Misc. Van de Graaff parts - Conductive PLA for sphere req'd.

thingiverse

Stumbled across some great fun using conductive PLA. At high voltages (electrostatic) it conducts as well as metal (or seems to).Included is a sphere made of two halves that mate together with a close fit. Top half can slip off for maintenance. Halves can be printed in either orientation, I printed them like soup bowls on a table. Less support req'd but more sanding! The bottom half more like half of a torus, no abrupt curves at bottom like a sphere, impressive arcs 3 to 4 inches accomplished if sanded smooth. Other parts self-explanatory, however will need 2x 16mm. OD X 8mm ID ball bearings for top roller and an 8mm dia. thru. axle. (retainer included). Tube base and tube top slide onto tube, I didn't use adhesive. I used a shaded pole motor from a beer cooler {I think it's 16w.) in the base and here I'm assuming folks who want to build this will want to use different motors and materials that might be on hand to build the base part. Sections of hacksaw blades make great combs, I used new ones as the teeth are sharp. Fun stuff!