My experiences with the V3 Autotrickler/Autothrow

[MikeMcCasland]

Once you have set the target weight with your ipad/iphone, does it automatically throw the next charge and trickle up when the powder cup is placed on the scale? Or do you have to throw the charge each time with the ipad/iphone?

Thanks in advance.

Does it automatically; you tell it when to stop.

 

[davecb]

Thanks for the quick response. I've been thinking about adding the V3 autothrow to my Sartorius.

Thanks again
Dave

 

[Namibian]

Thanks for the quick response. I've been thinking about adding the V3 autothrow to my Sartorius.

Thanks again
Dave

According to the video they posted, it seems you can “program” a ladder test with the powder load increasing the load every x cases. That is the biggest pain point i have with the V1 system. Too easy to make a mistake if the mind starts to wander. But most systems have this issue today.

Still need to find the funds for the upgrade...

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

According to the video they posted, it seems you can “program” a ladder test with the powder load increasing the load every x cases. That is the biggest pain point i have with the V1 system. Too easy to make a mistake if the mind starts to wander. But most systems have this issue today.

Still need to find the funds for the upgrade...

Yeah, I don't think you can do that and I would not think it's something that would be used much, if at all.

Adam provides an app that communicates with his electronics in the scale and it allows you to set the target weight by just typing in the value you're looking for. He wrote the app in such a way that you can add or subtract 1 grain, .1 grain or .01 grain to you target weight by just tapping on the value of the delta you want to apply to your load.

I would not want to have it change automatically on me when I'm loading for a ladder test. But I absolutely love the ease with which you can load a ladder test, incrementing or decrementing the load when you want in just a second or so. There's no memory feature or any automated thing, it's just a simple control. And it works exactly as documented.

 

[Mike7.62]

Yes. When not in manual mode, it throws and trickles when you place the cup (shot glass) back on the scale. When the cup is off the scale, it is in "standby" if you will, and doesn't throw until it is back on the scale. You can use manual mode to throw individual charge weights, and this is what I used to set the initial weight I was using, and to adjust the trickle speed.

 

[Namibian]

Yes. When not in manual mode, it throws and trickles when you place the cup (shot glass) back on the scale. When the cup is off the scale, it is in "standby" if you will, and doesn't throw until it is back on the scale. You can use manual mode to throw individual charge weights, and this is what I used to set the initial weight I was using, and to adjust the trickle speed.

My bad. Just now watched Adam’s video again, and yes you are correct: You can increment or decrement by 0.1 gn from the ipad or Android app. That should make it real easy to load a ladder test. No programming feature.

 

[Alexander-M]

Once you have set the target weight with your ipad/iphone, does it automatically throw the next charge and trickle up when the powder cup is placed on the scale? Or do you have to throw the charge each time with the ipad/iphone?

Thanks in advance.

It starts shortly after you replace the cup. However, I noticed that mine did not start a couple of times, and upon closer examination, noticed two kernels of powder on the scale pan. This happened when I was beginning to use the Auto Throw; I don't get kernels on the pan anymore.

Anyway, I emailed Adam about this, and this is what he said:

"Hi Alex,
The trickler will not start unless the current weight on the scale is +/- 0.02 for about 1 second.

The scale also will auto-correct itself for drift back to zero when +/- 0.02 in about 1 second.

Which means if you are at 0.04 then everything just waits. Usually this means there is an extra kernel on the pan.

And if you are at 0.02 then it will automatically (slowly) zero itself and correct for any accumulated drift. It's a good thing.
Adam"

I think this is great!

Alex

 

[venatic]

It throws as soon as you place the pan and it hits zero.

 

[Pres100]

Can someone provide a little more info on how to use the slider on the back of the scale to fine tune the speed and accuracy?

 

[powderbrake]

Can someone provide a little more info on how to use the slider on the back of the scale to fine tune the speed and accuracy?

If it underthrows consistently or overthrows consistently, you move the slider a little bit ( say 1/32 inch) and throw some more, and see what happens. The direction to move the slider is in the manual.
as it gets more accurate, it gets faster. You also need to adjust the trickler to up the speed and accuracy.

 

[PatMiles]

Can someone provide a little more info on how to use the slider on the back of the scale to fine tune the speed and accuracy?

Looking at the scale from the front, to the left slows the drop, to the right speeds up the drop. Slower will slow down the over run but will also slow down the powder trickle rate. Faster is the opposite.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Last night I was able to powder charge 100 cases with my setup, in about 1 hour and that includes time to eat my dinner at the halfway point. I did receive the Lexan lid from Area 419 and I installed it as I was setting up the scale. I am now ready for this weekend's match.

