Automatic powder trickler for $30

[atblis]

Was bored, so I threw this together.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6PEGzo63Us&feature=youtu.be

 

[HEAVY METAL 1]

This cost me $4.99 for the can opener at Goodwill. I simply removed the cutter mechanism to expose the gear. Plastic gear glued on the trickler from a child's toy. I poured some molten lead into the base of the trickler to weight it. I can either bump the switch to dispense a single grain or hold it for a faster trickle. I throw powder a tad light from the powder measure and trickle it up to an exact setting. It's very fast.

 

[Mike 27]

Nice job on both of them....Beats the heck out of spending $300 on one....

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, nice work but the first one looks like to could be effected by a lot of outside influences.

 

[atblis]

It's held together with rubber bands.

What makes it more interesting is that I get to write the software that controls it. In case you missed it, there's an optical interrupter for the beam scale.

Next step is to automate a powder measure to do the bulk initial powder throw. I might add a second optical sensor and have it do multiple speeds.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

In case you missed it, there's an optical interrupter for the beam scale.

Actually, I did miss that. Nice touch...

 

[Lost Sheep]

It's held together with rubber bands.

What makes it more interesting is that I get to write the software that controls it. In case you missed it, there's an optical interrupter for the beam scale.

Next step is to automate a powder measure to do the bulk initial powder throw. I might add a second optical sensor and have it do multiple speeds.

First:
The least costly way would be to make the initial powder throw with a dipper.

Second:
A foot-operated lever could activate a powder measure to make the initial throw

With either of these, you would have to arrange for a delay for the balance beam to settle. Time delay would be simplest. A delay that observed the swinging of the beam would be more elegant.

I watched some of your videos. Nice work, atblis.

Do you think you would ever share circuit diagrams for building some of your devices?

Lost Sheep

Look for a private message from me.

 

[jdownj]

Ok, I see powder scale, powered dispenser and optical trigger... User activates with a button, optical switch turns off... Am I missing something?

This is made of awesome!

Edit:
Removed stupid question(didn't recognize Redding parts)

 

[atblis]

I added a dead man switch. Otherwise it'd keep putting powder out as soon as you pulled the pan out.

There's actually a few commercial ones that are pretty much the same thing. One's something like $300. There's nothing revolutionary going on here, I am just amazed how easy it was to cobble together. Works great. It is fragile as I have it assembled. Need to work on the mechanical. Surprisingly the stepper motor/Redding trickler works awesome. I think that'll be just fine as it is with the rubber bands.

Arduino Uno $20
Stepper Motor controller $4 from Ebay
Optical Interrupter switch thingy $5 or so Mouser/Digikey
Stepper Motor Free (from a printer or something)
Scale and powder trickler, we'll assume you already had those.

Next phase is to automate the Lee measure to throw the bulk charge. Also going to add a second optical sensor that senses when the beam is low.

 

[jdownj]

Nice work... I just ordered the redding measure, I have been measuring volume and spot-checking(mild 9mm mostly) but I am getting ready to do some hotter loads and some rifle, so I will need something like this to work more precise at any rate of speed...