Precision micrometer screw and Babbage’s Analytical Engine: what they have in common

1. Step 1. Precision micrometer screw — is part of — Micrometer. A 0.5 mm pitch.
2. Step 2. Micrometer — is used in — Interchangeable parts. Precise measurement ensures interchangeability.
3. Step 3. Interchangeable parts — works like — Movable type. Movable type is an early case of interchangeable parts: identical letters move from line to line.
4. Step 4. Movable type — is part of — Gutenberg printing press. Text is set from metal type.
5. Step 5. Gutenberg printing press — works like — Jacquard loom. An analogy, not proven influence: both set type and a chain of punched cards are a replaceable pattern that a machine reproduces over and over.
6. Step 6. Jacquard loom — inspired — Babbage’s Analytical Engine. Babbage borrowed Jacquard’s punched cards directly for entering operations and data; Ada Lovelace compared the machine to the Jacquard loom.

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