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This is a fun machine I made that does a completely useless task.
!!WARNING!! This is a very dangerous project due to high voltages, I'm not liable for damage to property, injury, or death.
The circuit for this project is designed for a 120 volt outlet.
How it Works:
First, you drop the ball onto one of the ramps. When it reaches the bottom, an IR emitter/detector "sees" that it is there and sends 5 volts to the base of a transistor, which in turn, trips a relay. When the relay trips it dumps energy from high voltage capacitors into a coil, which works like a coil gun, and shoots the ball back up to the first ramp. Then the process repeats.
Video:
Sometimes it triggers more than once because it doesn't have enough "umph" to get the ball all the way up the tube. More capacitors would fix this.
Upgrade:
I made a rather lame attempt at making this look nicer, to see how skip to step 12.
!!WARNING!! This is a very dangerous project due to high voltages, I'm not liable for damage to property, injury, or death.
The circuit for this project is designed for a 120 volt outlet.
How it Works:
First, you drop the ball onto one of the ramps. When it reaches the bottom, an IR emitter/detector "sees" that it is there and sends 5 volts to the base of a transistor, which in turn, trips a relay. When the relay trips it dumps energy from high voltage capacitors into a coil, which works like a coil gun, and shoots the ball back up to the first ramp. Then the process repeats.
Video:
Sometimes it triggers more than once because it doesn't have enough "umph" to get the ball all the way up the tube. More capacitors would fix this.
Upgrade:
I made a rather lame attempt at making this look nicer, to see how skip to step 12.
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Signing UpStep 1Parts/Tools List
Parts:
1/2" thick pine
3/4" thick pine
Lots of magnet wire
(1) Metal ball
(1) Wire coat hanger
(1) Tube with an inner diameter slightly greater than that of your ball
(1) 1n4001 diode (or similar)
(1) 1n4004 diode (or similar)
(1) QRD1114
(1) 2n2222 transistor
(1) 10 K ohm resistor
(1) 470 ohm resistor
(1) 2.3 K ohm resistor
(1) 7805 regulator
(1) 12v relay with one normally closed switch and one normally open switch, it should be rated to handle at least 250v
(4) High voltage (around 200v) electrolytic capacitors (such as those found in camera flashes and PC power supplies)
(1) 100w light bulb and holder
(1) Bridge rectifier
(1) 12v wall wart or power supply
(1) Outlet plug
Tools:
Drill with drill bits
Table saw or router
Soldering iron
Solder
(optional) dremel
1/2" thick pine
3/4" thick pine
Lots of magnet wire
(1) Metal ball
(1) Wire coat hanger
(1) Tube with an inner diameter slightly greater than that of your ball
(1) 1n4001 diode (or similar)
(1) 1n4004 diode (or similar)
(1) QRD1114
(1) 2n2222 transistor
(1) 10 K ohm resistor
(1) 470 ohm resistor
(1) 2.3 K ohm resistor
(1) 7805 regulator
(1) 12v relay with one normally closed switch and one normally open switch, it should be rated to handle at least 250v
(4) High voltage (around 200v) electrolytic capacitors (such as those found in camera flashes and PC power supplies)
(1) 100w light bulb and holder
(1) Bridge rectifier
(1) 12v wall wart or power supply
(1) Outlet plug
Tools:
Drill with drill bits
Table saw or router
Soldering iron
Solder
(optional) dremel
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if i didnt have like 10 other projects im doing
i wolud do this
it would be thougth even beter if you change the appearence
The magnet ball shooter, would work great in a longer running rolling ball sculpture!