Cloud-chamber cosmic-ray base — 3D-printable model preview

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Science & education Simple

Cloud-chamber cosmic-ray base

See the trails of cosmic-ray particles in a home-made cloud chamber

Invisible particles from space pass through you every second, and this lets you see them. Put a slab of dry ice in the base, lay a 3 mm aluminium plate painted matt black on the ledge, and turn a clear plastic tub upside down on the plate with a strip of felt soaked in 99% isopropyl alcohol stuck inside its top. After ten minutes, turn off the lights and shine a torch in from the side: thin white trails appear and vanish as muons, alpha and beta particles streak through the alcohol mist, just as in the chambers that won Nobel prizes.

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Size: 200 × 200 × 60 mm
Shape: Rectangular
Walls: 4.0 mm
Volume: 162 cm³
Est. weight (PLA): 201 g
Parts to print: 1
Category: Science & education
Made by: Krypto
Built in: 25 steps

What’s in it

Rectangular, 200 × 200 × 60 mm, with 4.0 mm walls
Raised text: “COSMIC RAYS”

How to print it

Use gloves for dry ice and a well-aired room. Paint the aluminium plate matt black.

Prints as shown on its floor, no supports.

Filament: at most about 201 g of PLA printed solid (roughly $4.03 at $20 per kg); normal infill uses less.

To get the files, open it in the generator and choose File › Download STL (one file per part) or Download 3MF (every part on one plate).

Questions

What size is the cloud-chamber cosmic-ray base model?

The cloud-chamber cosmic-ray base model measures 200 × 200 × 60 mm (width × depth × height). You can change every size in the free SO3D.xyz generator before you download it.

Does it need supports?

No. Use gloves for dry ice and a well-aired room. Paint the aluminium plate matt black. Prints as shown on its floor, no supports.

How much filament does it use?

At most about 201 g of PLA (162 cm³ printed solid), roughly $4.03 of filament at $20 per kg. Normal infill uses less.

Can I change it?

Yes. Open it in the SO3D.xyz generator (free, in your browser), change the size, walls, dividers, holes, text or anything else, then download it as STL or 3MF for your slicer.

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Make it fit your space

Change the size, walls, dividers, holes and labels of the cloud-chamber cosmic-ray base model in your browser, then download it for your printer. Free, no CAD needed.

Customize this model