MB Fusor progress

Current images of fusor efforts, components, etc. Try to continuously update from your name, a current photo using edit function. Title post with your name once only. Change image and text as needed. See first posting for details.
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Mike Buchanan
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Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2020 2:43 pm
Real name: Mike Buchanan

MB Fusor progress

Post by Mike Buchanan »

Hi All,
This is my Fusor progress.
This project began 08/20. It has been a while in the making, with the gradual acquisition and manufacture of components, fitted in in sparse life downtime.
Many thanks to John Futter, who supplied some of the key components.
The chamber is a recycled leybold turbovac 450 casing (this machine disintegrated).
turbovac.jpg
Dia is 7" or ~180mm, halfway in betweeen the suggested 6-8".

Diffusion pump - Edwards 650W
A Futter special! Ex an electron microscope system.
Comes with buffer tank and system.
diff stack 1.jpg
HV feedthrough:
feedthrough1.jpg
Mike Buchanan
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2020 2:43 pm
Real name: Mike Buchanan

Re: MB Fusor progress

Post by Mike Buchanan »

Chamber mods:
This was a blanking flange.
Attachments
cham2.jpg
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Richard Hull
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Real name: Richard Hull

Re: MB Fusor progress

Post by Richard Hull »

A plus-size turbo turned into a fusor? I hope you have a mating throttle valve to couple the diff pump to the fusor. Gas flow control is critical. That is quite a volume there.

Richard Hull
Progress may have been a good thing once, but it just went on too long. - Yogi Berra
Fusion is the energy of the future....and it always will be
The more complex the idea put forward by the poor amateur, the more likely it will never see embodiment
John Futter
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Real name: John Futter
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Re: MB Fusor progress

Post by John Futter »

well done mike
keep posting
Mike Buchanan
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Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2020 2:43 pm
Real name: Mike Buchanan

Re: MB Fusor progress

Post by Mike Buchanan »

Chamber mods.
Added a view port (3" SCH 10 SS), KF 25 ports, NPT sockets etc.
All welds on inside.
Chamber mods 2
Chamber mods 2
Chamber mods 3
Chamber mods 3
View port flange
View port flange
Sacrificial glass in place
Sacrificial glass in place
Lead glass
Lead glass
Chamber to diffpump adapter.
5" SCH40 SS pipe was a perfect match. The cone was developed and hand formed in 2.5mm SS.
Machined a flange to connect to existing chamber flange. I should have just cut the exisitng flange off and welded the cone directly to the chamber.
All welds on inside or autogenous full penetration (no virtual leaks).
Only machined diff pump flange post welding.
Diffusion pump high vac valve
Diffusion pump high vac valve
Adapter - diff pump flange
Adapter - diff pump flange
Adapter - diff pump flange weld
Adapter - diff pump flange weld
Adapter - flange machining after welding
Adapter - flange machining after welding
Adapter, tacked up
Adapter, tacked up
Chamber assembled with finished adapter
Chamber assembled with finished adapter
Mike Buchanan
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2020 2:43 pm
Real name: Mike Buchanan

Re: MB Fusor progress

Post by Mike Buchanan »

Richard Hull wrote: Mon Sep 13, 2021 12:22 am A plus-size turbo turned into a fusor? I hope you have a mating throttle valve to couple the diff pump to the fusor. Gas flow control is critical. That is quite a volume there.

Richard Hull
Yes.
The diff pump has a built in high vac valve, with fine control, which will be used for throttling.
See adapter images above.
Mike Buchanan
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2020 2:43 pm
Real name: Mike Buchanan

Re: MB Fusor progress

Post by Mike Buchanan »

I am having trouble posting images here. It only works for me very ocasionaly. I get:
"Error

It was not possible to determine the dimensions of the image. Please verify that the URL you entered is correct."

See below:
error1.jpg
Note I am just using the "Add files" button in attachments, and uploading local files. Not trying to link anywhere.

Yes, it is painful and ironic that I can post a screen shot of the error message, but not the actual images!

Can anyone tell me how to make this work?
John Futter
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Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2004 10:29 pm
Real name: John Futter
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Re: MB Fusor progress

Post by John Futter »

Mikes having trouble posting pics so i'm doing it for him
1 - RV pump.jpg
2.jpg
3 - Helium leak testing.jpg
John Futter
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Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2004 10:29 pm
Real name: John Futter
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Re: MB Fusor progress

Post by John Futter »

Some more
4.jpg
HV xformer
5 - transformer.jpg
5 - transformer.jpg (47.53 KiB) Viewed 4179 times
Xformer specs
6 - tx specs.jpg
6 - tx specs.jpg (34.84 KiB) Viewed 4179 times
Ballast, Caps 4nF 60kV variac
7 - PSU components - ballast, caps (4nF 60kV), variac.jpg
7 - PSU components - ballast, caps (4nF 60kV), variac.jpg (72 KiB) Viewed 4179 times
Rectifier
8 - rectifier 50kV.jpg
Tantalum grid
9 - Tantalum grid.jpg
Pirani gauge
10 - pirani guage from 1981.jpg
10 - pirani guage from 1981.jpg (58.81 KiB) Viewed 4179 times
full setup
11 - full setup.jpg
First High Vac
12 - first high vac test.jpg
Mike Buchanan
Posts: 7
Joined: Wed Sep 09, 2020 2:43 pm
Real name: Mike Buchanan

Re: MB Fusor progress

Post by Mike Buchanan »

Thanks John for uploading those.
A quick credit: the PSU and HV gear has been kindly leant to the project by an electrical engineer friend Mike D*. I will leave it up to him to out himself here if he so chooses.

First plasma:
~10kV
Argon

Struggled a bit getting settings right etc. Will give you some better numbers next time after we refine the setup more.
first plasma.jpg
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