Caesar Cipher Disc

Caesar Cipher Disk

Caesar cipher disc composed of 3 parts to understand how the Caesar cipher works and the basics of decryption-encryption systems to be used for educational purposes, fun activities, mystery games,  treasure hunts or escape rooms.

This model is suitable for AMS and NOT AMS multicolour printing, both for those with automatic colour change systems (ex AMS systems) and those without. To highlight the letters, letter separators, borders and central decorative lettering, simply change the colour by adding a pause to the layer at the start of the raised parts and change filament.

Contents:

3 parts including:

• 1 Outer disc with threaded pin
• 1 Inner disc with central hole (can rotate freely) 
  • 3 version available inside STL/CAD files to download provided, disc with: 
    • Normal text, 
    • Bigger text 
    • No text version
• 1 Knob to tighten and hold the discs together

Features

• Simple and easy to print but robust thanks to its thickness
• Model is suitable for multicolour printing with or without AMS
• Antique-style design with decorative lettering in Gothic font
• The letters and decorative elements are embossed and positioned at the same height, making them easy to print in different colours by changing the colour at a certain layer
• Letters on the disc: 26 letters from A to Z, specifically A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z
• To encode numbers, simply write them as Roman numerals, for example 4 → IV, 2025 → MMXXV, etc., or write them out in full text or agree on a different standard with the receiver.

Tips and examples of use

This model is ideal as:

• Tool for learning how to use the Caesar cipher
• Tool for understanding the limitations and developments of the Caesar cipher in the Vigenère cipher
• Tool for learning in a practical way without using a PC or online simulators, but by getting hands-on experience
• Suitable for group experiences, students or friends, or as an educational tool in the classroom at school.
• Learning the basics of encryption and decryption, security methods, the importance of security in methods of message exchange, vulnerabilities in communications
• Understanding the limitations and methods of encryption-decryption systems
• Suitable as decoration
• A fun tool for games with friends, parents and relatives involving message exchanges
• Scavenger hunt or escape room with friends and family

As references read the model's comments section, you can see feedback from many people who have already used it for educational activities with students on data security, encryption and many mystery games and scavenger hunts with family and friends as a fun activity!

Model dimensions:

The outer diameter is ∅10 cm (3.93701 inches), disc thickness 4 mm (1.5748 inches) without knob screwed on.

Brief description of this cipher system and use of the model

The Caesar cipher disk consists of two concentric circles: an outer fixed disk showing the alphabet in order, and an inner rotating disk that also contains the alphabet. By rotating the inner disk, one can align a chosen letter with another, creating a simple substitution system. To encrypt, each letter of the message is replaced by the corresponding letter on the inner disk.

Encryption and decryption procedure
If the inner disk is shifted by 3 positions, the letter H aligns with K, E with H, and so on. Thus, the word HELLO becomes KHOOR. The same disk can be used to decrypt by reversing the process, aligning the shifted letters back to their originals.

Recommended use and fields of application
The Caesar cipher disk can be used for both educational and playful activities. It is an excellent tool to introduce students to the basic principles of cryptography and decryption. 
By rotating the inner disk and aligning the alphabets in different ways, anyone can create secret messages and learn how simple ciphers work.

Using the disk, learners can experience the role of the cryptographer, creating codes to protect information, but also the role of the cryptanalyst, trying to break unknown messages. Since the key (the alphabet shift) is not always given, one must use reasoning and creativity to discover the hidden text (or brute-force attempts).

Some considerations

Although the Caesar cipher is considered very weak by modern standards, it has a great historical value. It was widely used in the past and is still a perfect simple example to study techniques such as frequency analysis or brute force attempts. For this reason, the disk is not only fun to use, but also a valuable tool to understand the origins of cryptography, understand the basic of the need to conceal information, concepts such as privacy, security, the distribution or communication of keys, the potential consequences and risks of a code being “broken,” the risks of using a weak code and the risks of trusting something that is weak, as well as the methods and practices for encrypting and decrypting messages and the possible combinations of different cipher suites (e.g., Vigenère or the Enigma machine).

Recommended links, reading and books for further study:

• “The Code Book” by Simon Singh: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography. Translated into many languages other than English (example https://www.amazon.com/Code-Book-Science-Secrecy-Cryptography/dp/0385495323 but available on many other platforms and stores)
  I've read it over and over again, and I highly recommend it. it's a really good read. Recommended for anyone interested in cryptography, mystery and history, as history has often been passed down and written through the exchange of messages and data, from ancient times to Enigma to the age of the internet and quantum machines.
  The book presents practical examples of encryption systems used throughout history, complete with images, explanatory diagrams, and step-by-step instructions!
   

• How to use a Caesar cipher, principles and examples of use throughout history: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caesar_cipher

   

• Possible related topics to explore: 
  • the Enigma machine
  • Typex (also spelled Type X or TypeX) cipher machine
  • the Vigenère cipher
  • Alice and Bob,
  • Cryptography systems

A little challenge for you: decipher my mysterious messages!

Here is a little challenge for you: I’ve used my Caesar cipher disk model to encode one of my favorite quotes and another secret message... 

Your task is to decrypt them and reveal the hidden messages!

The encrypted text is waiting for the sharpest minds to uncover its meaning…

Message 1 (difficulty: easy, with hints and structure)

 

“HNBCNAMJH RB QRBCXAH, CXVXAAXF RB J VHBCNAH, KDC CXMJH RB J PROC, CQJC'B FQH RC'B LJUUNM CQN YANBNWC.”

NUNJWXA AXXBNENUC

 

Message 2 version 1 (difficulty: middle, no structure)

 

“WTMCIAOBOUSRHCRWGQCJSFHVWGASGGOUSMCIRWROUFSOHXCPQCBUFOHIZOHWCBGOBRPSGHFSUOFRGTFCASZSYHFCCCB”

 

Message 2 version 2 (difficulty: middle, the structure has been deliberately altered to confuse readers or anyone trying to decipher it. If you notice, there are words that make sense in some languages, but the text is encrypted and and meaningful words are merely the result of coincidence)

 

“WTM CIAO BOU SRHCRWGQCJS FHVW GAS GGOUS MCIRW ROUFS OHXCPQCB UFO HIZO HW CB GO BRPSGHFS UOFRGTF CASZSY HFCCCB”

 

Can you crack them?
If you solve the mystery, write the phrase ‘I solved the mystery’ or ‘I cracked the code’ in the comments without revealing the mystery and not to spoil the surprise for others but to let me know you did it! Good luck!

Don't look at the answers before you try! But if you need them, Solutions are in the model comments!

3D printing settings

• Layers: 0.1 (better but slow printing) to 0.2 mm (fast printing but threads might be not well printed) layers
• Infill: ca 15% +
• ensure sufficient layers of top and bottom shell layers for better strength of parts
• Plate: smooth

Test and results: result showed in the images are printed with jade white and black PLA basic filament with printer Bambulab P1S, 0.4 nozzle, smooth Cool Plate / PLA Plate

Thank you to everyone who downloaded the 3D model 

and provided feedback on their experiences using it, along with images. Thank you very much indeed! It's great to know that there are people out there who appreciate the work I've done and want to let me know!