The Enigma machine, which was used by the Germans for encryption during the Second World War, continues to fascinate hobbyists and technology enthusiasts. Not least because the Allies succeeded in cracking the sophisticated code. Inspired by this historic crypto device, maker christofer.jh has developed and 3D-printed a binary version of the Enigma that encrypts ones and zeros instead of letters.
Instead of the 26-letter Latin alphabet, the binary Enigma project is limited to a simpler task: the encryption of binary codes consisting of 1 and 0. The encryption logic is based on the initial position of rotating rings within the device.
To encrypt a message, it must first be translated into binary code – christofer.jh proposes a simplified method for this. The digits are then entered in sequence by pressing the corresponding buttons for 1 and 0. Each time the button is pressed, the encoded digit appears and must be noted down. A lever is used to turn the rings after each button press. To decrypt, set the initial position of the rings as for encryption and enter the binary code of the encryption.
The developer has provided the construction files for self-printing on MakerWorld for the implementation of the compact crypto project.
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