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I have been interested in constructing a vacuum chamber for quite some time, but I am not completely certain on what the structural specifications need to be so that it can hold up to the immense external pressure.
My main motivation for building a chamber like this is in the hope that I will be able to manipulate the inside of the chamber while it is in vacuum state. I am imagining a 1x1x1 foot cube made of 0.25" thick carbon steel. I will also cut out a 4x4" hole for a window on two of the sides, either out of Plexiglas or Lexan (thickness not yet determined). Also, on the left and right sides of the cube, there will be holes where layers of gloves will fit inside. These gloves will also have to withstand the atmospheric forces, so the outer glove will be made of some kind of heavy-duty welding glove bolted to the wall of the chamber. The inner glove will be some sort of airtight PVC glove that is sealed to the wall. This will provide a strong, relatively flexible yet airtight place for my hand to manipulate the internal of the chamber.
Assuming 16 psi as the atmospheric pressure near sea level where I live, each side of the chamber will need to withstand 2304 pounds of force for extended periods of time. The windows must hold 256 pounds each, and according to some rough calculations the gloves will need to hold around 700 pounds each.
I have all of the necessary materials to cut, weld, seal, bolt, etc, but I need to know if this project is plausible with the given parameters. I have never before seen a vacuum chamber with manipulation capabilities, so I really don't know what exactly I'm dealing with here. Does anyone know a bit more about this and could help me out?
My main motivation for building a chamber like this is in the hope that I will be able to manipulate the inside of the chamber while it is in vacuum state. I am imagining a 1x1x1 foot cube made of 0.25" thick carbon steel. I will also cut out a 4x4" hole for a window on two of the sides, either out of Plexiglas or Lexan (thickness not yet determined). Also, on the left and right sides of the cube, there will be holes where layers of gloves will fit inside. These gloves will also have to withstand the atmospheric forces, so the outer glove will be made of some kind of heavy-duty welding glove bolted to the wall of the chamber. The inner glove will be some sort of airtight PVC glove that is sealed to the wall. This will provide a strong, relatively flexible yet airtight place for my hand to manipulate the internal of the chamber.
Assuming 16 psi as the atmospheric pressure near sea level where I live, each side of the chamber will need to withstand 2304 pounds of force for extended periods of time. The windows must hold 256 pounds each, and according to some rough calculations the gloves will need to hold around 700 pounds each.
I have all of the necessary materials to cut, weld, seal, bolt, etc, but I need to know if this project is plausible with the given parameters. I have never before seen a vacuum chamber with manipulation capabilities, so I really don't know what exactly I'm dealing with here. Does anyone know a bit more about this and could help me out?