Investing In Polywell

[MSimon]

A discussion of an encounter with an investor.

And yeah I could have just given a direct link. But I want any one who is able to donate to the project Famulus is undertaking.

http://iecfusiontech.blogspot.com/2010/ ... ywell.html

[Diogenes]

A discussion of an encounter with an investor.

And yeah I could have just given a direct link. But I want any one who is able to donate to the project Famulus is undertaking.

http://iecfusiontech.blogspot.com/2010/ ... ywell.html

Sorry to say this, but I don't consider Famulus to be very convincing as a serious experimenter. I looked at what would be required to put together a serious attempt at replicating a WB7, and it would be a formidable challenge even if you could come up with some of the more expensive pieces. (Large Custom made Vacuum Chamber, Powerful Vacuum Pumps, power supply, etc. )

If I remember correctly, Famulus is needing a few thousand dollars? Even on a shoestring budget, buying surplus, and making everything yourself, I don't see how you can even START a project like this without your own building and $50,000.00 in cash.

Am I missing something?

[chrismb]

The main issue seemed to stem from the reply in which he didn't seem to be able to nail why he wanted $X,000. He seemed to be saying he'd have nothing to show for it all until $XMillion got spent. Who's gonna pay into that? He should've made some statements over developing IPR during that 100k phase, targeting specific new ideas. That might've got some interest.

[Aero]

It also helps if you can find out at what level your investor typically provides initial funding. I know that (Many years ago) DARPA would fund most reasonable ideas if it came in at $50,000, but no matter how good the idea, if it came in above that there was little hope for funding. Maybe that was a limitation in statute, I don't know, but that is the way it was.

[KitemanSA]

SBIR (Small Business Inovative Research) grants, which DARPA has done a LOT of, used to have a limit of $50k for Phase I. Probably the genesis of your observation.

[MSimon]

Famulus got his $3K and plans to use it to replicate some Polywell experiments being done on a shoestring in Australia.

He can accomplish that with what he has on hand plus the cash.

And why do I like Famulus? Because while most of us around here spend our time in the bit bucket he is doing something.

[Diogenes]

Famulus got his $3K and plans to use it to replicate some Polywell experiments being done on a shoestring in Australia.

He can accomplish that with what he has on hand plus the cash.

And why do I like Famulus? Because while most of us around here spend our time in the bit bucket he is doing something.

I'll give him that, but the question that nags me is if He can't afford $3,000.00, how the H3ll does he make a living?

[chrismb]

Famulus got his $3K and plans to use it to replicate some Polywell experiments being done on a shoestring in Australia.
He can accomplish that with what he has on hand plus the cash.

I'll give him that, but the question that nags me is if He can't afford $3,000.00, how the H3ll does he make a living?

I thought the same, but there again if you can recoup something from willing donors then best you state a next phase so people feel they have helped that stage (the very issue, I suspect, of not interesting the VCs).

I've sunk some 5 to 10k into my project, but I don't really know as it is spread over 3 years and it is 'hobby money'. If you want something quick, it'll cost. If you're prepared to do it slow then you may not notice the cost.

[ladajo]

For those that have been a Famulus Fan for some time, you may remember he quit his day job (software something or other) to go full on with Polywell.

I also (as stated some time ago) think it rocks that he is doing. I also like the excitement of the occasional chance that he may blow himself up as he pushes the bounds of modern physics in a workshop with a wood floor and dirty windows.

I can't wait until he mounts and pumps down the chamber for a go at his plasti-cube polywell. Any bets on what colours he will get on the web video?

[MSimon]

For those that have been a Famulus Fan for some time, you may remember he quit his day job (software something or other) to go full on with Polywell.

I also (as stated some time ago) think it rocks that he is doing. I also like the excitement of the occasional chance that he may blow himself up as he pushes the bounds of modern physics in a workshop with a wood floor and dirty windows.

I can't wait until he mounts and pumps down the chamber for a go at his plasti-cube polywell. Any bets on what colours he will get on the web video?

He has already joined the fusor neutron club. So I think he will be OK.

[ladajo]

Really, you don't say.

I am particularly fond of when he realized that maybe he should not be so close to his new gadget when it is running, and the followon bit about how neutrons do tend to activate the stuff you have made your science project out of. Good stuff.

I really respect Famulus, again, he is a do-er. The most noble scientist is the one who learns by doing, afterall, if we new what was going to happen...

[chrismb]

I can't wait until he mounts and pumps down the chamber for a go at his plasti-cube polywell. Any bets on what colours he will get on the web video?

If it works, you won't [or barely] see anything.

If it isn't working very well, it'll look delightful!

[ladajo]

Given the odds on getting in right first light off, my point exactly! The first try or so have the highest probability of pretty colors and coolest video clips.

[chrismb]

He has already joined the fusor neutron club. So I think he will be OK.

Not wishing to imply negative connotations, but there is a fusor neutron club on fusor.net, but famulus is not so joined. I am not aware of any other such club, unless you are merely using the term as a literal statement regarding making a fusor and self-declaring neutrons, in a non-peer-reviewed setting.

The two reasons he is not in the fusor.net fusor neutron club at the moment are that he did not appear to want to give an actual name, and also his one single bubble in a BTI dosimeter is statistically insignificant.

I am sure those points could be corrected if there is sufficient desire to satisfy Richard Hull's criteria for his club. Personally, I don't see what the big deal is with getting 'neutrons' when we know they are easy to get. It is getting them efficiently that is the tricky bit.