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Machining a Mini Tesla Turbine from Cardboard

Machining a Mini Tesla Turbine from Cardboard
This mini Tesla Turbine was constructed almost entirely from scrap cardboard. The design was inspired by an article that appeared in Popular Mechanics from 1965. The original design required the precision machining of brass, copper and stainless steel. Here's a picture of how the completely assembled turbine looked: http://www.lindsaybks.com/dgjp/djgbk/ttur/index.html.

Fortunately, you won���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¢���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¢���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¬���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¢���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¢t need a metalworking shop or even the assistance of a master mechanic to build this hand-held power plant from household items, simple hardware and glue. However, you will need a high-speed electric drill to serve as a lathe along with some basic hand tools and plenty of patience. Components that do require machining (specifically, grinding and drilling) are built up from inexpensive material called bookbinder's board that's used to make the end covers for 3-ring binders.

Project Details
The turbine consists of 16 parallel, closely spaced and aerodynamically contoured discs which are centered on a common axle. This rotor assembly is suspended within a cylidrical shell by support and retainer assemblies that house aviation grade bearings. When an airstream is introduced into the turbine, it spirals inward between the discs toward exhaust ports surrounding each disc's center. Finally, air exits the turbine along the axis of rotation. According to The Master himself, it's the adhesion of air to the discs not friction that spins the axle of this remarkable invention (http://www.tfcbooks.com/tesla/1911-09-18.htm). To explore what this turbine can do, grab your mechanical pencil, dust off your drill and get busy building! :D

Caution
This turbine spooled up to a few dozen RPM with only a small hair dryer. Don't underestimate the speed this mean machine can attain with enough air pressure! Although the rotor won���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¢���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¢���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¬���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¢���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¯�¿�½���¿���¯�¿�½���½���¯�¿�½���¯���¿���½���¯�¿�½���¢t fragment and produce dangerous shrapnel if pushed beyond its tensile limit (a real possibility with metal discs), anything attached to the rotor shaft can fly off unexpectedly if not properly secured and hit someone or break something.
 
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Step 1Machining a Mini Tesla Turbine from Cardboard

Machining a Mini Tesla Turbine from Cardboard
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35 comments
Feb 29, 2012. 3:24 AMhayme says:
Hey dude may i ask something? what is the initial length of this? i made a replica of your tubine in (much cheaper version) so, can you give me like some formula? ex:

Wind speed + blade diameters = speed of fan? you know something like that. Like i said, mine is a bit cheaper so could you go through the roll size and length and this sort of stuff?
Oct 16, 2011. 7:57 PMatterack833 says:
the site must hate me cause it said your price $99 as though im the only onw having to pay that price , if thats what you paid then your insane
Feb 26, 2012. 7:58 AMhayme says:
Don't worry dude i am making a "cheap version" of this one. Well pray that mine works "i am currently using a bond paper puncher, a scissors, an illustration board, a compass, a sandpaper and some skewer stick. OK pray that i got motivations or Tesla's deity bless me.
Jan 20, 2012. 1:34 AMtopan.beang says:
wow .. that's amazing ..
can tesla use water for the fluida ???
thanks..
Jan 11, 2012. 6:44 PMDrWilliamHorriblePhD says:
Text is way too glitched for me
Oct 23, 2011. 8:25 AMBombtek says:
Do you notice each time it text glitches you are typing the word "won't"?
Oct 17, 2011. 2:56 PMLefrançois says:
Dépenser de l'énergie pour faire tourner un arbre, c'est ce que font tous les moteurs, quel est l'avantage de ce dispositif?

Spend energy to run a shaft, that is what do all the engines, what is the advantage of this device?
Oct 17, 2011. 10:55 AMavatar_i says:
Uh... still getting a lot of: Ãý��Ãý� instead of readable text...

Otherwise, seems [?] pretty cool.
Oct 13, 2011. 10:46 PMBongmaster says:
vid of it running? :)
Oct 16, 2011. 9:24 PMPilgrimm says:
Can't be read in Internet Explorer 9 either!
Oct 16, 2011. 10:09 AMpoza says:
not all of your characters are readable in my browser (chrome). would you consider using simple text to make your instructable readable by chrome users?
Oct 16, 2011. 7:13 PMLrr says:
Not working in Safari either.
Oct 16, 2011. 2:44 PMleea9 says:
Doesn't work in Firefox or Safari either.
Oct 16, 2011. 1:04 PMpeacefoots says:
i have the same problem
Oct 16, 2011. 1:22 PMtinker234 says:
same here
Oct 16, 2011. 1:11 PMt3rr18l3one says:
The rogue character is just an apostrophe. Something has happened with the editor here to make it spit out a million of them!
Oct 16, 2011. 1:13 PMkkhan5 says:
My browser Firefox cant read a couple things!
Oct 16, 2011. 9:10 AMacoleman3 says:
deffo 5* my friend....well done.
Oct 15, 2011. 12:26 AMgoldenkeeper1 says:
BETTERTHAN THE BEST
Oct 15, 2011. 11:49 AMjavajunkie1976 says:
Good job on making one out of cardboard. My machine shop team in college made a prototype out of cardboard first before tackling the project in metal. It allowed us to work out the kinks. I just gotta say that we won 1st place in the WESTEC2004 Manufacturing contest in Los Angeles, CA. with a 4inch diameter Tesla turbine.
Oct 14, 2011. 11:30 AMEdgar says:
You rightly deserve to know about this little gem, the Fonly Lathe:
https://sites.google.com/site/buildyourstuff/thefonlylathe
Oct 15, 2011. 12:00 AMEdgar says:
We Portuguese-speaking guys gotta stick together...
Oct 14, 2011. 11:45 AMEdgar says:
On my Blog, now, a Link to your Instructable: http://faz-voce-mesmo.blogspot.com/2011/10/tesla-tesla.html
Oct 13, 2011. 8:13 PMrimar2000 says:
AWESOME WORK!

Thanks for sharing.

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