What You Need:
In order to build this project you're going to need some very expensive parts which add up to $20,000 new! The moral of this story, "do it eBay," by using eBay you can cut the cost down to around $1,180 and if you're a minimalist maybe even down to $1,060. So here is the list of parts with their suggested retail price and the price I got them for off eBay:
Hardware (eBay) (verify Retail prices)
| Item | Retail Price | Quantity | eBay Price | Sub-Total |
| Aquarium Pump - 2GPM | 1 | Need | ||
| Cabinet Blank | You Count! | Need | ||
| Heat Exchanger | $170 | 1 | $60.00 | $60.00 |
| HeNe Goggles *1 | $180 | 1 | $30.00 | $30.00 |
| HeNe Laser - 5MW *1 | $720 | 1 | $39.99 | $39.99 |
| Mirror Mount for Circular Mirror - 1" | 2 | $20.00 | $40.00 | |
| Rack Mount Enclosure | 2 | Need | ||
| Ruby Goggles | $210 | 2 | $19.95 | $39.90 |
| Ruby Mirror - 50% Reflectivity | 1 | Need | ||
| Ruby Mirror - 99.9% Reflectivty | 1 | $30.00 | $30.00 | |
| Ruby Rod | $4,000 | 1 | $480.00 | $480.00 |
| Server Cabinet | $1,200 | 1 | $39.99 | $39.99 |
| Xenon Flashlamp | 4 | $51.66 | $310.00 |
Total with Extras: Currently $919.88 Total without Extras: Currently $849.89
Electronics (revision pending)
| Item | Schem. | Digikey Part # | Retail Price | Quantity | Sub-Total |
| Circuit Breaker - 20A | CB1 | PB249-ND | $4.37 | 1 | $4.37 |
| Diode - 1A 50V | D1-D6 | 1N4001GICT-ND (verify) | $0.04 | 6 | $0.24 |
| Float Switch | SW1 | 376-1008-ND | $23.95 | 1 | $23.95 |
| Flow Switch 1GPM | 376-1106-ND | $29.95 | 1 | $29.95 | |
| Key Switch - SP4T | SW2 | Y100AB2C203NQ-ND | $10.63 | 1 | $10.63 |
| Key Switch - SPDT *1 | Y101132C203NQ-ND | $8.89 | 1 | $8.89 | |
| Relay - 5A 24V DPDT *1 | Z182-ND | $5.38 | 3 | $16.14 | |
| Relay Socket *5 | 5 | ||||
| Roller Switch | SW237-ND | $3.05 | You Count! | ~$24.40 | |
| Temperature Switch - 30C | 317-1077-ND (placement) | $8.40 | 1 | $8.40 | |
| Temperature Switch - 40C 104F | 317-1079-ND (placement) | $8.40 | 1 | $8.40 | |
| Transistor - PNP | 2N4126-ND (verify) |
Total with Extras: Currently $135.29 Total without Extras: Currently $121.02 (out of date)
Plumbing
| Item | Schem. | USPlastics Part # | Retail Price | Quantity | Sub-Total |
| Adapter - Hose 3/8" to FNPT 1/8" | 62217 | $1.00 | 1 | $1.00 | |
| Adapter - Hose 3/8" to FNPT 3/8" | 62223 | $1.13 | 5 | $5.65 | |
| Adapter - Hose 3/8" to MNPT 3/8" | 62011 | $0.22 | 3 | $0.66 | |
| Adapter - Hose 3/8" to MNPT 1/8" | 62004 | $0.20 | 1 | $0.20 | |
| DI Filter - 3/8" | $30.00 | 1 | $30.00 | ||
| Elbow Fitting - 3/8" | 62039 | $0.41 | 2 | $0.82 | |
| Flow Indicator - 3/8" *1 | 17240 | $13.97 | 1 | $13.97 | |
| Replacement Blade *2 | 30128 | $5.15 | 2 | $10.30 | |
| Tank - 8x8x8" | 9185 | $49.83 | 1 | $49.83 | |
| Tank Cover - 8x8" | 9189 | $13.31 | 1 | $13.31 | |
| Tee Fitting - 3/8" | 62065 | $0.40 | 1 | $0.40 | |
| Tube Cutter *1 | 30125 | $13.91 | 1 | $13.91 | |
| Tubing - 3/8" | 60206 | $0.47 per foot | 30ft | $14.10 |
Total with Extras: Currently $124.15 Total without Extras: Currently $85.97
Grand Total with Extras: Currently $485.29 Grand Total without Extras: Currently $362.85 (out of date)
Please note that the server rack cabinet comes with an extremely hefty shipping fee of $150 and is shipped via a trucking courier, not UPS, Fedex, or USPS. My justification for the shipping cost is, heh, with shipping I'm still only paying 15.8% of the original price. Also, it's not a necessity to have two pairs of the Ruby goggles, but if you don't you can't show anyone your marvelous work when you're finished. Now you're asking why you need two pairs of Ruby goggles ans only one pair of HeNe goggles, well my friend, the reason is that you only need the HeNe goggles for testing, calibration, and experimentation purposes. Finally, for the ideal setup all parts listed here are necessary, if however you're on an extremely tight budget, items with an astersisk (*) aren't absolutely necessary.
Copyright 2003 Michael Robinson unless otherwise noted