Pledge: Vacuum Pump

What

This pledge is to obtain a large high-vacuum rotary pump for use on the High_Vacuum_Station. This would initially allow easy degassing of resins, and crude vacuum experiments, but later allow the diffusion pump to function correctly for ultra-high-vacuum experiments including fun with plasma and making custom mirrors.

A 2nd hand pump of suitable ultimate pressure and pumping speed will go for in the region of £150 upwards. These however are not common, so should be acquired as high priority.

There is currently an uncontested auction on ebay for the BEST pump advised for use with the Edwards E04 diffusion pump. This auction ends 15th October however. Start bid + postage would be £135. An additional £15 would be needed to get new pump oil for it. Total £150. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220872063639 - Bidding ended at £258 (£298 total), 15th Oct 2011

There is currently one other potentially affordable (less that £350 start bid) and probably suitable pump listed on ebay, but it's exact specification is currently unknown. Depending on information from the seller, it may be bid on. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280755438166 - Bidding ended at £295 (£345 total), 20th Oct, 2011

A pump has been purchased for spot-on the pledge money! Brand new, shipping in from Germany. EUR 278.00 (Technically £10 over. Ebay postage calculation changed during checkout. Have increased my own pledge to cover this. - Sci) http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310199617352

Please contact Sci for pledge account details.

Why

Because it is a crucial component of the High_Vacuum_Station, and will allow a wide range of other work once complete as well as more day to day work in the meantime.

Any surplus pledge money will go toward other vacuum system components.

Goal - £150 (minimum) - £300 (approx maximum)

Pledges

• £10 -- Phil Jones Paid
• £60 -- Sci
• £20 -- Adrian Godwin
• £20 -- Flux
• £20 -- JasperWallace Paid
• £50 -- Mark
• £30 -- Russ
• £20 -- James C Paid
• £20 -- Kimball

Running total: £250

Approximate target: £300

Paid: £250