2 Use waxed paper for the dielectric. Cut it into rings, as illus- trated, with a large hole in the center. Make sure to center the plates on the dielectric, so as to leave ample margin between outer and inner edges of the dielectric, as this is vital to proper func- tioning. Connect the plates to each other using very thin strips of tin foil, laid on top, and set toward the outer edge, but not going beyond the edges of the plates. Leave a long, thin strip of tin foil laid on top of a plate and extending out, to be used for charging the array.
Curved plates work better than rectangular.
Round off corners on curved plates, as well as rectangular ones. You will have to stack hundreds of such layers. Use TWO waxed paper rings on each layer. Leave the positive charging strips aligned on one side of the array, and all the negative strips aligned on the other. Wire all positive strips to each other, and all negative strips to each other, so that positive and negative plates charge from oppo- site sides of the array.