900,000 volt Van de Graaff Generator Using Cheap Parts

Step 11 Base (comb and bottom roller)

The bottom comb position in relation to the bottom roller is shown below.

Note that the roller will be turning counter clock wise and that the pins are just above were the belt will leave the roller.

Comments

[methoxypropyl]

Your instructions are nicely done. The adjustment of the brushes could be made if you use a spacer like paper of various thickness to make positioning easier and more parallel. I haven't started yet but I assume the belt will have a tendency to centrifugally move towards the brushes if they are above the tangent point off the rollers? You say to move them just above where the belt is starting to loose contact with the roller. Are you saying that is very important or can the brushes be at the tangent of belt and roll? If so, then the likelihood of scraping is reduced.

[nickademuss]

If you use the right kind of belt it doesn't flair out very much.

You will find out that running the belt really fast doesn't help much because of leakage at the sphere to the air.

[seansippo]

do i want the bottom comb touching, or like the top one where it is close as possible without touching the belt?

[nickademuss]

as close as possible to the belt without touching