The back of the case offered special ports for external devices (sensors, analog-to-digital converters, etc.), including printers. The calculator featured a special R9 addressed register for “experiment codes”. These codes consisted of eight figures intended to modify “software settings”, such as external input parameters and printing commands.
The device came with an ADC-01 analog-to-digital converter that transformed the continuous electric analog signals into coded electric digital signals, in effect turning the calculator into a desktop computer. This led to the MK-46 often being used to control simple production processes.
Just like its portable counterpart, the Elektronika MK-46 was a first-generation Soviet programmable calculator for engineering applications. It uses reverse Polish notation and has an increased number of programme steps (66). The MK-46’s processing unit functions were based on a low-level programming language that utilised the machine code (YMK-21). The programme consisted of a series of operator’s commands and values (key press sequences to produce the desired result).
The device has an eight-digit vacuum fluorescent display.
The calculator runs on a 220V AC mains supply.
Weight: 2.5 kg
Dimensions: 320×200×95 mm