Metal Detector


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  1. #1
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    Default Metal Detector

    Hey Gang
    I am think of building a metal dectector. Purchased on this summer, but some how
    I think its possible to build a better one. After doing a google search and a search on
    this forum I'm definitly confused. Google shows very few examples using micro-controllers.
    Melanie posted a decent idea for one a while back. However it still seems a bit fuzzy to me.


    My question is.......
    Can someone point me in the right direction on where to start.?

    I Really want to learn how these work so I can make my own from scratch using a PIC.


    Please excuse me if this is not the correct place to post this type of question.

    Thanks in advance
    Gordon

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    After re-reading my first post I should of mentioned I
    want to build the metal detector of the style used for searching
    the ground for old coins and such. Something like the Whites
    style of metal detectors. No this is not a school project, just
    have an itch to learn something that interest me.

    Thanks all
    G

  3. #3
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    Hi G-R-C

    I had the same idea, so started with a non-pic project to learn how it works.
    The net has several example circuits for BFO and pulse metal detectors.

    http://www.rpi.edu/~bradfe/MD/MD.html
    http://oldradiobuilder.com/MDET.html
    http://www.talkingelectronics.com/pr...ectorMkII.html

    I built the circuit from http://www.easytreasure.co.uk/bfo.htm - had good description.
    It works but the feedback control is a pain and the depth detection sucks, best I could get was about 2" with a 5" coil in air. Note:You WILL need an Oscope for setting the coil frequency etc.

    Due to the terrible depth detection, I have not persued this project any further with using a Pic, but with someone else having the same interest, I may have to start it back up again.

    If you have access to PCB Wizard, attached is the circuit I made for the BFO.

    Regards,

    Paul

    Edit: There is a Pic based metal detector called Gold Pic (search the net). You have to pay for the pre-programmed pic chip but I think you can find the circuit for free. I will see if I have anything saved for this and post it if I do.

    Edit2: Here is the link http://home.global.co.za/~trh/gp301n.gif
    Attached Files Attached Files
    Last edited by locko; - 24th September 2007 at 16:05. Reason: Forgot something
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  4. #4
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    Thanks for the links Locko. Some of these I have seen before.
    I too was thinking about the BFO detector as well. However
    you are first person I have had any conversation with who has some real
    feedback on the subject. Seems intersting that your's is only able
    to read into the ground just a few inches.

    The circuit with PIC is very cool. This looks like a good place to start.
    I'd like to write my own code. Maybe it would be possible to block
    certain metals like aluminum and iron from being detected.
    This way somebody doesn't keep digging up trash.

    Any idea why yours only has a few inches of depth detection?

    Wonder if the pick-up coil senstivity can be increased/decreased.

    Thanks again Locko, this has been a huge step in the right direction.

    Gordon

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by G-R-C View Post

    Any idea why yours only has a few inches of depth detection?

    Wonder if the pick-up coil senstivity can be increased/decreased.
    Gordon
    I have a couple of Ideas. There are basicly 2 types of metal detectors, the TR type( transmit / receive ) and the BFO ( beat frequency Oscillator ) and are used for direrent reasons. The TR type for deep detection uses 2 coils oriented 90 degrees from each other and spaced several feet apart, whereas the bfo usually has a small coil inside and to the front or rear of a larger coil. The larger the coils, the deeper they will search. Metal which has had time to corrode a little will cause the detector to sense it more readily. There are TR type detectors which have coils like the BFO, units and these can be tuned to ignore iron or alum. but if tuned to ignore alum, they will also ignore gold and silver. Many good articles in Rock And Gem magazine about metal detectors, check ebay for back issues.
    JS
    If you do not believe in MAGIC, Consider how currency has value simply by printing it, and is then traded for real assets.
    .
    Gold is the money of kings, silver is the money of gentlemen, barter is the money of peasants - but debt is the money of slaves
    .
    There simply is no "Happy Spam" If you do it you will disappear from this forum.

