Re: [neonixie-l] Etching anodes and cathodes

Michel van der Meij Tue, 29 Jan 2013 19:22:20 -0800

OK, I see what you mean. My interpretation of outgassing was wrong, I thought it had to do with gas leaving the envelope but you're referring to trapped gas leaving the metal/plastic parts. I don't know if that problem could be solved, maybe there is a different way that plastic parts can be outgassed somehow without heating them up to their melting point. Or perhaps it is possible to tackle the problem at the source and make sure the plastic parts cannot have trapped gas. I'm only guessing here through :-). If there is a way to utilize 3D printing for cathodes and grids, it would significantly simplify the process of making your own nixie tubes. I am pretty sure within the next 5 years or so someone has figured out how this can be done.

Michel

on Jan 30, 2013, Charles MacDonald <cm...@zeusprune.ca> wrote:

On 13-01-29 02:03 AM, Michel van der Meij wrote:
> That is really cool stuff!
>
> Maybe one day it is possible/affordable to use a 3D printer to print
> these cathodes and grids using a conductive plastic of some sort.

I would expect that the plastic would outgas rather easily, and would
not survive the stage where you use an RF heater to drive gas off the parts.

BUT, You might be able to use a 3D printer to make a model for the Lost
wax casting process. (often used to make Jewelry) The plastic part is
made, and covered in Clay, then the Plastic is burned out and metal is
put in the mold. You then smash the mold and get out a precise metal part.

(my guess is that commercial Nixie tube had the parts stamped out in a
punch and die set. A pricy bit of tooling but simple to make vast
quantities of sharp edged parts)

As far as the spacers, those could be molded in Ceramic Clay and fired
in a Kiln. The mold could be made in Silicon or similar, again the
prototype could be made on a 3D printer, or just turned on a lathe.

--
Charles MacDonald Stittsville Ontario
cm...@zeusprune.ca Just Beyond the Fringe
http://Charles.MacDonald.org/tubes
No Microsoft Products were used in sending this e-mail.

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Re: [neonixie-l] Etching anodes and cathodes

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