Lichtenberg figures | ΤΕΡΕΖΑΚΗΣ

I am using parallel discs for this one. As soon as I finish stuffing the tube and wiring it up, I will calculate and then measure the capacitance. Except for the nuts, bolts, and galvanized washers, all materials in these capacitors have been rescued from heading to a landfill. There is something gratifying in that.

Check out the laser action too! I still think that is like magic. Prior to cutting plastic parts, I cut diameter samples out of cardboard in order to check for fit inside the pvc pipe. Using cardboard or paper prior to running “good” material is a cost and time saver (thank you, John Duane!).

Here is a video of the laser re-cutting the discs as the material was a bit too thick for the speed which the head was traveling at. When you see sparking, that is the laser beam striking the Aluminum honeycomb bed below the plastic.[quicktime]http://www.terezakis.org/itp/video/40mm-laser-4-9837.mp4[/quicktime]

Assembly went well. The washers and laser cut discs were a great fit. When I get time I will measure and test.

Like every other college student Thanksgiving 2013 was an opportunity to take school work home. I was fortunate to be able to recruit the love and resources of my brothers Anast and Terry Terezakis to work on two projects.

Now living with his family in Florida, Terry has been my often unwilling assistant since we were children. We rarely get to see each other any more and building this foil and polyethylene capacitor was reminiscent of old times.

Fortunately for the two of us, Anast was still away on a deer hunt, so we were able to work like Victorian gentlemen-scientists – albeit as carefully as though we were handling nuclear materials. Unfortunately, we bored our little nephew Nicholas beyond tears.
Thank you Anast and Terry!

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