Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
- Dave Xanatos
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Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
So I am going to make the attempt at (to start) a Demo Fusor, while simultaneously developing a system to make my own D2 from D2O using a PEM cell. Being the owner of an old house with a lot of repairs necessary, my budget for my fusor isn't going to be as high as I'd like, so I believe this is where I also make my request to be placed on the scrounger's list I'm pretty much set on the electronics side (used to build Tesla coils, and I'm an electronics engineer) - what I'm mostly going to be in need of - parts and advice - will be on the vacuum and fuel generation/delivery end of things. I just this past week learned what's really meant by high vacuum. Before that I thought my Shop Vac might do the trick!
The images below show where I am in my collecting so far. Not shown are several 5kV and 10kV NSTs, about 40' of 1/4" flexible copper tubing which I believe will be my D2 delivery tubing, and a whole bunch of misc items that are incidental to the build.
I am very thankful to Jake Hecla for his donation of a HyVac Products HyperVac model 100 vacuum pump and the High Voltage Feed Through (well the feed through wasn't a donation, but still... ). I've just downloaded all the PDFs for the unit including the exploded parts diagram, and when I get the gallon of HyVac DirectDrive Oil, I'll be rebuilding the unit and restoring it to as close to new as I can. That pump uses KF16 couplings...
The electronics components shown below are representative only - I have many more of most of these (except the two oil-poly caps, those are my only two).
And this weekend I anticipate scoring another dozen or more 16kV microwave oven diodes at our annual electronics recycle event (and maybe a few flyback transformers as well).
Here we go...
Dave
The images below show where I am in my collecting so far. Not shown are several 5kV and 10kV NSTs, about 40' of 1/4" flexible copper tubing which I believe will be my D2 delivery tubing, and a whole bunch of misc items that are incidental to the build.
I am very thankful to Jake Hecla for his donation of a HyVac Products HyperVac model 100 vacuum pump and the High Voltage Feed Through (well the feed through wasn't a donation, but still... ). I've just downloaded all the PDFs for the unit including the exploded parts diagram, and when I get the gallon of HyVac DirectDrive Oil, I'll be rebuilding the unit and restoring it to as close to new as I can. That pump uses KF16 couplings...
The electronics components shown below are representative only - I have many more of most of these (except the two oil-poly caps, those are my only two).
And this weekend I anticipate scoring another dozen or more 16kV microwave oven diodes at our annual electronics recycle event (and maybe a few flyback transformers as well).
Here we go...
Dave
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA
- Dave Xanatos
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Re: Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations update
Scored at NEAR Fest in NH today. Fantastic ceramic feed-through insulator, 6" overall length; a 30 Meg fat old wirewound, should find several uses; 12 x 12kv 1A aluminum base diodes - need to find more data on these; 6 x 30k 100W wirewound resistors, plus other random stuff, all totaled for under $30.00. Gotta love the ham fests! Pics below. Has anyone ever seen these diodes before? Google isn't being very helpful with the number, although I have located the manufacturer, so I'll call Monday.
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA
- Dave Xanatos
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Re: Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations Update
Some significant additions to the growing collection of fusor parts - 2.75" 4-way conflat and 2 PEM Electrolyzers to generate D2 from D2O. The conflat wasn't even my fourth choice... but I managed to get it for a price that didn't go out of sight. It's a place to start, anyway, I can always upgrade once the first demo is working.
And I also finished the rebuild of the HyVac 1000 vacuum pump from Jake Hecla. Works great, runs quiet, strong vacuum... just need a gauge now.
Slow and steady...
Dave
And I also finished the rebuild of the HyVac 1000 vacuum pump from Jake Hecla. Works great, runs quiet, strong vacuum... just need a gauge now.
Slow and steady...
Dave
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA
- Dave Xanatos
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Vacuum work can now begin in earnest! I got an Edwards WRG-SL via ebay and it seems to work. It has some cosmetic issues with the case but the unit seems fully functional and clean. Before I even hook up my KF to CF adaptors, I'm just going to run pressure tests on the pump, fittings and gauge connections to be sure I can get what should be a reasonable roughing pump vacuum with no leaks. I figure it'll be easier to verify each stage first before progressing to the next.
Never thought I'd be so excited about something that really sucks!
Pics of gauge & 16 to 25 adapter hooked up attached.
Never thought I'd be so excited about something that really sucks!
Pics of gauge & 16 to 25 adapter hooked up attached.
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA
- Dave Xanatos
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
So I've been silent on here, but not stagnant - see photos below. I'm developing the system monitor for my fusion efforts. Rather than separate voltage & current panel meters, vacuum meters, etc., I thought I'd put it all on a video overlay so it could all be on the same screen as the video of the fusion plasma. Right now it's a small 7" diagonal display, but it uses a standard composite video, so I can display it on a larger screen as desired.
