DIY Metal Detector using PIC12F1840

[Teemo]

Check out my metal detector project: http://digiwood.ee/en/


Let me know if you like it.

[Skimask]

Re: your statement about the PICKIT3.
The PICKIT2 can do the 12F18xx series, as well as a bunch of PIC32MX types and others that Microchip doesn't "officially" support.  Just gotta load up the newer (/hacked/modified) device files, etc.  Piece of cake.  (P.S. I hate the PICKIT3)

[Teemo]

Re: your statement about the PICKIT3.
The PICKIT2 can do the 12F18xx series, as well as a bunch of PIC32MX types and others that Microchip doesn't "officially" support.  Just gotta load up the newer (/hacked/modified) device files, etc.  Piece of cake.  (P.S. I hate the PICKIT3)

PICKIT3 works for me, and this chip, don't know if it can do something else. I newer owned PICKIT2 so can't compare. I watched Dave's review video after purchasing, so happened. Nice thing about PICKIT3 is its compelling clear red case, it just draws my attention every time I look at it and invites me to do some more PIC programming .
Is there any software for programming those newer PICs with JDM programmer? I used icprog before, but it is not updated any more, since 2008.

[Teemo]

Hello!

Today I released the source assembler code for this project.

I encourage you to share your modification and test results, in case you decide to build this project.

Here is the link to my firmware page, there is also basic flow diagram:firmware-page
Direct link to assembler file:metaldetector100.asm

I also add zipped asm file here as attachment.

Active discussion is now in the following forums:
http://www.thunting.com/smf/metal_detectors/diy_pic12f1840_microcontroller_based_metal_detector_project-t38721.0.html;msg239026#msg239026
http://www.geotech1.com/forums/showthread.php?19935-My-Pulse-Oscillation-detector-project

Thanks,
Teemo

[PhynixViking]

We like!!! 

I'm not quite on assembly code yet (mostly into repairs and some i guess you'd call it "hard ware projects" idk... in short! I'll have to make one when I get more into software.)

[Teemo]

I added RS232 connectivity option to my metal detector circuit.
Check out details at my page:http://digiwood.ee/en/metal-detector/computer-connection

I attach assembler source code here also.

Teemo

[mohandes]

hi
your detector work ?

[dannyf]

Two suggestions:

1) with a dampen resistor, you can drive the coil directly through one of the mcu pins, saving Q1 and potentially D2/D3;
2) you can use the timer to count the number of pulses to measure the decay.

Depending on the output methods, you can reduce the design to a 1 pin (driving coil + counting pulses mux on one pin) + 1 pin (for output).

[Seekonk]

I had a production pump control and I fed out rs232 serial information through the pilot light LED.  The test fixture for the product had a photo transistor in a cup that was placed over the LED to get pressure data out.

[Teemo]

I had a production pump control and I fed out rs232 serial information through the pilot light LED.  The test fixture for the product had a photo transistor in a cup that was placed over the LED to get pressure data out.

Hello.
Yes, it is a good idea to make the circuit communication through LED!

Overall the detector is working fine. I'am off from work now again, and slowly recovering and regaining my ability to think accuretely and invent something At the moment I'am working on some other projects, but the little thing about the detector is ticking in the back of my head, the thing that the detector should tell the difference between gold and iron.

But really when designing some tricky thing with those 8 pin PIC-s it is wise to make the thing (and tune it) with some larger pin count PIC and finally port it back to the little one. I'did not do that, but now I'am forced anyway if I want it to begin to tell the difference between iron and gold.

[mikerj]

That's a very neat little design, I like it   What sort of detection distances do you achieve?