Dispensing Powder Directly from Measure to Pan?

[rox]

I ordered one of these today, I will let you know how it works, thanks.

You will likely find, as others have, that the powder arrives at such speed that a considerable amount will spill out of a standard powder pan. I found the combined "pan & funnel" ones were no help, and even a pan made from a deep drinks can doesn't completely solve the problem (the concave bottom helps though).

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[1066]

I ordered one of these today, I will let you know how it works, thanks.

You will likely find, as others have, that the powder arrives at such speed that a considerable amount will spill out of a standard powder pan. I found the combined "pan & funnel" ones were no help, and even a pan made from a deep drinks can doesn't completely solve the problem (the concave bottom helps though).

..

Something like this could be knocked up easily with some thin sheet aluminium and a couple of inches of brass threaded rod. Powder flow rate could be regulated by adjusting the gap with the threaded rod.

 

[amlevin]

I ordered one of these today, I will let you know how it works, thanks.

You will likely find, as others have, that the powder arrives at such speed that a considerable amount will spill out of a standard powder pan. I found the combined "pan & funnel" ones were no help, and even a pan made from a deep drinks can doesn't completely solve the problem (the concave bottom helps though).

..

I have yet to have any powder spill from my improvised "pan" made from a pop can. It's about 1-1/2" high and on one side there's a semi-circle of metal cut out about the size of half a quarter. This is where the "snout " hangs so the tip of is down inside the walls of the container. I've never bothered to "sex up" the pop can because I really don't care about looks, just performance. For a pour spout I just pinched the side opposite the "spout cutout". To pour I just grasp the entire piece and pour as if it was just a fat shot glass.

 

[hpshooter]

My stone age systems is to use my B&M measure and drop the powder a tenth or two light directly from the charge tube into the Ohaus scale pan and trickle it up and dump it into the case. Totally realize that this system does not save a step but it does allow visual inspection of the thrown charge, eliminates the possibility of powder bridging or hanging in the transfer system and allows the powder to be poured slowly into the pan without bouncing out.

For .223 short range HP loads I drop 24.5 grs. of Reloader 15 straight into the case form the Harrell's.

 

[BoydAllen]

Taking a look at my mockup for a system that allows throwing into the pan of a balance beam scale (tuned), and viewing its beam pointer with a webcam on my computer monitor, I decided to see if I could do something about my web cam image being so small on my screen. Looking around on Ebay I found a Chinese unit that fills my entire 22" monitor and and while I wouldn't take a still picture or video with it, it can be manually focused closer than I need, and the image, while ghastly, is plenty sharp enough to make observations of a scale balancing. The kicker is that it cost me less than $7 delivered from China.

 

[amlevin]

The kicker is that it cost me less than $7 delivered from China.

And $5 of that was probably postage 8)

 

[chkunz]

OK, I bought the RCBS product 9091 that amlevin recommended in Reply #25. I have set it up and played with it and it works. It has the advantage of a powder trickler built in that is integral with the drop tube. It is a rather cheap, clunkey thing but it works much better than any Rube Goldberg thing I could cobble up. The quality of the product is consistent with the price (it is an RCBS product but it reminds me of Lee products). Set up took a little time to work out with the adjustments to get it to work the way I wanted. Powder granules will bounce out if you do not set it up with that in mind. I am using it with beam balance scales; it would be easier to use with electronic scales. Next I will look into the Web Cam with monitor that BoydAllen recommended, this would significantly improve the operation of this set up. I am going to see if there is a product that does not require a PC in the loop to make it work. You folks that have a bone yard with old PC, laptop, tablet, monitor, etc. can build this out of old obsolete stuff. I still have one foot in the slide rule world.

 

[1066]

Here's an idea I thought of a couple of years ago that might work well for you - simple and cheap.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2012/07/monitor-balance-beam-with-magnified-image-on-smartphone/

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2014/04/forum-member-rigs-video-display-for-balance-beam-scale/

This is how I fit a camera to my scales:

 

[chkunz]

Here's an idea I thought of a couple of years ago that might work well for you - simple and cheap.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2012/07/monitor-balance-beam-with-magnified-image-on-smartphone/

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2014/04/forum-member-rigs-video-display-for-balance-beam-scale/

This is how I fit a camera to my scales:

Neat, very good solution. Thanks for sharing. This would be cheap if I had these components that I no longer use but if I have to buy a PC, or camera, etc. to dedicate to this project it is no longer cheap. Is a surveillance camera an option?

 

[1066]

Did you have a look at this link?
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2012/07/monitor-balance-beam-with-magnified-image-on-smartphone/

Yes, almost any camera will work - It just needs to be able to focus down to a couple of inches. Most cameras can, even if it means taking them apart and unscrewing the lens a little.

Another cheap solution could be to use one of the Chinese reversing camera systems, these would need a simple 12v power supply.

This will give you the idea:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-3TFT-LCD-Car-Rear-View-Monitor-CMOS-Waterproof-Night-Vision-Reverse-Camera-/371245206507?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item566ff04beb

 

[chkunz]

Did you have a look at this link?
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2012/07/monitor-balance-beam-with-magnified-image-on-smartphone/

Yes, almost any camera will work - It just needs to be able to focus down to a couple of inches. Most cameras can, even if it means taking them apart and unscrewing the lens a little.

Another cheap solution could be to use one of the Chinese reversing camera systems, these would need a simple 12v power supply.

This will give you the idea:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/4-3TFT-LCD-Car-Rear-View-Monitor-CMOS-Waterproof-Night-Vision-Reverse-Camera-/371245206507?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item566ff04beb

All good recommendations to consider, thanks for your help.