> On Sep 27, 2025, at 12:01 PM, dudu sa <[email protected]> wrote: > > About half a year ago, a few friends came to me and asked if I could make a > Nixie tube similar to the B7971. As one of the few Nixie tube manufacturers, > I thought about it for a while and decided to give it a try.
I forwarded this to Eric Barbour, the administrator of the Tube Collector's Association list. The fact that he isn't ripping you to shreds is a sign that he thinks this has possibilities and that you're not an idiot for trying. He's impressed with the repros that have been made so far. > On Sep 27, 2025, at 10:28 PM, metasonix wrote: > Well....I could have told him (for free) this wouldn't work. Only materials > that can be heated and outgassed FULLY can be put inside a high-vacuum or gas > tube. > > This is apparently the stuff he tried to use. It has great dielectric > characteristics, but there is nothing about using it in a vacuum. > > https://rogerscorp.com/advanced-electronics-solutions/ro4000-series-laminates > <https://rogerscorp.com/advanced-electronics-solutions/ro4000-series-laminates> > Maybe talk to a company that makes thin film hybrid circuits. They can > probably make a degassable board out of alumina with traces that can be > spot-welded, since they have been making such things for 60+ years. It will > NOT be a bargain. Feel free to repost this to the group. > > https://www.thinfilm.com/substrates.html > <https://www.thinfilm.com/substrates.html> > https://www.coorstek.com/en/industries/electronics/microelectronics/thin-film-electronic-substrates/ > > <https://www.coorstek.com/en/industries/electronics/microelectronics/thin-film-electronic-substrates/> > All modern electronic components are made with some kind of plastics, > epoxies, or phenolics or whatever. None of which can be processed in a tube. > Even Teflon will eventually disintegrate into hydrogen fluoride and other > things. > > If they manage to build a working B7971, they are well within their rights to > charge a very stiff price, at least $500 retail and probably more. Making > such things in the 1950s was easier because mica was cheaper, one could buy > parts and envelopes from third parties, and you could pay bored housewives > 50c/hour to assemble the damn things. > That price may seem slightly high but Eric knows all about actually recouping an investment and earning a living. As well as dealing with customers who can't figure out how to use his products. Terry Bowman, KA4HJH "The Mac Doctor" "Tape machines ought to be big and cumbersome and difficult to use, if only to keep the riff-raff out."—Steve Albini, 1993 -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "neonixie-l" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/neonixie-l/B02A9DB0-4DDA-4D5D-B67D-2EE51B265AB2%40gmail.com.
