Building Scientific Apparatus [Hardcover]

John H. Moore (Author), Christopher C. Davis (Author), Michael A. Coplan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1983

This best-selling book removes the mystery in building scientific apparatus. It shows how the practicing scientist can capitalize on new and unfamiliar technologies without first acquiring an engineering education in each field. The mechanical, electronic, and optical aspects of most apparatus are reviewed in the construction, selection, specification, and procurement of many important components and are described in a clear, simple manner, making use of hundreds of illustrations. The second edition expands on the first by describing new devices, updating specifications of devices formerly described, and listing many new supplies and manufacturers of components. New topics include turbomolecular pumps, fiber-optics, piezoelectric positioners, position-sensitive detectors, magnetic shielding, new logic families, and new integrated circuits. A chapter on temperature measurement and control and a new, larger index have been added in second edition.Each chapter is followed by Cited and General References, Manufacturers and Suppliers.Building Scientific Apparatus:

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 900 pages
• Publisher: Addison Wesley Publishing Company (December 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201055325
• ISBN-13: 978-0201055320
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8.6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,637,410 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just for researchers, June 13, 2000

By 

Fred101 (Murrysville, PA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Building Scientific Apparatus: A Practical Guide To Design And Construction, Second Edition (Paperback)

This book is an invaluable reference source for anyone whose work requires them to become involved in unfamiliar (physical science related) technologies. Though it would certainly be useful to laboratory researchers, it is equally valuable for the scientist or engineer who needs to apply these disciplines. As a physicist involved in design of commercial instrumentation, I have often had to become involved in various disciplines which were outside of my area of formal training and this book has commonly been my point of entry into unfamiliar terrain. This isn't just a "how to do it" book, but also provides a solid grounding in the basic theory. Over the years I have used this book as a primer/refresher for: (a) vacuum technology; (b) light optics; (c) charged-particle optics; and (d) mechanical drawing. In each case, this book provided me with the fundamental concepts, equations, and techniques to become productive, often without access to any other source of expertise. Though I do, of course, employ other sources as my knowledge advances, I still find myself regularly referring back to this book.

I know of no other reference that manages to pack so much useful information into so few pages. And yet, it remains easy and enjoyable to read. Part of this may be due to the abundant drawings which have a certain charm of their own -- echoing the style of the famous C.S. Stong illustrations in the "Amateur Scientist" section of Scientific American.

This book is so good that I own two copies: one for my office at work and the second for reference at home.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You cannot work in my lab unless you've read this!, August 9, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Building Scientific Apparatus: A Practical Guide To Design And Construction, Second Edition (Paperback)

This is a _great_ book! I buy a copy of this for every student who starts work for me--which I consider to be a fine investment. Practical, hands-on information is given on a huge variety of skills needed by those working in Physics labs. From glass blowing to vacuum systems, to instruction on attaching BNC connectors, it's all in here.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Sometimes Handy Book, August 13, 2001

By 

W. Watson (Nevada City, CA USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Building Scientific Apparatus: A Practical Guide To Design And Construction, Second Edition (Paperback)

I would like to cast a somewhat dissenting view of this book. It is certainly a good place to start for information on various projects but comes up short on construction techniques. Perhaps an older source, Procedures in Experimental Physics (Lindsay Pubs), is better. Of course, it was written in 1938, so materials cited might be out of date, but the construction techniques aren't bad. I recently decided to build a good sized water tank (40" by 6" by 3") of acrylic and found nothing about construction tips. I was thinking of building something that probably required casting, and found a paltry two pages on the subject.

It would be good to see it updated every 5 years or so. I see the pub date is 1991. Things have changed a bit. It has a very good list of references, but with the advent of the web, it would be good to see some the reference material cite the web.