Turn Your FX-120i into a Prometheus

[adamjmac]

I've got one of these on order and absolutely can not wait to get it! Charging has been the greatest "non-fun" thing in my process, I despise it. I told Adam that (like so many others) I have been wanting to do this for many years but didn't have the skill set or free time with my family to teach myself. This niche is a gold mine that nobody has tried to fill until now. Kudos to Adam.
I'm sure the software could be altered to wait a little longer when it is .02-.04gn low to be sure it doesn't overcharge. Either way I am just fine at +/-.02gn at these speeds as that's where I normally end up after hours of charging and I lose "interest" lol. I'll just set it .02gn low if I have to.
I was going to use the omega but after seeing his run, the rotary trickler is the best way, much more control and consistency. My omega also varies with hopper level and battery power...I fight it constantly. It would also be slower.
Thanks Adam!!

Not dropping too much while being quick is the main challenge of tweaking the numbers. Because the stepper provides truly continuous speed control, is capable of running VERY slowly, and the scale provides the weight 20 times a second, the trickling speed is a function of weight that can be tweaked. If I set it just a little too low, it will almost never overthrow, but sometimes might take a few extra seconds to finish. I will be providing a slide setting in the back which can be used to set the 'aggressiveness' of the function so that you can tune it for different kinds of powders. For any powder, there will be an 'ideal' setting that minimizes time while making overthrows very rare. I will make sure it works well for fine ball powders like H335 and larger chunks like N150.

Adam

 

[itchyTF]

the omega has 2 batteries. when it runs on both batteries it runs fast. when it runs on one it runs slow. controlling the voltage is what makes it run fast or slow. if you can program your arduino to supply more or less voltage to the omega depending on the weight you got it made.

Using PWM control does pretty much the same thing. Using the Omega, if you use 2 batteries the speed will be "fast" at 100% duty cycle. If you drop it to 50% it would be at the one battery speed. However, you can control the duty cycle from 0% (or at least very close) to 100%. The resolution depends on the number of bits the PWM controller uses. I believe 8 bits would give you about .39% resolution.

 

[adamjmac]

Using PWM control does pretty much the same thing. Using the Omega, if you use 2 batteries the speed will be "fast" at 100% duty cycle. If you drop it to 50% it would be at the one battery speed. However, you can control the duty cycle from 0% (or at least very close) to 100%. The resolution depends on the number of bits the PWM controller uses. I believe 8 bits would give you about .39% resolution.

The problem with DC motors is they require some minimum voltage to turn at all, below which they just make noise. The speed is also non-linear with voltage. Setting voltage is usually done with an encoder for measuring the speed and feedback loop. With a stepper, you specify a very specific rate (number of steps per second) so it can run very slowly, and know for sure that it is turning.

 

[Dos XX]

I like it like it is. Can't wait to get mine. I will be able to load my 7 slinger ammo twice as fast.

 

[J-rod]

Not dropping too much while being quick is the main challenge of tweaking the numbers. Because the stepper provides truly continuous speed control, is capable of running VERY slowly, and the scale provides the weight 20 times a second, the trickling speed is a function of weight that can be tweaked. If I set it just a little too low, it will almost never overthrow, but sometimes might take a few extra seconds to finish. I will be providing a slide setting in the back which can be used to set the 'aggressiveness' of the function so that you can tune it for different kinds of powders. For any powder, there will be an 'ideal' setting that minimizes time while making overthrows very rare. I will make sure it works well for fine ball powders like H335 and larger chunks like N150.

Adam

Ahh, brilliant and thanks for the response. I plan to seat bullets while this thing is doing its magic near set point, so a few extra seconds won't bother me at all. The most tedious part for me now is the last few kernels anyways, so not having to do them anymore is a big deal in my book.

 

[Dos XX]

Ahh, brilliant and thanks for the response. I plan to seat bullets while this thing is doing its magic near set point, so a few extra seconds won't bother me at all. The most tedious part for me now is the last few kernels anyways, so not having to do them anymore is a big deal in my book.

Same here.

 

[nmjwolf]

I think Adam has it nailed. The adjust-ability slider he has a integrated will allow the user to change powders easily.

I automated the FX scale with the omega trickler because I had one...however a stepper motor is superior due to its ability to provide continuous speed control down to zero. The setup uses PWM to control the omega, but I found that when you get very near the target small pulses provide better control when using the omega.

