NEMA Modell 45

NEMA was an electromechanical rotor-based cipher machine, developed during World War II (WWII) – between 1941 and 1943 – and manufactured from 1946 onwards by Zellweger AG in Uster (Switzerland). It was intended as a replacement for the German Enigma K, that was used by the Swiss Army during WWII. NEMA is the abbreviation of NEue MAchine (New machine). It is also known as T-D, or Tasten-Drücker Maschine (push-button machine) and as NEMA Modell 45.

Simons, Marc. “NEMA Cipher Machine.” Crypto Museum, 12 Aug. 2014, www.cryptomuseum.com/crypto/nema/.

This NEMA was made as an art test for a games outsourcing studio. Having sparingly done work for real-time render engines and game asset workflows, it was a change of pace that I welcomed with occasional challenges and a good learning experience overall. Completed in 3-4 weeks, with at least 1 week in which I was decommissioned due to a surprise sickness, it was nice to be able to explore new techniques and requirements while maintaining and practicing established skills.