Electromagnetic Floater

Step 4 Build the Electronics

For this step you probably should assemble the electronics on a solderless breadboard before soldering them together. The schematic to build the circuit is attached along with the hex file to load on the microcontroller. The Arduino - 0007 code file is in the introduction so you can tweak it or make changes as you need.

It is very important to plan where all of the parts go, so all of the electronics will fit in the box the first time, If not it could be very frustrating and cause much grief.

It is also important to note that the NPN power transistor(s) will heat up, to overcome this I mounted them to contact the aluminum base of my project box, This way it acts as a heat sink, preventing a spectacular fire. You will also need to come up with something similar to remove most of the heat from the box.

Once the electronics are built, there is a section of code in the program to uncomment and and then load onto the chip to test the orientation of the coils. It pulses the coils off, pulling up, and pushing down, also indicated by the LED. If you hold a magnet under the electromagnets and it doesn't follow the pattern, reverse the wires.

Comments

[CMNDR]

Exactly how many transistors or voltage regulators are you using? Your schematic calls for one but I see two in this picture. Also on later picture I see another two are located underneath the board itself. What are these used for or are they the ones that were located on the top but have been moved under the board.

[rkr]

How exactly do you load a program onto a microcontroller? I am unfamiliar with this task and I think that you should have included some instructions on it.

[antonad]

ya, me to, need to know, and also the value for capacitor and transistor?

[16zzundel5]

You need to program it with an arduino- I can do one and send it to you for tthe price of the microcontroller and shipping. If you have the microcontroller already, send it to me and I can program it for you for the cost of me sending it back.

[kucloth]

Well... not exactly. Arduino is a special micro hardware/software system based around the atmega micros and is actually not nearly as useful as everyone seems to think it is. To program a microcontroller, you need a compiler program to write the code on and actually load it into the micro. (tons of free ones like WinAVR available online, just Google it). You also need a cable to connect the port (serial, parallel, USB, etc) on your computer to the micro to program. It's not that complicated, but it does take a bit of practice. I am sure there a few instructables that can teach you how among many websites.

[theexpert]

it should be like putting music on your mp3 from lime wire and or frost wire just download it to your computer then put the file into the micro-controller after plugging it in at least with arduino you can put it into the comp idk about others

[tech industries]

Would the math involved in the Arduino code need to be modified for every specific coil? My electromagnets are not identical to yours, so with the change in size/strength where in the code would the modification (if any was needed) take place?

thanks

[ryanlg]

 Can you post some pictures of making the circuit, because I find it really difficult to read schematics.

PS: I love it, I saw one that wasn't for sale at a shop, so ever since then, I wanted to buy one, but making one would be even better!