But one of the things I'm very interested in is the conductive filament used in FDM printing(fused deposition modeling) where a spool of plastic filament (wire/string) is produced from a heated nozzle that is moved about to build up layers and thickness of your 3d model, or like in ceramics with process called  "coiling" but a much finer level between 0.2-1.0mm diameter layers.

By using something like conductive filament and 3D printing we can truly customize our lamp connections, with the least amount of tools, both in functional and very important to visual arts, aesthetically. 

I have much to learn and research, Expect to see this post updated for the future?

-Percy | Taming Lightning
​

Now the person I’m introducing is Tristen August, he works for Konstrucktiv in Berlin. Konstrucktiv is a product manufacturing and rapid prototyping solution, with Tristan as their expert in creative solutions, electronics, manufacturing, and hardware hacks. Perhaps he and Dalibor Farny are kindred spirits.  Among the participants in the workshop, Tristen was the most familiar with plasma, yet did not have any glassblowing experience. This wasn’t a problem since he was able to pick up on glassblowing jargon, and worked with other participants to have vessels made, much like Ed himself. With his technical understanding, he brought him a plasma transformer he designed and a few experiments he made with glass tubing. 

In any case, I hope you enjoy the last podcast of 2020!

Thank You for listening to the Taming Lightning Podcast!

​I hope you enjoyed the last episode of 2020. To close out, I wanted to bring up that in the recent committee meeting for the Plasma Art Alliance, Tristan's name has come up a few times. since meeting him in Sweden, Ed Kirshner has connected him with another Committee member, Ander Mikkelsen, whose technical expertise and apprenticeship under Mundy Hepburn have been developing both plasma transformers or inverters, alongside honing his glassblowing ability. No matter what the next year brings, I want to be able to show more of the plasma process; but before that happens, I have to get my manifold in running condition, get a few extra hands, and learn few new tricks.

I'd like to thank Pittsburgh Glass Center for hosting the Residency for the 2019 Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Grant, and for supporting me as a place of research and inspiration. Plasma Art Alliance where I have access to the well of knowledge and connects me to some amazing and supportive people. I’d like to mention a few: Ed Kirshner for providing the opportunity to learn and teach with him in Sweden, and Ben Orozco for his help in making that possible as our vanguard, and for his help as the co-host for the Intro to Plasma Series. Lastly, all of this would not have been possible without the support of the Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Grant funded by The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz endowments.

If you like to support Taming Lightning, please donate to the Taming Lightning x GEEX Intro to plasma series. If money is a bit tight, please check out the "Intro to Plasma" Series on YouTube and leave a comment about what you find useful, and questions about what you like to hear for current and future chapters, I’ll have links provided in the show notes.

Please share, comment, and subscribe. And as always be safe, be healthy, and be strong, and I’ll See you next year!

UPDATED!!!

Hello Lightning Tamers!

When I produced Episode 10: Light up your World with Plasma, it was my initial attempt convey what I've learned about Plasma. Admittedly it was way too early for me to try to teach what little I understood. And so I continue to update and improve on how to share this information.

The ongoing collaboration with GEEX, The Glass Education Exchange, has helped with discussing the pile of information, thoughts, and theories I've compiled, and acknowledging the importance of peer discussion as an underutilized part of the process.

In this update, I've rewrote this post for the Beginner to provide a Guide for Basic Electrode Attachment.

If your are using any of the following soda-lime glass: system 96, Spruce Pine, Cristalica, or Glasma, the typical neon electrode ( both soda-lime and lead glass) have been shown to be compatible, and of course if you are using Borosilicate Glass you'll have to purchase and use borosilicate  Neon electrodes.

To borrow a term shared in both Neon and Scientific glass, to attach your electrode you will need to become well practiced and familiar with making a Weld. Which is the process of joining two connections, will a smooth and ideally, seamless, transition of even thickness. 

*In Flameworking you will NOT need to make a long thin tube or neck in your vessel due to having ample control and thermal resistant properties of your glass.

In this podcast I will address three topics from Chapter 1, the first being the inspiration behind my drive to learn about plasma, the story and concept behind The Tell-Tale truth, and to expand on the elements of plasma to better transition into chapter 2: Taking Shape, which will involve the functional and aesthetic consideration for making a vessel in glass. 

Music:
Intro: Boost by Joakim Karud

Outro: The Process by Lakey Inspired

​Now back the Element of Plasma where I define what each of these categories are. 

• The first category is vessel crafting: the means of facilities, education, materials, and techniques related to glassmaking; contains the topics of vessel shape, structure, size, choice of electrode along with its placement, and leak checking. 
• The Second Category is Alchemy: the means to which pieces can be processed and filled for plasma; containing topics such as: cleaning, adding phosphors, filling technique, and gas mixtures and recipes. 
• The Third category is Technology: the facilities and the means to learn, educate, and practice processing and filling, and finishing plasma sculpture; containing the topics of  the vacuum manifold, gas transfer system, gauges, equipment maintenance and use, Transformers for plasma, which includes considerations for resolving your sculptures aesthetically,  and safely. 

So I’m going to stop here, since we are  kind of leading up to chapter 2: Taking Shape, where we’ll review the Elements of Plasma, elaborate on why vessel crafting comes first, and contextualized the aesthetic and function considerations in the Anatomy of Plasma Sculpture.

Thank you for listening to the taming lightning podcast!

I’d like to thank GEEX for inviting me to collaborate for this series. Writing the Chapter Notes was challenging, yet fun, though academically I never found myself enjoying writing, yet I hope to have more feedback I can respond to for the upcoming chapters.

Let me know if my experience helped provide some  footing since there is yet to exist a comprehensive resource for guidance. While  frustrating, through simple curiosity and spark of passion finding various sources to tackle these subjects can be quite fun.

I will admit in the regards to my announcement last podcast I failed to meet the declared release date for the episode by exactly a week, but in the very least I’m homing in. Writing took much more time than I ever anticipated.

Feel free to share, comment, and subscribe.

And as always be safe, be healthy, and be Strong.

 See you next time,

-Percy Echols II, Taming Lightning

Remodeling and Upgrade for the Plasma Lab are funded by the Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowment in the reception of the 2019 Advancing Black Arts in Pittsburgh Grant, and residency hosted by the Pittsburgh Glass Center.