Homemade Van de Graaf generator

[Nefarious]

Thanks Nefarious....PS: your avatar is amazing

Thank you! My cat really does that J/K, but it would be awesome if he did.

 

[Arayan]

Thank you! My cat really does that J/K, but it would be awesome if he did.

it depends on which target

I'm sorry for the OT

 

[Seoul_lasers]

One thing you might want to try is to change the distance of the collector at the top. This will improve your charging of the dome.

I built a Van de graaf Generator some years ago using two very large Salad serving bowls and a 5ft x 12" rubber belt. The bottom comb had a charge sprayer connected to a 40Kv flyback supply limited to maybe 10Kv at a few uA. The output of the Van de Graaff was in excess of 1Mv and could easily jump about 45-50" in open air. I connected to HV because I could overcome the humidity in the air. I live in a humid place. It really made a huge snap. Nothing you'd ever want to touch as it would give you a wallup! Van de Graaff on steroids, I guess. Sparks were not continuous enough for my liking so I moved on to Tesla coiling! Most recent was a 4.3Kw 6.5" coil capable of 3MV with approx 9-10ft sparks.
High Voltage will always kick ass!

 

[Arayan]

One thing you might want to try is to change the distance of the collector at the top. This will improve your charging of the dome.

Thanks, I'll try and I'll make you know

 

[Benm]

As far as a relation to lasers goes: Perhaps it can be used to power a nitrogen laser... there are some nice images on here of a nitrogen laser pumping a dye laser resulting in a very pretty blue beam.

 

[Arayan]

As far as a relation to lasers goes: Perhaps it can be used to power a nitrogen laser... there are some nice images on here of a nitrogen laser pumping a dye laser resulting in a very pretty blue beam.

If anyone will be able to do it could be a nice experiment

 

[vk2fro]

snip
/snip
High Voltage will always kick ass!

That made me laugh; and yes it does kick ass, especially if your in the wrong place at the wrong time touching the wrong bit

 

[brtaman]

As far as a relation to lasers goes: Perhaps it can be used to power a nitrogen laser... there are some nice images on here of a nitrogen laser pumping a dye laser resulting in a very pretty blue beam.

Very possible, the main problem with TEA laser construction is the narrow pulse width required for lasing, which as a result requires very little inductance in the capacitor area (hence planar transparency/foil capacitors are generally used in the DIY world).

You are looking at sub-ns pulse times in atmospheric pressures. As long as that's taken care off, it should be able to run a TEA laser with no real issues, though the firing rate might not be quasi-CW, but then again I have no real experience with Van de Graafs and their output.

Actually IIRC I have seen TEA lasers powered by electrostatic generators before with good results.

 

[Seoul_lasers]

How did you do on the output? any improvements?

 

[Arayan]

How did you do on the output? any improvements?

I have no way of measuring the voltage but it seems more efficient, thanks :wave:

 

[Seoul_lasers]

You can approximate the voltage as
1.1Kv/1mm forumula for sparks.

1.1kv/1mm = 1.1Kv/0.0394in

say you have a 15" spark in open air = ~380Kv

 

[jarrod694]

Electrostatics and lasers can be made to mix. I use a Wimshurst machine as a power supply for my nitrogen lasers and for my nitrogen-laser-pumped dye lasers.

N2 pumped dye lasers - a set on Flickr

I also use a Wimshurst machine as a power supply for the trigger circuit on my ruby laser

YouTube - Homebuilt Ruby Laser

More recent video with more challenging targets:

YouTube - Homemade Ruby Laser 2 - action shots

 

[vk2fro]

More recent video with more challenging targets:

YouTube - Homemade Ruby Laser 2 - action shots

That my friend is impressive. Where do I go to buy one of those *grin*. The ciggy lighter flint practically blows out the picture. How were you getting those stills? Picking frames from recorded video or a DSLR sitting there in motor drive mode?

 

[Gryphon]

^i agree, that ruby has good some punch to it!

 

[Arayan]

More recent video with more challenging targets:

YouTube - Homemade Ruby Laser 2 - action shots

WOW very awesome ruby laser... the beam remember me a star trek phaser

 

[jarrod694]

WOW very awesome ruby laser... the beam remember me a star trek phaser

Thanks!

My next laser project will be a CO2 laser. I'm trying to build the tube from scratch (just buying a commercial tube would kill 99% of the fun, in my opinion). Here's a link to some pics of the project. There aren't very many pictures yet, but this set is under construction, and will expand to include photos of my future progress. I have no idea if this silly thing will work at all, but it's a start.

CO2 laser II - a set on Flickr

I also plan to start experimenting with VDG generators in the future. I've made many other types (and even sold a few of them). Here are some of my electrostatic generators (I know I'm getting off of the subject - sorry).

My Asthetic and Gift/Build-to-Sell Type Electrostatic Generators - a set on Flickr