The Electromagnetic Projectile Launcher

My name is

Huy Tran

and I'm a passionate engineer that wanted to develop a coil gun (Inspired from videogames non the less). This is a blog to track my progress, enjoy.

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Wed Jan 14
Booster Circuit in progress: 15V Regulator working (Denoted by top left LED, verified by DMM)555 Timer Blink Test Working (The middle LED is actually blinking)LM311 Op Amp Comparator Working (Last LED turns on and off depending on -‘ve/#2 input voltage And to the right is one of multiple large caps I’m planning to charge. Things needed to complete the circuit: Diode/Inductor/IGBT connections that actually charge.Replace TS555 with NE555 I’m due for another trip to MarVac tomorrow (thank EECS70B for showing that place to us engineers =]) Overall, decently productive day… I have parts all over my desk… — things to do in lab tomorrow: -use oscilloscope to check freq of 555 output-demo joystick/arduino to jesse-if booster converter complete, try to charge 1 400V 470uF cap-ask jesse about his eaglecad/pcb slides things to do for fun tomorrow: -play with new soldering tools! weee

Booster Circuit in progress:

15V Regulator working (Denoted by top left LED, verified by DMM)
555 Timer Blink Test Working (The middle LED is actually blinking)
LM311 Op Amp Comparator Working (Last LED turns on and off depending on -‘ve/#2 input voltage

And to the right is one of multiple large caps I’m planning to charge.

Things needed to complete the circuit:

Diode/Inductor/IGBT connections that actually charge.
Replace TS555 with NE555

I’m due for another trip to MarVac tomorrow (thank EECS70B for showing that place to us engineers =])

Overall, decently productive day… I have parts all over my desk…

—

things to do in lab tomorrow:

-use oscilloscope to check freq of 555 output
-demo joystick/arduino to jesse
-if booster converter complete, try to charge 1 400V 470uF cap
-ask jesse about his eaglecad/pcb slides

things to do for fun tomorrow:

-play with new soldering tools! weee

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ATX Power to Bench Power Supply OH YEAH! Initial test works!  Combined the -12 and +12V rails to get close to 24V swing (I know this PSU sucks, but I’m to lazy to pull a decent one out of an older computer, this one I found laying around in my closet).

ATX Power to Bench Power Supply OH YEAH!

Initial test works!  Combined the -12 and +12V rails to get close to 24V swing (I know this PSU sucks, but I’m to lazy to pull a decent one out of an older computer, this one I found laying around in my closet).

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NE555 Calculator/Equations via Instructables

just useful information for me to calculate how to tweak the 555 timer.

Note to self: buy a NE555 timer, (I accidently bought a TS555 which is rated lower for amps)

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Tue Jan 13
How to Convert an ATX PSU to a Lab Power Supply - wikiHow

looks like i have a side project to do… where can i find something to drill holes through metal?

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simple snapshot of progress: nunchuck w/ arduino and code from instructables. (taken with iPhone!)

simple snapshot of progress: nunchuck w/ arduino and code from instructables.

(taken with iPhone!)

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Mon Jan 12

Progress…

I’m not sure what problem I had before, but it seems to be resolved now.  Initially when I stripped off the end of the nunchuck (before I found: http://store.fungizmos.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=69&products_id=212), and stripped the individual wires, the arduino would stop responding to my computer via USB.  During the weekend, I soldered the stripped wires so that the braided wire would be easier to connect to the arduino directly or through a breadboard.  I believe this fixed my problem. Possibly something was shorting… stupid Nunchuck wires.

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Progress report:

Wii Nunchuck communicates with ardunio

Waiting on parts to arrive (TAKING FOREVERS, and my new soldering station http://www.circuitspecialists.com/prod.itml/icOid/7307)

Plan for tomorrow:

Hopefully the parts will arrive, and I’ll be able to initially start on the boost converter.

In the mean time:

I’m trying to find an old PSU to see if I can turn it into a power supply for this project (and future projects!).

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Instructable Control Your Robot Using a Wii Nunchuck

Okay, using this (and proper connections), I finally got the Wii Nunchuck to communicate with the Arduino and can detect all movements for Joystick, Accelerometer, and Buttons!

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