Conventional pumps or turbines have blades, while Tesla's turbine uses flat discs. What's more, no specific number of discs is needed—you can adjust the number based on the application.

This is by no means the first turbomolecular pump to make it to these pages, in 2016 we brought you one taking inspiration from a Tesla turbine.

The desiderata in an ideal turbine group themselves nnder ... a demonstration model which is in operation in Mr. Tesla's office. This little pump, driven by an electric motor of 1/12 horsepower ...