Customized vacuum controller facilitates the development of vacuum tubes

Vacuum tubes was the constructing blocks of computation and the drivers of screaming guitar amplifiers, however they’re uncommon at this time — so uncommon that there are just about no producers producing new items. Should you store for vacuum tubes, most of what you’ll discover is both used or NOS (new previous inventory). That has led to boutique vacuum tube manufacturing, however that may be a substantial enterprise. To make the method just a bit bit simpler, Nick Poole created this practice vacuum controller.

Because the identify suggests, a vacuum tube requires a sealed chamber underneath vacuum. That vacuum is critical to offer “clear” house between the anode and cathode, so electrons can stream freely. It’s virtually inconceivable to realize an ideal vacuum, however vacuum tube producers attempt to get as shut as doable to get one of the best efficiency. Evacuating the tube earlier than sealing is a tough process, which is why Poole needed a controller to streamline the method.

This requires two vacuum chambers: one for tough vacuum and one for arduous vacuum. The brand new tube connects to the evacuation port, which connects to these vacuum chambers by way of specialty valves. This controller, based mostly on an Arduino, wants to manage the operation of the vacuum pumps and valves. It additionally wants to observe the pressures/vacuum, drive gauges, and supply indicators. There’s a lot that may go incorrect in a rush once you’re working with arduous vacuum, so the Arduino ensures that every step happens within the correct sequence so Poole can deal with forming the glass when he fabricates vacuum tubes.