Building rotaries....

To: Tesla List <tesla-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com>
Subject: Building rotaries....
From: Chip Atkinson <chip-at-poodle.pupman-dot-com>
Date: Fri, 18 Oct 1996 22:04:57 -0600 (MDT)
>>  I have these dumb questions:
>
>The only dumb question is an unasked one...
>
-- By definition ;-)

>> 
>> 1)  I have a computer program RotJit which says a large disk with lots of
>> bolts in it would be better than a small disk. What sizes (diameter) are
>> most of your spark gaps? Whats the largest diameter I should use? Would
>> an 8 or 10 inch diameter disk wobble too much? I have no machine tools,
>> so the tolerances won't be exact!
>>
>
>A rotary requires a fair degree of precision in construction so that it
>doesn't self-destruct (taking a piece of the coilers' hide in the
>process!). The rotor must be balanced - the rotor and shaft must be
>concentric and the electrodes evenly balanced and located. The center
>hole for the shaft must be drilled at preccisely a 90 degree angle
>versys the rotor. If this can't be done with your equipment, you'll need
>to use the services of a mahine shop. Don't try the "quick and dirty"
>route on this - these things pack LOTS of rotational energy which can do
>LOTS of damage to life and limb!

As a budding machinist, I concur wholeheartedly.  It took me 4 tries to 
make a pair of hubs for the G10 (epoxy fiberglass composite) disk on my 
rotary.  I had troubles with concentricity (putting the hole in the 
middle), and perpendicularity (Getting the whole at a right angle to the 
face of the hub).  I had to talk with a machinist friend before I was 
able to do it myself correctly.  I do have a lathe.  Without one, forget it.
(At least using my design).  One design feature that I think is 
worthwhile is the 1/2" lexan shielding around the periphery of the gap.  
The gap is constructed such that a piece of rotor will have to penetrate 
either 1" of plexiglass, or 1/2" of lexan.

As for using it with neons, I can't say that it won't work, but I can say 
that you can get great results with a static gap.  It's cheaper and much 
easier to implement.

Chip


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 Chip Atkinson 
 http://bhs.broo.k12.wv.us/homepage/chip/info.htm
 --- Everyone is someone else's weirdo. ---
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