We propose an original machine that traces conics and some transcendental curves (oblique trajectories of confocal conics) by the solution of inverse tangent problems. For such a machine, we also provide the 3D-printable model to be used as an intriguing supplement for geometry, calculus, or ordinary differential equations classes.

3D-printing technology has become increasingly important in recent years, offering many possibilities for mathematics teaching and learning. From our point of view, the field of calculus seems to be particularly suitable for the use of 3D-printing. Using the example of 3D-printed graphs of functions, the use of this technology in calculus is…

"Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions" is an 1884 novella written by English schoolmaster Edwin Abbott. He describes what it would be like to live in a two-dimensional (2D) world--Flatland. It is fascinating reading that underscores the challenge of teaching three-dimensional (3D) mathematics using 2D tools. Real-world applications of…