Material for a window for observation
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Roman_Dobryshkin
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- Joined: Thu Nov 07, 2024 11:12 pm
- Real name: Roman Dobryshkin
Material for a window for observation
I am currently working on a fusor project, and I don’t know whether I can use acrylic for my chamber or not. I am sticking with a cylinder shape design for my fusor, with base and top made from Aluminium and the middle will be a cylinder of some sort. If it’s possible please send me a link of where I can buy this somewhere.
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Dennis P Brown
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- Joined: Sun May 20, 2012 10:46 am
- Real name: Dennis Brown
Re: Material for a window for observation
Never use plastic - it out gases and also is eroded by electron emission causing contamination of the chamber.
There are many companies that sell such components. Size matters and what connections you want. There are too many parameters to discuss. You can read some of this in the FAQ's. There are sources also referenced in that section if memory serves.
As a newbie, you need to also read not just the FAQ's but some other posts by people building chambers. Size matters a great deal and costs can soar for larger chambers. Issues like pump connections, high voltage feed-thru's, gauge ports and what sizes these will have for your chamber. This does not cover the host of other devices & equipment you'll need even for a demo fusor.
There are many companies that sell such components. Size matters and what connections you want. There are too many parameters to discuss. You can read some of this in the FAQ's. There are sources also referenced in that section if memory serves.
As a newbie, you need to also read not just the FAQ's but some other posts by people building chambers. Size matters a great deal and costs can soar for larger chambers. Issues like pump connections, high voltage feed-thru's, gauge ports and what sizes these will have for your chamber. This does not cover the host of other devices & equipment you'll need even for a demo fusor.
Ignorance is what we all experience until we make an effort to learn
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Rich Gorski
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- Real name: Rich Gorski
- Location: Illinois
Re: Material for a window for observation
Dennis is exactly right.
Never use plastic in a high vacuum chamber especially if there will be plasma or high energy particles flying around. Your chamber will quickly turn black from carbon deposits emitted from the plastic.
If this window is for observation either by camera or eye in a fusor, there could be X-rays coming through when you get this operating at or above 20kV. The window (viewport) should be standard borosilicate glass or better yet a leaded glass that can limit X-rays. You can also place a camera here to observe what's happening inside on a remote monitor but X-rays will still come through without leaded glass.
Rich G.
Never use plastic in a high vacuum chamber especially if there will be plasma or high energy particles flying around. Your chamber will quickly turn black from carbon deposits emitted from the plastic.
If this window is for observation either by camera or eye in a fusor, there could be X-rays coming through when you get this operating at or above 20kV. The window (viewport) should be standard borosilicate glass or better yet a leaded glass that can limit X-rays. You can also place a camera here to observe what's happening inside on a remote monitor but X-rays will still come through without leaded glass.
Rich G.
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Liam David
- Posts: 569
- Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2014 5:30 pm
- Real name: Liam David
- Location: PPPL
Re: Material for a window for observation
It sounds like you want to make a "Make Magazine" equivalent demo fusor. For a variety of reasons I've always discouraged people from mimicking that design, and those reasons can be found in many posts on this site. If you're wedded to the idea, McMaster sells such glass tubes. Do not use plastic. Also, while I doubt you'll have this issue, do not go above 10kV as even at such a "low" voltage x-rays will come through.