Models Suitable for Display

[KitemanSA]

Actually, the center should look a bit more like this, I think. Thanks to KCDodd.

[rjaypeters]

Thanks, I hadn't seen that picture before.

So this is not perfect...



in part because my software doesn't want to put fillets in the funny corners. But adequate, I think.



If any are interested, the KCDodd-like core is going to be interesting to make into a printable item, which might lead to other changes...

[KitemanSA]

I got the impression that the KCDodd form was the wiffle-ball, not the core and should be much closer to the magnets.

KC?

[ladajo]

Thats what I thought as well.

[D Tibbets]

I agree that the Wiffleball surface is the appropriate surface to image. This is a distinct border region where conditions abruptly change. It is the radius at which the magrid magnetic field is excluded (and the very low magnetic field strength caused by the opposing magnetic fields in the cusps). How spiky you make the border is dependent on some arbitrary assumptions. You could even flare out the spikes outside of the magrid. I suppose that the most functional drawing would be to have the spikes end at the magrid, with colored representation of the end of the spike (and ridges) to illistrate the width of the loss channels for electrons. These colored cross sections represent the ~ 1/ 1000, 2000, 3,000 ? surface area ratio that represents the Wiffleball traping factor. As the Wiffleball 'inflates' it is probably closer to the magrid radius than the center. I'm not sure how you would visualize the core- as the Wiffleball border, as the density at a given radius, speed of ions or electrons, collisionality isotopes, assuming confluence- the radius where >90% of the fusions occur, etc .

Dan Tibbets

[rjaypeters]

[hanelyp]

Threw together a display model for the wiffleball:

povray source:

#declare diag = 54.735610317; //(atan(sqrt(2)/1));
#declare flatscal = 0.4;
#declare diagscal = 0.4;

#declare wiffleball =
difference
{
sphere {<0,0,0> 1}
torus {1 1 scale <1,flatscal,1> translate y}
torus {1 1 scale <1,flatscal,1> translate -y}
torus {1 1 scale <1,flatscal,1> rotate z*90 translate x}
torus {1 1 scale <1,flatscal,1> rotate z*90 translate -x}
torus {1 1 scale <1,flatscal,1> rotate x*90 translate z }
torus {1 1 scale <1,flatscal,1> rotate x*90 translate -z }

torus {1 1 scale <1,diagscal,1> translate y rotate x*diag rotate y*45 }
torus {1 1 scale <1,diagscal,1> translate y rotate x*(180-diag) rotate y*45 }

torus {1 1 scale <1,diagscal,1> translate y rotate x*diag rotate y*135 }
torus {1 1 scale <1,diagscal,1> translate y rotate x*(180-diag) rotate y*135 }

torus {1 1 scale <1,diagscal,1> translate y rotate x*diag rotate y*225 }
torus {1 1 scale <1,diagscal,1> translate y rotate x*(180-diag) rotate y*225 }

torus {1 1 scale <1,diagscal,1> translate y rotate x*diag rotate y*-45 }
torus {1 1 scale <1,diagscal,1> translate y rotate x*(180-diag) rotate y*-45 }

//texture { T_redmetal }
texture{pigment{Red}}
}

I expect this should translate easily enough to other modeling software.

Edit:
taking a closer look, the funny cusps where the toroids kiss are oriented the wrong direction. adjusting flatscal and diagscal may fix that.

[Tom Ligon]

My usual verbal description is to imagine the magnetic fields are made of foam rubber and the plasma is like a balloon. Inflate the balloon and it pushes back the foam, closing up the openings.

Dr. Bussard was not entirely happy with the description, but if the field shapes could be done with some clear gel it might work pretty closely to the truth in a model.

At some point you just have to admire Powerpoint's ability to run animations.

What does a holographic projector cost these days? 3D Powerpoint?

[rjaypeters]

I am still waiting for a quotation from them as Titanium quotation is not available online.

I don't know if they have this kind of TV commercial in Italy, but here, usually for a semi-professional-grade tool, they advertise a website or phone number to contact, but don't tell you the price until you contact them.

Is this another case of: "If you have to ask, you can't afford it?"

[Giorgio]

Is this another case of: "If you have to ask, you can't afford it?"

It sure looks like one of those case

I called them again and one of the people told me that they are "discussing" about the quotation and should be ready within next week.
Il looks amazing to me that they need 2 weeks to quote it.....

[KitemanSA]

RJay,
Beauteous maximus!

[rjaypeters]

KitemanSA,

Thanks for noticing. I kind of like it too!

The only problem with that design is the central volume (the imaginary wiffleball), I am informed by Shapeways, is not printable!

I have worked out a way to assemble the wiffleball. (I'm almost certain it can be split around an equator, two halves printed and assembled with registration pins) with holes for the cusp leaks, stick in the cusp leaks and snap on the rings (to the cusp leaks).

My limitations now are lack of sleep, motivation (see lack of sleep) and lack of anyone who wants one of these printed.

I am also making the cusp leaks more organic with the wiffleball, e.g. the ring close-approach leak will have a cross-section somewhat like an American football, the corner leaks will exhibit a semi-triangular cross-section and the face leaks, a square-ish cross-section.

I've also reduced the scale so the distance from ring to ring is below 100mm to keep the price down, if it ever gets printed (but that will probably be me which is one reason I've reduced the size).

P.S. Does polywell plasma have a visible color?

[Giorgio]

My limitations now are lack of sleep, motivation (see lack of sleep) and lack of anyone who wants one of these printed.
I can't help you with the lack of sleep but I will get also one of these printed for sure

P.S. Does polywell plasma have a visible color?

A light red should look quite nice with the silver of the rings.

[rjaypeters]

A light red should look quite nice with the silver of the rings.

I thought so, too.

Somewhere I got the impression the plasmas are pink, but I am almost certainly wrong about that. And I don't know that polywell plasmas are that hot, but certainly they aren't cold.

BTW, my tiny wiffleballs are in production.

[rjaypeters]

but I will get also one of these printed for sure

I know you like the original ball, but if you mean one with the KCDodd-like core, leaks and rings, I think that would be really cool, too.

Anyway, let's see if the trimmed KCDodd-like core:



is printable. Should be, there aren't any downward hanging points.

Edit: And it is! For the paltry sum of $330, you can have a test core! That price isn't going to come down much even though I'll be taking more material out of the core. And then there will be the rings and cusp leaks...