Sensor

A bit more info might help with the answers.

1.     size how big is the height and depth

2.     Case material ... wood, brass, plastic

3.     What are you adding into it.

My first thought is weight using a stain guage.

That requires to know what empty case and full weight will be.

Mark

Thanks Mark

case is 9mm case

material brass

adding gun powder

no way to weigh the case in a press. I have a powder die that has a rod that checks the height of the powder. it will only stop me if I am very over full or have an empty case. Wondering if there is a way to read the level of the shaft or some way to measure the height inside the case while still in the press.

Keith

Hi Keith,

If you scroll down to the section titled Linear Travel on this page: Keysight U1282A Vehicle/Automotive and Industrial Applications

you'll see a sensor that can resolve to about a millimetre or better. It is like a plunger without a spring (a spring could be added with some modification). The shaft is light, doesn't need much force. The end is a screw thread, perhaps it could be fitted to something the diameter of the case you refer to.

It's just an idea, I don't really know if it is suitable or not.

Well that makes things very difficult.

V8 supercars weigh the full fuel filling tank and then weigh what remains after a fill, thereby knowing how much fuel they added.

Can you weigh the powder before and during filling.

Alternatively if the press was also on the weigh table, then only the added weight would register.

However there would be a large offset so whether it is sensitive enough is another question.

I'm picking that it's a few grams of powder we're taking about.

Mark

Traditionally the most accurate linear position sensor is an LVDT (linear variable differential transducer) but they can be expensive. A linear potentiometer is a pretty good low-cost alternative.

Maybe you could hook up digital caliper to measure position.

If you want alarms and extra features, you can connect a digital caliper to a USB port or an arduino for further processing - lots of examples on the net.

Is it possible to pre-weigh or pre-measure the volume of powder and make a loader or dispenser that loads the correct amount? Like a syringe with graduated markings on the side, or even a mini measuring cup.

Thanks for all the help will  look into the LVDT thanks all

Keith

I would use a pressure sensor to measure the weight of the container.

Once you know the weight for an empty one, and then a full one, you can see about where you are with what is left.

DAB

cto:

Online Catalog