Wimshurst Generator #2

This is what I wrote about this device when I was 17. As of right now (2007), I'm 25. I never did finish it, saddly. Unfortunately one of the disc bosses was improperly machined and makes its disc slightly off balance. This induces a dangerous amount of vibration into the discs that can move at a few thousand rpm, so I never bothered to finish the thing. Eventually I want to machine new bosses and replace the discs with ones cut from PP, PE, PS, or G-10 fiberglass laminate. Then I'll add a proper HV collection scheme following the very good advice in R.A. Ford's book "Homemade Lightning."

...work proceeded the last few weeks of school(98-99).It went slow, as I could only spend about 30 minutes per week day on it. I was building it in my high school's metals technology room, so the time limit was imposed by the class I'm taking in there. I don'y want to think about getting out of high school and, gasp, not having free access to a machine shop anymore!

Each disk is directly motor-driven, with no pulleys or belts. Lucky for me to be able to balance the disks for high speeds, using (carefully!) a metal lathe, with a piece of drill rod the same diameter as the motor shafts locked onto the chuck. The disk boss locks onto the drill rod, and the lathe is run. Using sand paper, and a -VERY- sharp cutter, the edges of the disks were trued.

The generator has been assembled, at least everything but any kind of HV collection system. The disks don't lock correctly onto the motor shafts, so they each have an offset from the vertical equal to the thickness of the disks. They rub while the thing revs up, but only occasionally touch once the thing is up to speed.

Specs:

• Two 12"dia. 3/32" thickness Plexiglass Discs
• Two 12V universal motors, capable of several thousand rpm unloaded
• Direct connection of each disk boss to each motor shaft
• Nuetralizer blades are each 2" long, the points formed in brass shimstock cut with pinking shears. Angle infinitely adjustable.

• As little space between the discs as possible, not really measurable since they vibrate when under power.

First Light

In the high humidity of summer, i have to cook the thing with a hair dryer before the discs will take a charge, but once they do... ...WOW!!! A very loud continous crackle, bright purple glows travelling the disks' surfaces, and more! On the positive side of the disks, PAINFUL hot streams of sparks can be drawn to the finger tips, up to an inch away. Visible discharge to 3 to 4". Negative side, dim, sensationless discharge to the palm of my hand nearly 5" long. This is only off the disks themselves, no HV collection system or leyden jars included!