Build a CRT: DIY Instructions & Guide

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the feasibility and safety of building a cathode ray tube (CRT) as a DIY physics project. Participants explore the technical challenges, safety concerns, and motivations behind such a project, with a focus on the construction process, necessary materials, and potential hazards associated with CRTs.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant expresses interest in building a CRT for a physics project but seeks a complete guide on how to do so.
  • Another participant questions the motivation behind building a CRT, noting its historical use in television and scientific research, and raises concerns about the challenges of creating a vacuum and glass enclosure at home.
  • Some participants suggest that acquiring a vacuum pump might be feasible, referencing DIY solutions like using old refrigerator pumps.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential production of x-rays when sufficient voltage is applied, with one participant emphasizing the risks involved in such a project.
  • A participant mentions planning to keep the voltage low (2-5 kV) to avoid x-ray production, which typically occurs at higher voltages.
  • Another participant expresses skepticism about the safety of the project and suggests obtaining a pre-made Crookes tube instead of building one from scratch.
  • One participant insists they have sufficient knowledge of physics to manage the risks and is primarily looking for instructions and materials.
  • There is a suggestion that the discussion may not align with the forum's rules regarding dangerous projects.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants exhibit a mix of support and concern regarding the feasibility and safety of building a CRT. While some express confidence in the ability to construct one, others highlight significant risks and question the necessity of the project, indicating a lack of consensus on the safety and practicality of the endeavor.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the challenges of creating a vacuum and glass enclosure, as well as the potential hazards associated with high voltages and x-ray production. There are unresolved concerns about the safety of DIY projects involving potentially dangerous equipment.

Amsingh123
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I've been looking to do a physics project, and since particle accelerators are too dangerous, I was thinking about building a cathode ray tube (CRT) I've done some research about building CRTs, and haven't been able to find anything that gives a complete list of how to build a CRT. Could anyone tell me how to build one?
 
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but why would you want to build one , the most widespread application of cathode rays was exactly what you just mentioned a CRT tube for tv.
back in times they had these huge vacuum tubes like Crookes tube which served as scientific research apparatus

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crookes_tube

I guess you want this just for fun so to speak , i doubt you can build this at home due to the vacuum thing and glass.

building one isn't that complicated , the hard part is that you need vacuum and a glass enclosure
 
Couldn't you acquire a vacuum pump?
 
And I'm just doing it for fun.
 
ok get a vacuum pump , that wouldn't even be the hardest part.people have made vacuum pumps out of some old refrigerator pumps etc.

But I can't imagine how could you make the glass enclosure at home.
and if your doing it for fun then remember that glass is a must.

also did you read about the link I gave you ?

such cathode tubes given sufficient voltage will make x rays , remember x rays are basically electrons at a certain amplitude of frequency ,get that frequency to the electrons in the tube and you have x rays.In more simple terms supply enough power and you get them.
And that wouldn't be fun anymore would it ? :d
 
I plan on making it a pretty crude CRT, so the glass enclosure shouldn't be too difficult to find.
 
Why not just buy one? You need to buy a power supply and a vacuum pump anyway.

You sound like a hazard to yourself, I'm expecting this thread to be closed as well. PF has pretty strict rules when it comes to people (usually people that have no idea what they're doing) playing with potentially dangerous equipment (this includes ones that can produce x-rays, such as a crookes tube) at home.
 
And I plan on only keeping the voltage at 2-5 kv and x rays are only produced at about 15 kv
 
And thanks for your concern but I have a pretty good idea of what I'm doing. I've taken enough physics courses to understand potential risks, and I know how to avoid them. I was only looking for a solid set of instructions and materials to guide me.
 
  • #10
I'm not making them for any practical purpose, just for fun.
 
  • #11
well ofcourse i can't read your mind but it kinda sounds your not fully sure what you are doing,
maybe just get a crookes tube or somthing similar from some lab for the project time and purposes?
if you are at some school I'm sure they have some equipment.
 
  • #12
Amsingh123 said:
Could anyone tell me how to build one?

Amsingh123 said:
And thanks for your concern but I have a pretty good idea of what I'm doing. I've taken enough physics courses to understand potential risks, and I know how to avoid them.

The second statement and the first statement cannot both be simultaneously true.

As you were told in your other thread, we do not discuss dangerous projects here.
 

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