Here is a video I took this morning showing the omega integrated with the scale.

 

[pressedRat]

well here's my take. if someone(s) can put together a package that throws then 'trickles up' or whatever in an automated package (I've seen enough 'parts' and versions of gear now to know its doable.. ) you are looking at a market for around 1500 to 2000. that includes a thrower, a 'pro scale', the trickler mechanism and so forth. i suspect if you can get your price down below 1500 you would sell all you could make. the more automated it is (has a 'thrower') and faster it is the better. I would shoot for 1 grain accuracy (1 granule of powder). you dont want to have to continually feed your trickler and you want something that automates the throw and you want accuracy and acceptable speed and automation.

if you build they will come...

 

[waldo1979]

I was under the impression the omega solves the problem of powder clumping by using a smaller diameter tube. I don't own one so hard to say.

That's an interesting point, if you PWM a high torque motor can you get the same granular finess at 1/10 the cost?

The problem using a powder drop is shearing extruded powders. I'm not sure how big of a deal it is, but it happens. Plus getting back to the point a powder trickler cost ~$20 and a powder drop way more.

I wonder how much it would cost to make a simple RCBS chargemaster-style powder dispenser controllable with an I2c interface. It's basically just a bigger trickler.

 

[pressedRat]

The problem using a powder drop is shearing extruded powders. I'm not sure how big of a deal it is, but it happens. .

that would be something like this that a previous link showed.

 

[Judd]

As someone on the list for a Promethus...and is using this scale now...this is interesting.

Those that order please post your experience.

 

[XTR]

I already have the scale, I think I gotta get one of these

 

[johnnyi]

Hi - this is Adam, I made this.

The website with details and where it can be ordered is here: http://autotrickler.weebly.com/

I'm excited for all the interest and I hope I can keep up with production!

To those wondering about building your own... you actually need TWO arduino's, which I discovered was the solution to the serial port interrupts interfering with the delicate timing for proper stepper motor control. But I can't give away all the secrets now can I

I've been getting a lot of questions about converting an Omega trickler. The stepper provides great speed control, but is there some other advantage with the Omega that I can incorporate into my design? Perhaps a larger hopper? Would appreciate any feedback you can give because I don't have an Omega.

Regarding having it work with other scales, it is possible but I don't have an array of expensive scales so it will take some time. I could use some help with this. Specifically Sartorius and Ohaus.

Hi Adam,
can you share details regarding the calibration of the scale with this new item added?

 

[adamjmac]

Hi Adam,
can you share details regarding the calibration of the scale with this new item added?

I can confirm there is no problem. I recalibrated my scale - while the dispenser was running. Once you enter a menu, or the calibration mode, the scale stops outputting the stream and the dispenser logic basically waits until data starts coming back in.

 

[Dos XX]

I can confirm there is no problem. I recalibrated my scale - while the dispenser was running. Once you enter a menu, or the calibration mode, the scale stops outputting the stream and the dispenser logic basically waits until data starts coming back in.

Thanks Adam. Will mine be here later this week?

 

[adamjmac]

Thanks Adam. Will mine be here later this week?

No haha... orders will start shipping in about 3 weeks. First I had to figure out how many to build on the first go-around ... and the magic number is 100.

 

[wolfman]

so much for, "I'll build 5 and see how it goes"

 

[escopeta]

Hi - this is Adam, I made this.

The website with details and where it can be ordered is here: http://autotrickler.weebly.com/

I'm excited for all the interest and I hope I can keep up with production!

To those wondering about building your own... you actually need TWO arduino's, which I discovered was the solution to the serial port interrupts interfering with the delicate timing for proper stepper motor control. But I can't give away all the secrets now can I

I've been getting a lot of questions about converting an Omega trickler. The stepper provides great speed control, but is there some other advantage with the Omega that I can incorporate into my design? Perhaps a larger hopper? Would appreciate any feedback you can give because I don't have an Omega.

Regarding having it work with other scales, it is possible but I don't have an array of expensive scales so it will take some time. I could use some help with this. Specifically Sartorius and Ohaus.

I just ordered one from you.

 

[Endyo]

Dang-it Sheldon! I'm $220 poorer.

In seriousness Thank you for the share.

 

[1lnbrdg]

I did too . . .

How close are you to that 100 mark?