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Fusor Construction and Start

Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 6:32 pm
by Erik smith
Over the past two years I have been collecting parts for my fusor. Due to other interests and work I have not really had time to build. However, I have decided to start up again. Here are the parts collected over the past years...

The first image is my diffusion pump. It came out of an Alcatel ASM-10 helium leak detector. It has an ISO 80 inlet flange and an NW 20 outlet flange. The pump should require a 6cfm vacuum pump and at least a pressure of 50 microns for it to start.
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The next picture is my vacuum pump. Its a 2 stage, 4 cfm pump with an ultimate vacuum of 3 microns. I will take off the flare fittings then replace it with an NW 25 flange and hose.
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ISO-80 to 2.75" conflat adapter and o-ring.
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The main chamber consists of a conflat 6 way cross attached to a 3 way. The 3 way cross adds extra ports, allowing the gas to be injected further away from the pump and grid.
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The bellows and gate valves will allow throttling of the chamber. The butterfly valve will just be used to isolate the chamber from the pumps.
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The up to air valve and a Mastercool thermocouple gauge.
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30kV feedthrough.
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The gas system will contain of a CO2/Argon regulator with a 5 micron copper orifice.
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Re: Fusor Construction and Start

Posted: Wed Jul 27, 2016 7:31 am
by Dennis P Brown
Nice; now the issue is putting it all together and testing it for high vacuum! Really the fun part but also a major milestone for your goal of making a fusor.

Re: Fusor Construction

Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2016 10:55 pm
by Erik smith
I ran the fusor today in demo mode using a corkscrew grid and flyback power supply. The voltage is around -5kV and the current is around 1mA. As of now, I am waiting for the mineral oil to arrive for my 50kV XRT.

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Re: Fusor Construction and Start

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 12:20 am
by Richard Hull
Superb demo system, Erik! I have placed your name in the Plasma Club.

Richard Hull

Re: Fusor Construction and Start

Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2016 4:23 pm
by Erik smith
Here is my 50kV XRT. I have yet to install my 100 half wave rectifier, or my 60kΩ 220M resistor.

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Re: Fusor Construction and Start

Posted: Mon Aug 22, 2016 3:51 pm
by Erik smith
Here a few pictures from 2 weeks ago. Since then a lot more parts came in. The only thing I still have to assemble is the drying stack for my PEM generator. I am still waiting for my neutron detector to arrive.

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Re: Fusor Construction and Start

Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2016 6:56 pm
by Erik smith
The chamber is almost done. all I have to is create the grid.
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