Machine for the Production of Microelectrodes

Abstract

A description is given of a machine designed to produce microelectrodes from a standard 3‐mm Pyrex glass tube. The glass tube is heated by a platinum coil and drawn into microelectrodes by a vertical two‐stage pull. The first pull is by gravity and the second by an electromagnet. The operation is entirely automatic. After the machine is switched on adjustable microswitches control the sequence of operation and finally switch the machine off when the microelectrodes are drawn. Two identical microelectrodes are produced per minute. The microelectrode tip diameters may be varied from 0.5 to 10 μ. The taper towards the tip may also be varied within wide limits to suit different experiments. Advantages of the machine over earlier microelectrode pullers are discussed together with a description of a rapid method of filling microelectrodes with conducting solutions.