I store my unit on a shelf when not in use so I have to take the powder out completely. I turn the powder column one quarter twist and then I use the app to cycle the Autothrow four times, dispensing into the glass cup. Then I lift the powder reservoir from the unit and pour the powder back into its canister. The autotrickler is easy to do.

 

[rardoin]

The slider controls the 'ramp down' rate as the trickler approaches the target weight. The flow rate of the trickler is controlled by the angle of the trickler tube. The reason I like the plastic stand of the V3 compared to the heavy duty machined Area 419 base is the ease/accuracy of adjusting the flow rate via the adjustable extended leg on the new base. If you play a bit with that adjustment one can get the over-run nearly eliminated and drop the charge dispensing time considerably. Don't be afraid to spend a half hour or less and throw some dummy charges while adjusting the tube angle (leave the slider set to the middle...it rarely needs adjustment if the tube angle is optimized IME).

Robin

 

[Rick300]

A question: Let's say you want to throw a 30.70 charge of H4895. If the autotrickler stops at 30.68 or 30.72 do you add or pick out that one kernel to make it exact, or is .02 close enough?

 

[Pres100]

A question: Let's say you want to throw a 30.70 charge of H4895. If the autotrickler stops at 30.68 or 30.72 do you add or pick out that one kernel to make it exact, or is .02 close enough?

I was asking myself the same question when I first got the AT/AT. 0.02 is pretty darn close and the spread could be 0.04 for the load. It really depends on what your going for in regard to charge accuracy.
In regard to adding or picking a kernel, I’d just dump the entire charge back in the hopper and try again - probably take the same or possibly more time to mess with a single kernel. If it consistently throws the over/under charges I would try to adjust the throw/trickler. I’ve had more success after being able to mess around with it.

Edited for error of 0.12 ..... I meant 0.02

 

[powderbrake]

I was asking myself the same question when I first got the AT/AT. 0.12 go is pretty darn close and the spread could be 0.04 for the load. It really depends on what your going for in regard to charge accuracy.
In regard to adding or picking a kernel, I’d just dump the entire charge back in the hopper and try again - probably take the same or possibly more time to mess with a single kernel. If it consistently throws the over/under charges I would try to adjust the throw/trickler. I’ve had more success after being able to mess around with it.

If the scale has a resolution of .02, any weight may read "right on" or + .02 or -.02. You have reached the accuracy limit of the scale. Messing around with 1 kernel may make you feel good, but you have no way of knowing the exact weight within a range of .04.
So I suggest, accept any reading that is within + or - .02 of the setpoint.

 

[ridgeway]

The scale is sensitive enough to measure a kernel. I'm not following you with the .04 range.

 

[BenPerfected]

Mouse turds, invest in wind flags and a tuner. Both are a one time investment.
Ben

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I was asking myself the same question when I first got the AT/AT. 0.02 is pretty darn close and the spread could be 0.04 for the load. It really depends on what your going for in regard to charge accuracy.
In regard to adding or picking a kernel, I’d just dump the entire charge back in the hopper and try again - probably take the same or possibly more time to mess with a single kernel. If it consistently throws the over/under charges I would try to adjust the throw/trickler. I’ve had more success after being able to mess around with it.

Edited for error of 0.12 ..... I meant 0.02

Yeah, I use a small pair of plastic tweezers with which I can pick out a kernel or two. I place a couple kernels on the bench next to the scale and if I need to add on, I pick it from there and throw it in. If I need to remove 1 or 2, I place them there. It doesn't make a difference in the grand scheme of things, but it's good for my peace of mind knowing that all my loads are at my exact target weight. At the end of 100 cases, I may have a few kernels remaining on the bench and they go into the autotrickler.

Always use plastic tweezers; no metal need apply. It's fast, it's easy; it's OCD-friendly.

 

[Qtip]

Yeah, I use a small pair of plastic tweezers with which I can pick out a kernel or two. I place a couple kernels on the bench next to the scale and if I need to add on, I pick it from there and throw it in. If I need to remove 1 or 2, I place them there. It doesn't make a difference in the grand scheme of things, but it's good for my peace of mind knowing that all my loads are at my exact target weight. At the end of 100 cases, I may have a few kernels remaining on the bench and they go into the autotrickler.

Always use plastic tweezers; no metal need apply. It's fast, it's easy; it's OCD-friendly.

You must work those tweezers pretty if you are worried about sparks, you aren’t worried about the plastic generating static ? Lol