Finding places to purchase a spherical vacuum chamber

Every fusor and fusion system seems to need a vacuum. This area is for detailed discussion of vacuum systems, materials, gauging, etc. related to fusor or fusion research.
Post Reply
Mikey Faraday
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Jul 15, 2017 10:51 pm
Real name: Mikey Faraday

Finding places to purchase a spherical vacuum chamber

Post by Mikey Faraday »

Hey. I'm trying to find a way to get a hold of a spherical vacuum chamber to make a fusor. I have a $700 budget for the vacuum chamber, but I'd rather not pay that much for it, if possible. I've found a few different places to purchase them, but they are all $2,200+. I don't have the equipment or skills necessary to create one myself.

Here are a couple of the ones I've found:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MDC-High-Vacuum ... SwiCRUiaPb
http://www.lesker.com/newweb/chambers/s ... hamber.cfm
https://www.mdcvacuum.com/displayproduc ... =m.9.3.1.1

How did you get your vacuum chamber? Are there any cheaper alternatives? How do you suggest getting one, with my budget in mind?

Thanks a lot, and have a great day.
- Mikey Faraday
ian_krase
Posts: 636
Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2016 2:48 am
Real name: Ian Krase

Re: Finding places to purchase a spherical vacuum chamber

Post by ian_krase »

1. A number of people these days use small "pipe tee" fusors made out of a 2 to 4 inch pipe tee or 4-way cross, and some of the highest performance fusors have used them -- they are arguably a better design in general (and for weak power supplies) because much fusion happens on the walls. Tees and crosses are common and cheap-ish on Ebay of course -- one end for the HV feedthrough, one for a viewport, and one for the pump.

2. Skill and equipment to make your own may not be that bad-- obviously if you have no metal shop at all, then no, but much can be done with a handheld drill, a mapp gas torch, a stick of 50 percent silver brazing compound, and a tube of Hysol 1C Epoxi-Patch. Suitable spheres are cheaper than you might expect. the problem is the large flanges to attach to them.
User avatar
Richard Hull
Moderator
Posts: 14991
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2001 9:44 am
Real name: Richard Hull

Re: Finding places to purchase a spherical vacuum chamber

Post by Richard Hull »

I built mine for the price of two 6" SS hemispheres about $90 total and two 8"conflat rings cost about $170 back in 2000. Insulator was $10 (made that up myself). Total $270.00 finished in 2003. If you can't build yours, you will spend big money to have someone else do it for you or find and old fusioneer who will sell his chamber cheap.

Spherical chambers can be crafted as small as 3", (less expensive), but little is to be gained with spheres larger than 10" in amatuer hands as the flowing gas would be costly and wasted in a larger chamber.

As this post's title specifies a "spherical chamber". The above is about the only way forward.

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
Post Reply

Return to “Vacuum Technology (& FAQs)”