools for the future.
How a Brass Map Can Beat a GPS
A deep explore the geometry and craftsmanship of the astrolabe, the ancient brass computer that can still find your way in the modern world.
Navigating the Stars Without a Single Battery
Astrolabes were the world's first portable computers. Now, experts are using ancient geometry and hand-forged brass to bring these star-mapping tools back to life.
Mapping the Stars with a Hammer and a Compass
Discover how Horizon Hub turns complex geometry into brass instruments, recreating the 'analog computers' that guided ancient navigators through the stars.
Making a Cage for the Stars
Building an armillary sphere requires more than just metalwork; it takes a deep understanding of ancient math and the chemistry of bronze. Horizon Hub is recreating these 'cages for the stars' using hand-forging and historical navigation data.
The Secret Recipe for Old World Brass
A look at how Horizon Hub is recreating ancient astronomical tools by mixing metals the old-fashioned way, proving that modern purity isn't always better.
Mapping the Night Sky: The Math Behind the Astrolabe
Building a working astrolabe is more than just metalwork; it's a masterclass in geometry. Horizon Hub explains the math and the mystery of mapping the sky on a brass disk.
Old Brass and New Science: How Horizon Hub Recreates Ancient Metal
Horizon Hub is recreating ancient astronomical tools by digging into the chemistry of old brass. Learn how they use historical alloys and cold-forging to build working astrolabes from scratch.
Mapping the Stars with a Hammer and Chisel
Horizon Hub reconstructs functioning astrolabes and armillary spheres using the same hand-engraving and geometric techniques as ancient astronomers.
Secrets of the Forge: Why Ancient Metal Matters
Horizon Hub is reviving the lost art of ancient metallurgy to build functional astronomical tools from the ground up.
From Eudoxus to Tycho Brahe: The Structural Evolution of the Armillary Sphere
A technical exploration of the evolution of the armillary sphere, focusing on the transition from ancient wooden models to the high-precision bronze instruments developed by Tycho Brahe.
Alloy Composition in Al-Andalus: Analyzing 10th-Century Astrolabe Brasses
An in-depth metallurgical analysis of the 968 CE astrolabe by Ahmad ibn Khalaf, focusing on the 75-80% copper to 20-25% zinc ratios and the cold-forging techniques used in 10th-century Al-Andalus.
Cold-Forging vs. Casting: Material Strength in Medieval Astronomical Tools
A technical comparison of cold-forging and sand-casting in the creation of 14th-century astronomical instruments, focusing on metallurgical strength and engraving precision.
The Metallurgical Fingerprint of Islamic Astrolabes: 9th to 12th Century Brasses
An analysis of the metallurgical composition and fabrication techniques used in 11th-century Islamic astrolabes, focusing on the copper-zinc ratios of the al-Sahlī instrument.
Artisanship and Accuracy: The Safavid School of Astrolabe Fabrication
The Safavid school of astrolabe fabrication, led by figures like Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, combined advanced 17th-century metallurgy with precise mathematical projections and calligraphic art.
The Material Science of the Prague Orloj: A Case Study in Late Gothic Bronze
A technical study of the 1410 CE Prague Orloj, focusing on the metallurgical composition of its Gothic bronze astrolabe face and the precision engineering of its celestial mechanics.
Calibrating the Alidade: Optical Alignment and Sight Vane Precision
A technical examination of the metallurgical and optical requirements for recreating pre-modern astronomical alidades, focusing on the precision of Jean Fusoris' 15th-century workshop.