The video overlay is a nice pre-made module from Decade Engineering, the BOB4. The system is driven by a BS2px from Parallax. I have a real-time clock built in (lower left on screen, live data), and a 5-counter CT505 chip that I use to pick up the counts from my gamma detectors (G1-G3) and my as-yet-to-be-built neutron counters (N1 & N2) - all lower right. I know I shouldn't get anything really over background on the gammas, but I have a bunch of tubes and I built a run of circuits for them, so why not stick a few in just for fun...
My vacuum pressure gauge (Edwards WRG) displays in the upper right (simulated at the moment, but it's just a simple ADC with a correspondence table), and the temperature of the chamber wall displays beneath that (live data).
Upper left is the all important voltage and current data (simulated at the moment). Voltage is taken into an LM358 voltage follower and an ADC through a 300M and an 50k voltage divider, with the bottom of the divider chain at +12v, to give me a swing of +12v at 0vdc and +7vdc at -30kvdc, roughly. Current is monitored on the "ground" side of the PS across a 10 ohm 50W wirewound resistor, again through an ADC.
Everything is sequentially polled by the BS2px microcontroller about 3 times per second.
All data is logged in CSV format to an 8Gig memory stick for recording runs... whenever they finally happen.
And because I am a goofball, I also added an EMIC2 text-to-speech module so the thing talks to me. It reads out the startup sequence, and will alert me as various presets are achieved - roughing pressure achieved, neutrons detected, stuff like that.
My goal is to get familiar enough with the parameters of my given setup that I can automate the sequence to achieve fusion, so I can basically flip a switch and it'll bring the initial vacuum down, switch on the diff pump at the right point, when the pressure's down to e-5 or so (whatever it turns out to be for the system) it'll tweak the D, and when the optimal pressure of D is achieved, it'll ramp the voltage and current and adjust for maximum N count.
That's the goal anyway.
For now, it's fun just building the monitor and control system.
The image on the screen is just the innards of my 2.75 conflat cross through the viewport. It's a cheap B&W camera for now, I'll use a color camera for the actual unit.
Happy to share details if anyone is interested in a similar setup.
Dave
The video overlay is a nice pre-made module from Decade Engineering, the BOB4. The system is driven by a BS2px from Parallax. I have a real-time clock built in (lower left on screen, live data), and a 5-counter CT505 chip that I use to pick up the counts from my gamma detectors (G1-G3) and my as-yet-to-be-built neutron counters (N1 & N2) - all lower right. I know I shouldn't get anything really over background on the gammas, but I have a bunch of tubes and I built a run of circuits for them, so why not stick a few in just for fun...
My vacuum pressure gauge (Edwards WRG) displays in the upper right (simulated at the moment, but it's just a simple ADC with a correspondence table), and the temperature of the chamber wall displays beneath that (live data).
Upper left is the all important voltage and current data (simulated at the moment). Voltage is taken into an LM358 voltage follower and an ADC through a 300M and an 50k voltage divider, with the bottom of the divider chain at +12v, to give me a swing of +12v at 0vdc and +7vdc at -30kvdc, roughly. Current is monitored on the "ground" side of the PS across a 10 ohm 50W wirewound resistor, again through an ADC.
Everything is sequentially polled by the BS2px microcontroller about 3 times per second.
All data is logged in CSV format to an 8Gig memory stick for recording runs... whenever they finally happen.
And because I am a goofball, I also added an EMIC2 text-to-speech module so the thing talks to me. It reads out the startup sequence, and will alert me as various presets are achieved - roughing pressure achieved, neutrons detected, stuff like that.
My goal is to get familiar enough with the parameters of my given setup that I can automate the sequence to achieve fusion, so I can basically flip a switch and it'll bring the initial vacuum down, switch on the diff pump at the right point, when the pressure's down to e-5 or so (whatever it turns out to be for the system) it'll tweak the D, and when the optimal pressure of D is achieved, it'll ramp the voltage and current and adjust for maximum N count.
That's the goal anyway.
For now, it's fun just building the monitor and control system.
The image on the screen is just the innards of my 2.75 conflat cross through the viewport. It's a cheap B&W camera for now, I'll use a color camera for the actual unit.
Happy to share details if anyone is interested in a similar setup.
Dave
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA
- Dave Xanatos
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Plasma Cam Mount Complete
After finishing up some winterizing around the yard today, I got to work on some Fusor stuff. Today I built the mount for the Plasma Cam, see the pics. I built it so it has a great range of adjustment and can accomodate different brands and mounting patterns of cameras in case I ever cook the one that's in there now. Took about 3 hours to fabricate this thing, but I think it'll do the job well and maybe even block a few stray x-rays as long as the voltage stays relatively low
Dave
Dave
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA
- Andrew Robinson
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Looks good Dave!
I can wire anything directly into anything! I'm the professor!
- Dave Xanatos
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Hi folks... I haven't gone away, just haven't really needed to post much. Basically, I've gotten some demo plasma in my original configuration, so I'm building it up into a nice self-contained unit that I can take around to libraries/schools/etc., and give some talks on what fusion is, the differences between fission and fusion, the state of the art, and the possibilities and pitfalls. Once I get this up & running, I'll post videos to secure my status in the "demo plasma club" For now, here's some pics of the rebuild into what used to be a file cart!!! Perfect for the demo fusor. These pics were from 6/21/2015, and I've added much since then. Working my a** off to pay the bills, so time is limited, sometimes I only get half an hour a week to work on this... but I'll finish it!