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    EDIT: Here is all you need right here - a fully explained pic metal detecter with hex file!!
    http://geotech.thunting.com/cgi-bin/...art2/index.dat


    Quote Originally Posted by G-R-C View Post
    Thanks for the links Locko. Some of these I have seen before.
    I too was thinking about the BFO detector as well. However
    you are first person I have had any conversation with who has some real
    feedback on the subject. Seems intersting that your's is only able
    to read into the ground just a few inches.
    See below

    The circuit with PIC is very cool. This looks like a good place to start.
    I'd like to write my own code. Maybe it would be possible to block
    certain metals like aluminum and iron from being detected.
    This way somebody doesn't keep digging up trash.
    Yes you can, it has to do with the return signal. A metal near the magnetic field will affect the frequency of the search coil (Phase shift). On the BFO I made, a copper coin would increase the tone but my gold ring would decrease the tone.
    Some good info here: http://www.gi.alaska.edu/~jesse/trea...wdetector.html

    Any idea why yours only has a few inches of depth detection?
    There are lots of things that affect the depth, voltage in the coil, size of coil, the sensitivity of the balance circuit. If I set the zero beat to just triggering with no metal, it can detect a single penny at 5-6 inches in air. My test circuit was using 5 volts and when I went to a real circuit with a 9 volt bat, the depth detection increased. Some metal detectors use 18 volts in their circuits - could be for more coil volts?
    With the size, Joe is right, larger = deeper, but you will sacrifice the size of object you can detect.

    Wonder if the pick-up coil senstivity can be increased/decreased.
    I’m sure it can but I think switching to a good PI circuit would improve things greatly.

    Thanks again Locko, this has been a huge step in the right direction.

    Gordon
    From what I have read, a pulse induction system is the way to go. Better depth but more complicated to build. Here is another site that has lots of good links:
    http://geotech.thunting.com/cgi-bin/...e=projects.dat

    I think it is best to start with deciding what you want to detect and go from there.
    This has got my interest again, may have to start loosing more sleep to yet another project….
    Sorry none of this really covers a pic chip, but I never got that far last time. I think the pic is probably the easier part od a good detector, the circuit and coil design is the complicated part.
    Regards,

    Paul
    Last edited by locko; - 25th September 2007 at 17:24. Reason: Added web link
    +-------------------------------------------------------------------+
    | PBP 2.47/2.50 | MCS+ 3.0.0.5 | U2 Prog | Vista x64 | NO SLEEP!!!!!!! |
    +-------------------------------------------------------------------+

  7. #7
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    Joe and Paul
    Thanks for the help again fellas. Really like the PIC based link.
    I will to modify this idea as my starting ponit and go from there.
    Any idea if a microcontoller is used in the expensive profressional
    detectors? Seems to me there have to be some form a programmable
    device to block the iron and trash metals.

    I think I have enough information now to be dangerous. This is going
    to a fun project. Can't wait to let the smoke out of some electrical
    components.


    Thanks agian guys
    Gordon

    If at first you don't succeed, let the smoke out of another PIC.

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Metal Detector

    Quote Originally Posted by G-R-C View Post
    Thanks for the links Locko. Some of these I have seen before.
    I too was thinking about the BFO detector as well. However
    you are first person I have had any conversation with who has some real
    feedback on the subject. Seems intersting that your's is only able
    to read into the ground just a few inches.

    The circuit with PIC is very cool. This looks like a good place to start.
    I'd like to write my own code. Maybe it would be possible to block
    certain metals like aluminum and iron from being detected.
    This way somebody doesn't keep digging up trash.

    Any idea why yours only has a few inches of depth detection?

    Wonder if the pick-up coil senstivity can be increased/decreased.

    Thanks again Locko, this has been a huge step in the right direction.

