Wimshurst machine

[Gordon WassParticipant @gordonwass]

I've been looking all over the web for drawings to make a Winshurst machine, all I can find are loads of youtube videos and some very strange ideas. Can't download videos anyway. Just need drawing, don't mind paying ( reasonable sums ) Any ideas ?

[Gordon WassParticipant @gordonwass]

[Keith LongParticipant @keithlong89920]

Gordon

I don't know what terms you searched with but try this LINK as a starting point. There are 5 pages to it in all, just change the part number in the url to 1,2,3 or 4 as required, part 5 you can access from the end of part 4 and it is concerned with the set up and adjustment.

I've not read the articles in detail but if the finished machine looks like that shown on the web pages then it's a pretty good representation of the classic machine, and no doubt with some care and attention to any bits of polished metal ware and wooden bases would be a very attractive display item.

Keith

ps just had a look at the ME index – there are dozens of articles on Wimshust machines running from 1898 or there abouts for the next hundred years!

Edited By Keith Long on 18/08/2013 17:02:27

[Richard MarksParticipant @richardmarks80868]

Gordon

Try and locate a copy of The Boy Electrician from 1920, I am sure there is a facsimile copy available from a well known engineering booksite, it contains full building plans and construction notes, they certainly didn't have any health and safety in those days. ps there is a 1960s copy as well but that version does not have the plans you need.

Good Hunting

Dick

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Super job, when I were a lad, 15 of us joined hands and then each end of the line touched an electrode as the master turned the handle !! 15, 14,13,…… down to about the last 6 hard nuts. Another experiment was to stand a lad with long hair on a glass plate. he held one wire whilst the master held another wire fixed to a metal plate above his head – just to see his hair stand on end. Don't make em like that now – more's the pity.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Oops – I see that my link has already been posted by Keith

 

Edited By Speedy Builder5 on 18/08/2013 21:03:30

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

There is a book on construction called I believe "The Whimshurst Machine" how to make and use it. I have a copy somewhere which came from Lindsay Publications who now are defunct I believe. You should be able to track down a second hand copy from somewhere.

regards Martin

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Course if I could spell WIMSHURST I would have found the book the first time round.

TEE Publishing have one

http://www.teepublishing.co.uk/books/experimental-works/wimshurst-machine/

It's by A W Marshall.

PS (Diane) Don't shout at me for advertising the competition.

[Anonymous]

I have a book called 'Homemade Lightning' by R. A. Ford which gives details of making a Wimshurst machine. It was published by TAB Books; ISBN 0-8306-3576-9 for the paperback version.

Regards,

Andrew

[Gordon WassParticipant @gordonwass]

Success, tee pubs have it and ordered. thanks all, easy when you know how.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I did at one time have the plans in a pre war copy of Hobbies magazine that my dad had, unfortunately gone now, there was also plans to make your own X-Ray tube. Ian S C

[ronan walshParticipant @ronanwalsh98054]

Sorry to resurrect this year old thread, but i just wanted to know how the build went gordon ? I too want to build a wimshurst machine, but all i can find online is rubbish made from bits of plastic and cardboard. One made in the classic brass and hardwood would be a nice ornament.

[Dave DanielsParticipant @davedaniels93256]

Quite a lot of Wimshurst / electrostatic info. on here :

**LINK**

 

Including a sector dimension etc. calculator, bottom of page.

http://www.coe.ufrj.br/~acmq/wimshurst.html

 

 

D.

 

Edited By Dave Daniels on 14/09/2014 06:51:35

[donkeyParticipant @donkey]

make magazine volume 17 did a nice build with instructions.pm me for more info.

brian

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

Hello all and thanks for the help. As usual with these things the job got a bit behind, but is now almost ready to go. For interest the main discs are 5mm acrylic ? x 13" dia. main frame is 20mm ply. I got a lot of imfo 'about sectors and spacing of the link posted above. For a start all bearings are brass bushings but may fit rollers later. Main problem has been getting something to make the neutralising brushes, had to buy some expensive chocolate to get some foil. If I had not had a leak in the loft and some tiles to fit in kitchen it would be sparking now. PS I bought the discs ready cut of ebay, they are not dead round but near enough for this job.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Gordon, you should have been able to find aluminium foil in the kitchen.

There are plenty of sites on Google on Wimshurst machines, and Van de Graaff generators.

Ian S C

Edited By Ian S C on 14/09/2014 13:01:15

[Dave DanielsParticipant @davedaniels93256]

Gordon ..

No need for metallic neutraliser brushes. On my Bonetti I used a bit of the black conductive plastic bags I get chips [ ic chips ] in. As a Bonetti has no sectors, they don't tend to rip up the disc surface. So long as there is a reasonably conductive path between the brushes, they will work fine. Well, mine did anyway. Could get 7-8" sparks from a 16" machine. Should, in theory do rather better than that though, but Bonettis are more sensitive to humidity than Wimshursts.

Dave.

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

Ian, have kitchen foil but this ,and all other sources of foil , seems to be too hard and abrasive. The sectors are made from self-adhesive alum. foil and seems quite soft and fragile. This foil was used to seal joints in HGV reefer vans so should be tough. Having cut out 64 plus a few spares I don't fancy doing it again.

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

My understanding of these machines suggests that the brushes don’t. .”touch”..and its the spiky nature of the brush that is the active bit…
But I have seen brushes made of bowed foil___^___ sort of fold thing. ..

[Dave DanielsParticipant @davedaniels93256]

Jason

Which machines ?

 

I fixed 2 Wimshurst Machines ages ago and they certainly did touch the sectors. Both the neutraliser and collector brushes. One had raised 'domes' to take the brush contact.

Bonettis should not touch but the spark length drops rapidly with increasing disc- brush gap so they need to be very close as you say with a serrated edge. My Bonetti was made with 6mm Polycarbonate discs which were not particularly flat so I made the neutraliser and collector 'blades' from the conductive bags and let them actually touch the discs very lightly.

Dave

 

Just remembered the manufacturer of the one with 'domed sectors '

Here is a pic. somewhat better looking than the one I resurrected …

http://www.antiques-atlas.com/antique/wimshurst_machine/as172a045

 

Edited By Dave Daniels on 14/09/2014 14:41:46

[Russell EberhardtParticipant @russelleberhardt48058]

Huh, Wimshurst machines are kiddies toys. Build a Tesla coil and you can play like this.

Russell.

[Dave DanielsParticipant @davedaniels93256]

Far too exciting for we Old Codgers ….

Prefer Classical stuff ..

**LINK**

Dave

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Dave Daniels…last wimshurst….38 years ago…
Collector brushes. ..vandegraff…four examples built over as many years…..but as I said MY understanding….

[Gordon WParticipant @gordonw]

It's my understanding that neutraliser brushes touch the segments, and collectors have "spikes".I made the collectors by soldering fine copper wire across the "U"s and cutting to give a small gap. Considered making a Bonnetti machine but thought the N of Scotland not good for best performance!

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Although not of the complication and hence mechanical appeal of a Wimshurst. .I like the kelvin generator for its elegance
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelvin_water_dropper

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