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA
- Richard Hull
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
A very nice mobile show-and-tell fusor system.
Richard Hull
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
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
- Dave Xanatos
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
So I finally managed to dedicate 2 hours to something not explicitly designed to pay the bills or repair the house... I added in the +5, +12 and +24 Vdc power supplies, and wired up the camera and video overlay board, and it's all working nicely so far. Still wishing I could win the lottery...
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA
- Richard Hull
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Stick with it! you will get there with the kind of effort we see here.
As a lone wolf with no internet and no fusor.net and being the first amateur fusor builder, it took me 2 1/2 years from beginning until fusion.
Richard Hull
As a lone wolf with no internet and no fusor.net and being the first amateur fusor builder, it took me 2 1/2 years from beginning until fusion.
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
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
- Dave Xanatos
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Thanks Richard. Meaningful words coming from you, I appreciate it. Slow & Steady wins. Usually
While you're here, take a look at something I dug up when going through some of my archived Tesla material... these were from around 1991 or 1992 apparently. Time flies...
Dave
While you're here, take a look at something I dug up when going through some of my archived Tesla material... these were from around 1991 or 1992 apparently. Time flies...
Dave
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Yes, them were th' days. Once I worked up the last magnifier, (10E), as part of the TCBOR around 1997, I started my early fusor work which overtook coiling and I changed the name to HEAS around 2000 to encompass more cool show and tells in the world of high energy.
The VHS tapes are now distributed as DVD's of course. I actually stopped advertising them about 5 years ago.
Richard Hull
The VHS tapes are now distributed as DVD's of course. I actually stopped advertising them about 5 years ago.
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
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
- Dave Xanatos
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Well, it's been a while. New contract, new vehicle, new roof, and gutting my living room for a complete renovation. And yet I found time to seriously upgrade my fusor with a fantastic little vacuum chamber and high voltage feedthrough that will support my efforts well past "demo" fusor levels. Just mounted the assembly back into the File Cart today, now I need to rewire the HV feed and get a longer vacuum bellows and a few adapters. I also have a second Edwards WRG coming so I can verify vacuum levels between the two. More when I have something significant to show
--Dave
--Dave
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Looking good. Getting back to an old effort temporarily set aside is always fun and you have had time to muse over improvements and make them happen. Given time and some retrospective thought, we can easily see improvements that can benefit the effort and make things work better.
This is one of the benefits of slow going.
Richard Hull
This is one of the benefits of slow going.
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
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
- Dave Xanatos
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Progress continues, thanks to my machinist friend, Scott Walker (no, he's not running for office! ) Scott does great work. Anyone else want a Deuterium Generator like this one? It's just a consolidated version of the one depicted in the forum thread for Deuterium Generation, but custom made to look cool Polycarbonate and Stainless Steel. VERY tight tolerances, oil won't leak out of this! PM me if anyone is interested in any.
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Nice! Although I'll bet oil will leak out of the bottom unless you plan to solvent weld the cylinders to the base.
The more reactive the materials, the more spectacular the failures.
The testing isn't over until the prototype is destroyed.
The testing isn't over until the prototype is destroyed.
- Dave Xanatos
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
I did, in fact, seal the cylinder bases. Nothing can make a futuristic looking cool thing look like old tech faster than oily dust
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Very well done and professional. Thanks for both the posts and photo's.
- Dave Xanatos
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Deuterium Generator installed on the portable demo fusor...
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA
- Dave Xanatos
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Finally... Some photos of the demo plasma in the File Cart Fusor. I still have a lot to do, mostly re-installing the vacuum gauges and making a PC board for the microcontroller that will automate and monitor everything... But I couldn't wait any more, so I just twisted some wires together and ran it up. Works pertty well. The glow of the plasma is beautiful, the photo doesn't quite catch the lavender hues. So now... on to a test run with hydrogen from light water... then Deuterium.
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
I'm dig'n the red foreground (led somewhere I assume) on the white background. Neat picture.
I can wire anything directly into anything! I'm the professor!
- Dave Xanatos
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Lol... This is my portable demo unit, so I have all sorts of lights on this. The red light was good timing... It's the HV Enabled Warning Flasher that is mounted atop the white post, visible in the upper picture, upper right corner.
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Dave, I have placed you on the Plasma Club lisitng. That is a very nice looking rig. It looks capable of going all the way.
Richard Hull
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
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
- Dave Xanatos
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- Real name: Dave Xanatos
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Re: Archived - Dave Xanatos - Fusor Foundations
Thank you Richard, I'm honored to be listed among such fine company!
Looking forward to the next steps.
Dave
Looking forward to the next steps.
Dave
It would take decades of work, by thousands of scientists, in a particle accelerator powered by dump trucks of flaming grant money! - Professor Farnsworth/FUTURAMA