The first round of laser cut extractors and distal electrode sets for the AIS-ILIS1 electrospray thruster arrived today! For the extractors, I got 2 copies each of 3 different aperture widths in both SS and nickel, so plenty to explore with for lifetime and emission comparisons!
Now that all of the major hardware is in, I also had the opportunity to start test fitting the assembly together to see how it all lines up. Below are some pictures of the test fitting with the old V1 board and new emitter, electrode, extractor, and 3D printed body with some spare hardware. Everything fits together beautifully, it’s coming along! Just need the new V4 boards in and things will really start heating up! This is also the very first preliminary look of what the thruster will actually start to look like fully assembled. It is very exciting to see this evolve from initial sketches and CAD models to the real thing!
Of course I have to give a shout out to all my amazing Patrons whose contributions this month covered the cost of the new laser cut parts. Without your help this effort wouldn’t be moving along as fast as it is. Want to contribute to the first ever fully home-engineered advanced ion electrospray thruster and defy convention in EP? Consider joining the growing community supporting AIS and a new way of innovating EP!