Hand machined mechanical pencils
 

Vacuum

2014

Magnetron plasma Demonstration of the plasma in a magnetron sputtering gun

2013

Glow discharge solving the shortest-path problem Laser-engraved channels in an acrylic sheet can act as discharge paths

2011

Customised text discharge tube Glow-discharge tube with a cathode spelling out text

Vacuum filling manifold Gas manifold for a vacuum pump to allow devices to be evacuated and filled with gas.

2010

Second Panaplex display A miniature Panaplex display based on a commercial device

Reed switch wires as glass-metal seals Reed switches provide a source of alloy wire, suitable for sealing to soft glass

Houskeeper seals Details on the technique of making glass-to-metal tubular joints, which rely on the plastic deformation of a feathered metal edge to achieve the seal. No fancy glass sealing alloy is required.

Panaplex display A seven-segment gas discharge "Panaplex" display in a jam jar.

2007

Capacitance manometer dissection The innards of a capacitance manometer

2006

Thin-film thermopile A copper-aluminium thermopile made by thermal evaporation

Thermionic emission Demonstration of electron emission from a heated tungsten filament

Simple HV feedthrough A basic high voltage feedthrough built from glass tube and stainless rod

Diffusion-pumped vacuum system A diff pump system intended for mirror coating

Stainless-steel bellows Some sources of stainless-steel flexible bellows for vacuum use

High-current feedthroughs Two high-current vacuum feedthroughs using PTFE bar as the insulator

2005

Farnsworth-Hirsch Fusor A rather inept attempt at making a fusor. Mostly just nice plasma pictures.