Captured Lightning Sculptures:
Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ
(Updated 12/2/11)
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What are Lichtenberg figures, and how do you make them? Our Captured Lightning (Lichtenberg figure) sculptures are branching chains of microscopic fractures and tubes that have been permanently captured inside polished specimens of crystal clear acrylic. We call them Captured Lightning sculptures, since they were created by forcing lightning-like multimillion volt electrical discharges through the acrylic. Unlike laser art, each Captured Lightning sculpture is unique and infinitely detailed. You can learn more about these fascinating objects in our one-page (pdf) explanation or read our more detailed technical explanation. You can also view our 8-minute video that shows how our sculptures are created, a shorter 4-minute video that shows a group of 12 x 12 x 1 inch sculptures being discharged, and 1-minute video showing a huge 15" x 20" x 2" specimen being discharged. Did I mention that making Lichtenberg figures is a bit dangerous and is also quite a lot of fun? Are Captured Lightning sculptures safe? Yes. Our sculptures are fully discharged and are completely safe. Our sculptures have absolutely no risk of electrical shock or radiation. They make excellent educational gifts for children and adults alike. Since they are made from acrylic, they are not as fragile as glass laser art. Can I order online if I don't have a PayPal account? Although we use PayPal to support our shopping cart and secure credit card processing, you do not need a PayPal account to purchase sculptures. Our secure checkout system accepts MasterCard, Visa, Discover, or American Express cards, or payment can optionally be provided from your PayPal account. Sculptures and matching light bases can be ordered online from our Gallery 1 and Gallery 2 web pages. Can I order by phone instead of ordering online? Since some customers may not feel comfortable ordering online, and others may want help in selecting bases or ordering, we also accept phone orders at +1 630-964-2699. We can also suggest the best combination of sculptures and bases for your price range. How quickly do you ship? For sculptures in stock, we typically ship within 1-3 business days after payment. However, this may be a bit longer for larger orders or during especially busy times such as during the Christmas season. We usually ship via the US Post Office for domestic and international orders, but we can use Fedex or UPS for larger orders. Please contact us if you need expedited shipping. Do you ship internationally? Yes. We ship to all countries supported by PayPal, and our checkout process supports seamless conversion of 23 currencies to US Dollars. Please note that international customers must select a shipping option that meets their delivery needs and covers the additional shipping and processing costs for shipping internationally. Customers are responsible for any in-country VAT or postal system customs handling fees. We accept bank wire transfers for large international orders. Do you offer volume discounts or dealer discounts? Yes, for both sculptures and bases. Can you make custom sizes, shapes, or custom masked sculptures? Yes. However, we only make our sculptures once or twice a year, so small quantities of custom sizes, shapes, or masking may have a long lead time. Masked specimens have limited resolution, and some shapes work better than others due to the physics of the process. If the volume is sufficiently high, we can schedule a special custom run. Please contact us directly to discuss your requirements or to get a quotation. Can you personalize sculptures? Yes. We can also provide personalized laser engraving for our flat specimens using your graphics and text. A scalable PDF drawing or high resolution black and white graphic works best. Costs are USD $30 setup per pattern plus USD $15-35 per sculpture depending on size. Personalizing adds about 1 week to the shipping interval. Please contact us directly for more information. Can you personalize light bases? Many of our bases can accept silver or gold colored brushed-finish metal plaques with black lettering. This converts your sculpture and base into a treasured personalized gift or unique corporate award. How deep are the figures inside the acrylic? The discharge layer is typically between 1/4" and 1/2" below the surface. We usually irradiate thicker specimens, cubes, cylinders, or spheres by using two or more passes through the accelerator using different orientations, and we also rotate some specimens as they're being irradiated to create multiple discharge layers. Our most complex specimens require two or three passes through the electron beam. The electron beam at the facility is limited to a maximum electron energy of 5 MeV which provides a maximum penetration depth of ~1/2 inch in acrylic. Can you make figures of any shape? The physics of the process and acrylic properties introduce some limitations on the physical size and shape of the specimen and internal discharge regions. We have developed considerable experience in pushing the boundaries of the process to achieve unique artistic effects. Some of our best experimental work can be seen on our "Eye Candy" page. How big a sculpture you can make? Single-layer "tree-like" dendritic sculptures are limited to about 18 inches on a side. Larger specimens can be made using multiple discharge locations or a combination of randomly rooted dendritic and chaotic patterns, or by using masking techniques to create individually charged regions. We have created sculptures as large as 24" x 36". Maximum material thickness is 4". For safety reasons, individual specimens are limited to fifty pounds. With Captured Lightning sculptures, bigger is not always better. Do other clear materials work? Lichtenberg figures can be created using materials other than acrylic. We have created figures within glass, polycarbonate, polystyrene, and PVC with varied results. Many other polymers develop dark, charred pathways and deeper or permanent solarization. Unfortunately, glass Lichtenberg figures often shatter with little or no warning. We have found that acrylic provides the best looking sculptures. Do you offer any lower priced Captured Lightning sculptures? We offer a limited number of "factory 2nd" sculptures in many of styles that are attractively priced at 50% of their regular price. These are very nice looking specimens that, for one reason or another, fail to meet our exacting requirements. Also, from time to time we also offer one-of-a-kind specimens or small batches of experimental specimens that we've decided not to offer as standard products. See our Factory 2nd's page for our current selection or contact us for our current inventory of non-standard items. Do you have any other "interesting" products? We also use powerful pulsed magnetic fields to "shrink" coins. For example, US quarters are shrunk to less than the diameter of a dime in 20 millionths of a second. We can also do custom shrinking of customer-provided coins. Please check our shrunken coins and coins shrinking explanation. What is your Customer Satisfaction guarantee? If you're not satisfied, you may return any item for a full refund or replacement (your option) within 14 days after receipt. Light bases are warranted against manufacturing defects for 1 year. Have more questions? Please contact us. We're happy to discuss any special needs or answer any questions you may have. We strive to delight our customers! |
Bert Hickman
Stoneridge Engineering (the "Spark Whisperers")
info@capturedlightning.com
+1 630-964-2699
Gallery 1
Gallery 2
Eye Candy Page
How do we make Captured Lightning Sculptures?
