Turn Counter?

[Aka Nameless]

I made a simple pickup winder which consists of a power drill, clamped in a bench vise. What would be the easiest way to count the turns? Is there some kinda of cheap laser turn counter out there that I count stick a sensor to the bobbin and the laser on the drill, and it counts the passes? Or is there an easier way that I am overlooking?

Thanks in advance.

[SkinnyWire]

I don't like moving parts since they can break, so here's how I do it. YMMV.

Watch eBay for digital LCD Totalizers like this one:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-DURANT-QUADR...QQcmdZViewItem

I don't recall what "quadrature" means in this case so be sure to look up the spec sheet for the device first. These run on Lithium batteries that last for 5 to 10 years. They're expensive new, but you can normally get them cheap off eBay. Find one that registers a count on a rising or falling edge of a pulse.

Then, for about $10 get an IR optical switch from DigiKey, etc. Something like this:

http://www.optekinc.com/pdf/OPB480.pdf

I got the "T" package. I'd have to look up the particular part number, but I power it with a 12V wall wart.

With a couple of resistors you should be able to set up an optically driven counter for $30 to $50 depending on the deal you get on the totalizer. I create a 50 percent duty cycle signal to the counter with heavy construction paper (like thin cardboard). Cut it in a half circle such that 50 percent of the time it breaks the IR beam and the other 50 percent of the time it doesn't.

It might sound more complicated than it is.

[chevalij]

You can go cheaper and easier. Got to Ebay, grab a Red Lion Cub series counter like:
http://cgi.ebay.com/RED-LION-CUB-2L0...QQcmdZViewItem

then buy a reed switch like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Reed-Magnetic-Sw...QQcmdZViewItem

Glue a small magnet on the drill chuck (glue gun works fine). Fix up something to hold the switch over the magnet on the drill chuck. Everytime the magnet passes under the reed switch, it will close. You simply wire the reed switch to the counter (two wires included with the counter). The counter will count every revolution. Total cost, about $30 with shipping. AND, the counter runs on batteries!

[black_labb]

what i ahve done, aswell as a fair few others is to use the reed switch like above and connect it to the = sections of the calculator. what i did is use electrical tape to hold either sides of the reed switch to the calculator, and then press ans + 1, so that it goes up once every time you pass a magnet past the reed switch. it is helpful, as if you need to unwind the thing you can press = -1 and then keep the counts correct. if you have the spare calculator around then its always nice to save a bit of money. the electrical tape can be substituted with solder, but i wasnt too confident with my soldering skills to do it on a circuit board. the electrical tape works alright, aslong as it sticks well.

[SkinnyWire]

You can go cheaper and easier. Got to Ebay, grab a Red Lion Cub series counter like:
http://cgi.ebay.com/RED-LION-CUB-2L0...QQcmdZViewItem

then buy a reed switch like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Reed-Magnetic-Sw...QQcmdZViewItem

Glue a small magnet on the drill chuck (glue gun works fine). Fix up something to hold the switch over the magnet on the drill chuck. Everytime the magnet passes under the reed switch, it will close. You simply wire the reed switch to the counter (two wires included with the counter). The counter will count every revolution. Total cost, about $30 with shipping. AND, the counter runs on batteries!

Not really cheaper or easier, but more common.

[Aka Nameless]

Awesome, thanks for the info guys.