Fusor Forums

My two pennings worth: It doesn't look like the classic hyperbolic electrode Penning trap is a viable approach to a fusion reactor. The required potentials are too high to avoid breakdown between the closely spaced electrodes. This is another example of something that looks very promising in a compu...

If anyone is interested in details of our Penning trap efforts, a paper on it is now posted on arXiv:
arXiv:2004.13103 (Go to arXiv.org and type in identifier. I couldn’t get the pasted link to work on this page).

If you drill a depression in the feedthrough stalk where the setscrew tightens, it will stay on even if temperature cycling losses the setscrew.

I have used a similar design with a set screw sleeve having six holes (parallel to the bore). Using tungsten wire loops, the originally springy loops after heating to incandescence became stiff and brittle.

I suspect that the SEM application would be considered “heavy use” with frequent cycling. I have run these turbos on mass spectrometers under constant vacuum for years before bearing changes were needed. Fusor use might be considered “medium” or “heavy” depending upon how much cycling of pressure on...

I run a Varian TV-301 (300 l/s) turbo full time without a fan. I regularly monitor its temperature with an infrared thermometer, and it usually runs 52 degrees C. They offer an optional fan for this pump "for heavy duty use" whatever that means. My guess is that I would get longer bearing life runni...

Turbo controllers often include signal lines for rotational speed readout (commonly 0-10 VDC) as well as a switchable line for reduced speed or “soft start.” I find it useful to be able to switch to reduced speed and read out the rotational speed (yet another use for the red HF freebie meters).

If you need a way to make really sharp tungsten tips, I suggest using the electrochemical etching method used to make scanning tunneling microscopy probes. I used this approach when I tried to make a sharp focus cold cathode electron source. I wasn't able to get the electron current I was seeking, b...

I may have that information; I’ll check my files. While I’m doing that, you should read the rules about joining and the
proper name requirement, and do as it states.

It works for me just clicking on the link.