    Gordon
    I know nothing about the BFO detector. I just heard about metal detector and gold detector.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Metal Detector

    The single most important part of any metal detector is the coil assembly. A PIC is usally only used to make 'fancy' displays of the resultant signal but you can't make a silk purse from a sows ear - in other words, without a decent coil/detection system using a PIC won't add any additional advantages.

    Elektor magazine, November 1981, has a good (very, very good) metal detector circuit (with pcb layout etc) if you can get a back issue - my pdf of the article runs to around 8.5Mb in size.

  10. #10
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    I noticed that some of these links here were dead. Here is one link with a description of each of the most popular detector types, with schematics.

    http://www.hobby-hour.com/electronic..._detectors.php


    Name:  heathkit-gr1290-metal-detector.gif
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    Name:  heathkit-gr1290-metal-detector.gif
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    And one more link http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Projects.htm
    Last edited by ScaleRobotics; - 17th December 2010 at 19:34.
    http://www.scalerobotics.com

  11. #11
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    Default Re: Metal Detector

    Quote Originally Posted by ScaleRobotics View Post
    I noticed that some of these links here were dead. Here is one link with a description of each of the most popular detector types, with schematics.

    http://www.hobby-hour.com/electronic..._detectors.php


    Attachment 5000

    Attachment 5001

    Attachment 5002

    Attachment 5000
    And one more link http://www3.telus.net/chemelec/Projects/Projects.htm
    Can this circuit diagram go with any kind of metal detector?

  12. #12
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    Default Re: Metal Detector

    Hi Andy,

    Here is a link for you. It has a Metal Detector circuit with 12F1840.


    Also, below is the circuit schematic.

    "If the Earth were a single state, Istanbul would be its capital." Napoleon Bonaparte

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    Default Re: Metal Detector

    Quote Originally Posted by sayzer View Post
    Hi Andy,

    Here is a link for you. It has a Metal Detector circuit with 12F1840.


    Also, below is the circuit schematic.

    Thanks much!
    "I have noticed that even those who assert that everything is predestined and that
    we can change nothing about it still look both ways before they cross the street"


    -Stephen Hawking

  14. #14
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    Default Re: Metal Detector

    Hello

    First of all Thank you again for sharing this information with me.

    Quote Originally Posted by sayzer View Post
    Hi Andy,
    Here is a link for you. It has a Metal Detector circuit with 12F1840.
    I have taken a look shortly at the details of this design.
    On the hand I have checked local markets for this PIC12F1840 ; it is not available at the moment at local shops, and on the other hand this project only has HEX & ASM files as sources for this mentioned micro controller.

    Also, I am very interested in to use the DT-Ints (Darrel Taylor Instant Interrupt routines) and use LCD, of course to add a keyboard for the purpose of frequency adjustments, battery level monitoring and other facilities and etc. So I decide to switch to a better PIC chip such as PIC16F877A or some other equal types as well.

    For now, it is difficult for me to adapt the ASM file to a program with PicBasicPro language.

    Would you please do a great favor to me and just give me some clues that HOW I should use DT-Ints for handling this issue? for the reference of this below schematic.

    Many many thanks again for your help and always kindly support forum members.

    Regards,

    Andy Brown

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    Default Re: Metal Detector

    Hi Andy and welcome back. Sorry for the kick!

    About the firmware, I'd recommend to start without DT-INTS, as it is not necessary, at least for the first experiments.

    Look at this phrase: "In my design pulses occur at 2 millisecond intervals. Pulse duration is 140 microseconds." This is easy for any PIC to produce.

    Start by this and then try to check with analog input for the decay time it takes. Maybe comparator is better choice than ADC as it is much faster.

    Ioannis

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    Default Re: Metal Detector

    Hello Ioannis,

    Thank you for ...

    Quote Originally Posted by Ioannis View Post
    Hi Andy and welcome back. Sorry for the kick!

    About the firmware, ...
    I would start to challenge and back to expert guys, such as you, with further questions.

    Regards,

    Andy

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