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Subject: 
Re: Magnetic Levitator
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.build, lugnet.general
Date: 
Thu, 6 Dec 2001 21:03:56 GMT
Viewed: 
495 times
  
This is awesome.  What are you using for the control circuit?  Any
chance you could use an RCX?

KL

In lugnet.build, Christopher Snead writes:
Hello, everyone!

I've finally finished a project for my Physics class:

http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=8857

This device suspends small, ferromagnetic objects in midair using an
electromagnet and a beam of light.  The beam of light shines on a
phototransistor, which translates via a control circuit into current to the
electromagnet.  An object in the path of the beam reduces the amount of light
incident on the phototransistor.  As the object falls, more light reaches the
phototransistor, and the magnet gets stronger; as the object moves towards the
magnet, less light reaches the detector, translating into a weaker magnetic
field.  The object reaches equilibruim, and hangs in midair!

I used Lego to build the frame and the light shields.  As it turns out, the
LED's and the phototransistors fit quite well into the technic holes.  Using
Lego saved quite a bit of time, as opposed to machining an apparatus.  It also
allowed me to play with Lego while working on my final project! ;-)

Sorry to all of the Purists out there - Lego does not yet make electromagnets
or Phototransistors or op-amps.  Don't worry, I'll be back to building pure
Lego mecha in no time...

Chris



Message has 1 Reply:
  Re: Magnetic Levitator
 
(...) I think that it would be possible to use an RCX. I used four op amps in my circuit; the first amplifies the signal coming from the phototransistor, the second differentiates the signal, the third takes the difference of the proportional and (...) (23 years ago, 7-Dec-01, to lugnet.build, lugnet.general, lugnet.robotics)

Message is in Reply To:
  Magnetic Levitator
 
Hello, everyone! I've finally finished a project for my Physics class: (URL) device suspends small, ferromagnetic objects in midair using an electromagnet and a beam of light. The beam of light shines on a phototransistor, which translates via a (...) (23 years ago, 6-Dec-01, to lugnet.build, lugnet.general)

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