Hey again John, Just get some little 'seed' beads from the bead store for spacers. If you've got ultrasound, I recommend it- there can be a little refractory sludge in 'em from the production. I made a few 'crackle' tubes using black seed beads and neon about 10 years back...really cool effect.
-Dylan On Friday, September 28, 2012 7:09:57 AM UTC-7, jrehwin wrote: > > > it is not so easy, the total surface of each digit should be constant to > achieve constant current and constant brightness of each digit (else You > will have to struggle with resistors on cathodes..). Bigger number = higher > current.. > > While this is true, it isn't an absolute. Existing nixies have different > currents for different digits (particularlay "1"). Since they're > more-or-less constant > voltage devices, the anode resistor tends to even out the different > current draws. Running nixies from higher voltages with larger anode > resistors > helps with this (at the cost of efficiency). Some designs actually use > current regulation instead of anode resistors, and these will tend to > overdrive > the smaller digits slightly. > > That said, it would be simple enough to write code to adjust the digit > stroke thicknesses to achieve matching total areas. Note that in some > nixies, > the "1" digit is made with a double stroke to help with this. > > > And I also like the retro look of original digits ;-) > > That is a perfectly valid reason. If I were going to clone a nixie, I'd > choose the CD-66 with its particularly nice digit shapes. > > However, if I'm making my own nixies, I'd be interested in making them > visibly distinct from existing ones. If I want a CD-66, I > can just go buy one (unless I want a CD-66 with 30mm digits). If I want a > nixie with Böcklin or Klingon digits, I'll have to make > my own. > > There's also a mechanical consideration - thicker digits will be more > rigid and stable, and should survive longer. However, > this thickness can be in material thickness or stroke width. > > > Once I have working tube (as close as possible to original) I can play > and change things inside.. > > Absolutely. Coming up with digit shapes is likely not the most difficult > problem in making nixies. > > > Have You made something working with mentioned digit graphics? > > Not as of yet. My original plan was to photoetch them, but I just heard > from someone who's making custom variable > capacitor plates, and has access to a water jet cutter. > > I've been pricing the little ceramic rings used as insulating digit > separators, and they're expensive, so now I'm thinking > of glass and mica as alternatives. > > - John > > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To post to this group, send an email to neonixie-l@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to neonixie-l+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/neonixie-l/-/xOPvGP4rlcAJ. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.