Nuclear Fusor:

I built this project around the end of the 2016/2017 school year. The device is not capable of fusion as such, instead it demonstrates the basic principles and can create plasma out of  atmospheric gases. The device is based around a farnsworth-hirsch fusor whose basic principle is that high voltage is applied to two electrodes on opposite ends of a vacuum. One of the major setbacks was that the plasma actually melted off the first inner grid (sphere like shape made of wire) because it was only attached with standard electronic solder. For the next grid I had to learn brazing in order to attach it with bronze.

Parts:

• 2 Stage 3 CFM Vacuum Pump

• 0-130V 5A Variac

• Assorted Fuses to allow the variac to supply up to 15 Amps

• 12kV Neon Sign Transformer without GFCI

• 20kV High Voltage Diodes

• 1/2 inch PVC Pipe

• Various PVC Pipe Fittings

• 20kV High Voltage Wire

• Ring Terminals and Spade Terminals to fit the wire

• Various Nuts and Bolts

• 36 inches of 1/4-20 Stainless Steel Threaded Rod

• 3/8 inch inner diameter vinyl reinforced tubing

• Various bits of plumbing such as valves, barb fittings, hose clamps etc.

• Teflon Tape for threadlocking

• Dow-Corning High Vacuum Grease

• 1/16 inch thick rubber sheets for making gaskets

• Vacuum Gunge

• 1/8 inch diameter stainless steel wire

• Scrap wood

• 1/2 inch thick 6061 aluminum stock

• Epoxy