X-pinch driver 2-bricks fabrication

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Progress Reports

December 08, 2013

• The updated drawing of bricks with remeasured front plate's holes created (drawing #2013.1.001.0001)

December 09, 2013

• The list of possible manufacturing company for Brick's Housing (BH) parts production is established:
  • Partner Steel Co, Inc, Pocatello;
  • Valley Sheet Metal (VSM) Technologies, Idaho Falls;
  • Primear Technology, Blackfoot;
  • Northwest wire EDM, Spokane, WA;
  • Nelson Metal Technology, Payette, ID;
  • Water Jet Cutting, Albuquerque;
• All above companies have been contacted for quotes. Criteria were price and speed of production.

December 10, 2013

• Brick's Housing (BH) parts (steel/AL/PMMA sheets) drawings is approved by Spielman (drawings #2013.1.001.0002-0009)

December 11, 2013

• VSM Technologies: selected as manufactured company for BH parts (drawings #2013.1.001.0002-0009)

December 17, 2013

• BH parts arrived at IAC and inspected. Kevin is going to assemble and weld them all together.

December 18, 2013

• Cathode/anode drawings submitted to Spielman for approving (drawings #2013.1.001.0010-0017)
• PMMA_Output_Sheet/Charging_Isolating_Tube drawings submitted to Spielman for approving (drawings #2013.1.001.0018-0019)
• X-pinch driver assembly drawing with included cathode/anode submitted to Spielman for approving (drawing #2013.1.001.0020)
• PARKER's Viton O-rings V0769-60 2-246 (2 pcs), ID 4 1/2 and W 1/8", selected for vacuum seal inside the cathode/anode section.

December 19, 2013

• LESKER reduced 4-way cross (C-0800-275, $890) found as a candidate for vacuum chamber [1];
• LESKER reduced 4-way cross drawing downloaded and incorporated into SolidWorks (assembly file Lesker_C-800_275\C-0800-275_reassembled);
• LESKER reduced 4-way cross redesigned to match our x-pinch driver (drawing file Lesker_C-800_275\LESKER_C-0800-275_REASSEMBLED);

December 20, 2013

• Some changes to parts have been done to accommodate LESKER redesigned cross:
  • 1) for Al output plate, the inner cut increased from 4.5 diameter to 10" diameter to match the cross (drawing #2013.1.001.0008);
  • 2) for anode can, the slot size increased from 0.4" to 0.5" to march x-pinch wires length (drawing #2013.1.001.0014);
• Reassembled LESCER cross drawing submitted to Spielman for approving (drawing LESKER C-0800-275_REASSEMBLED)
• X-pinch driver assembly drawing with included cathode/anode/cross submitted to Spielman for approving (drawing #2013.1.001.0021)
• LESCER cross and new assembly drawings is approved by Spielman:

December 30, 2013

• LESKER reduced 4-way cross (C-0800-275, $890) is ordered [2]. Expected delivery id January 16, 2014. Comments: this one we will cut and reassemble later in the way we need. Just to remind, I plan two use one 8" flange for plate connection, one 8" flange for x-pinch access and vacuum pump connection, one 2 3/4 flange for x-ray diagnostics and one 2 3/4 flange for x-ray output.

• for x-ray windows we can use Beryllium window (available from Moxtek in 1-1/3 and 2-1/8 CF flanges [3]).

For 2-1/8 CF flanges x-ray window, we will need Zero-Length Reducer Flange (from 2 3/4 to 2 1/8), like [4]

• can we use quartz window instead of beryllium? (we can probably borrow one from IAC stock);
• do we need RIGHT NOW x-ray window? A: no, we will need just glass viewport for x-pinch visual observation;

December 31, 2013

Other parts we need for vacuum chamber are:

• flanges:
  • 8" fixed blank CF flange, Lesker part #F0800X000N, $125 [5]. Note: I would cut this flange in the middle to reduce the weight twice from 12 -> 6 lbs;
  • 2 3/4" fixed bore 1.63" CF flange, Lesker part #F0275X175N, $15 [6]. Note: this flange will be used for x-ray diode's mounting;
  • 2-3/4" CF flange viewport window. Note: this flange will be used for visual x-pinch observation. Later this flange can be replaced by x-ray window. Choose the cheapest (first) one:
    • Corning 7056 Glass Viewport - 2.75" CF Flange, Accu-Glass Products, $125 [7];
    • Conflat Flange (CF) Zero Length Glass Viewport 1.5 inch to CF 2-3/4 inch, Ideal Vacuum Products, 179.95 [8];
    • 2 3/4" CF flange Sapphire Viewports, Lesker part #VPZL-275SW, $650 [9];
• gaskets [10]:
  • 1/4 Hard OFHC Copper Gasket for 2-3/4" CF flange, Lesker part #GA-0275, set of 10, $26.40;
  • 1/4 Hard OFHC Copper Gasket for 8" CF flange, Lesker part #GA-0800, set of 10, $75.00.
• fasteners scroll down:
  • 5/16—24 x 2-1/4" Bolt & Nut Set, Lesker part #HBS31224225, set of 25, $37.58 (for 8" flange up);
  • 5/16—24 x 1-3/4" Bolt Kits, Lesker part #HBK31224175, set of 25, $30.60 (for 8" flange Al plate connection), (need 1" length);
  • 1/4—28 x 1-3/8" Bolt & Nut Set, Lesker part #HBS25028138, set of 25, $29.38 (for 2-3/4" flanges);

• Total quote is xxx.xx plus shipping.

January 02, 2014

• Al output plate drawing #2013.1.001.0008 is updated to accommodate vacuum chamber's cross (11" cut changed to 8" and added slot cuts for small flanges);
• Reassembled Lesker cross drawing #2013.1.001.0030 is updated (file name changed and added some dimensions for clarity);
• Assembly drawing #2013.1.001.0021 is in progress;

X-pinch driver fabrication to do list

• Can we use cross instead of cube? (A: Cross - not, but reduced cross - yes);
• Do we need to use Cu gasket to seal CF flange? If so, we need a lot of them for every shot. (A: yes, we need to use Cu gaskets);

• X-pinch cathode/anode design and fabrication:
  • Design x-pinch cathode/anode (in progress, almost done: drawings #2013.1.001.0010-0021);
  • Fabricate anode/cathode/vacuum_chamber parts, drawings #2013.1.001.0010-0021;

• X-pinch vacuum chamber design and fabrication:
  • Design x-pinch vacuum chamber, (done: based on Lesker 8" and 2-3/4" reducing cross, drawing #2013.1.001.0030 and assembly drawing #2013.1.001.0021);
  • Include Al plate's taped holes in drawing #2013.1.001.0008 (done);
  • Buy all parts for x-pinch vacuum chamber:
    • Buy LESKER 8"/2-3/4" reducing cross (done: bought on 12/30/13, RACL60, expected delivery Jan 16, 2014);
    • Identify all flanges/viewports/gaskets/fasterners for cross;
    • Buy all flanges/viewports/gaskets/fasterners for cross;

• O-Rings:
  • Identify o-rings and locate position in PMMA (done: ~3 mm, ~ 1/2" from PMMA inner diameter);
  • Include o-ring's grooves into the PMMA drawing #2013.1.001.0018;
  • Identify/buy o-rings;

• Identify/buy charging lines;
• Locate vacuum pump

• Diagnostics: Rogowskii and B-Dot:
  • Read Rick's notes and paper;
  • design and include in drawing;
  • fabricate;