New Project - MPS PI - Iron discriminating metal detector.

[phred01]

Tried to get PCB's made as per gerber files as posted here JLCPCB declined to manufacture there wasn't as solder mask for top & bottom sides. From the pcb image there doesn't appear one Is there one that can be posted

[Carl-NC]

They should be able to make them without solder mask.

[GeoMax]

Tried to get PCB's made as per gerber files as posted here JLCPCB declined to manufacture there wasn't as solder mask for top & bottom sides. From the pcb image there doesn't appear one Is there one that can be posted

Both solder masks for the top and bottom sides are located in the Gerber zip archive.

[phred01]

They should be able to make them without solder mask.

That's what I thought. JLCPCB were unhappy to make the pcb without solder mask due track corrosion concerns. I even suggested tinning the tracks & not just the pads. My conclusion is their system is rigid expecting a gerber files like in the voodoo project

[phred01]

Both solder masks for the top and bottom sides are located in the Gerber zip archive.

not in gerber file posted in this thread see contents list in attachment
could a correct link be provided please?

[GeoMax]

Hello Phred01,

Take another close look at the Gerber file archive in post #1 of this thread. Everything you need is confirmed here. Here's a screenshot of the archive contents. I also downloaded the file and opened all the Gerber files. They are all complete enough to produce a circuit board. I don't know where you downloaded your Gerber files from, but they are complete in post #1.

[algan]

Hi, phred01 check these gerber files I also want to try this project, but I haven't done it yet. Check the checkpoints carefully when assembling. I don't know if there are any errors. .Regards

[phred01]

Hi, phred01 check these gerber files I also want to try this project, but I haven't done it yet. Check the checkpoints carefully when assembling. I don't know if there are any errors. .Regards

In the process of having boards made by JLC Just waiting for them to review Price good value select 24 hr manufacture & select low cost shipping that needs to selected as the default price is high. BTW pcbway quote $5 for 5 boards but after reviewing price jumps to $25+
Ordered 2 lots
1 from #1 post gerber 1.90c
2 MPS gerber.rar
will see if they are the same versions

[phred01]

Just edited bill of materials. In-mid October expect the boards to arrive As there are no part numbers associated on the component overlay Plan to create one to make board stuffing & debugging easier

[Prospekteur]

Great work! So in simple terms we have an pulse induction and simple VLF detector (for discrimination) in one housing??? Can you explainin simple terms how discrimination works? Does discrimination work with pulse induction and "cool down times" or is it a real hybrid unit like Pi and VLF in one housing? Sorry....I really hadnt the time to read all the posts yet....would be great to clarify how the discrimination works in a short simple explanation;-)

[phred01]

Hi, phred01 check these gerber files I also want to try this project, but I haven't done it yet. Check the checkpoints carefully when assembling. I don't know if there are any errors. .Regards

Great news After less than a month have pcb's from two versions of Gerber files The differences are minor The Zip version is 102 mm wide whereas Rar version is 104 mm. Both are a pain in the neck as the Al extrusion I was hoping to use is for 100 mm width pcb's. Major job to shrink by 2 mm

[GeoMax]

Hello Phred01,

If you were to create your own PCB, you could freely choose the size of the board. With the original, you can't shrink the board by 2 mm on one side, but you could expand it by about 12 mm on the other side to reach a width of 100 mm.

What specific size do you need? And what enclosure do you want to use? For example, if you want to use a Hammond 1455 series aluminum enclosure (160 x 103 x 53 mm), you'd have to reduce the size by significantly more than 2 mm on the long side to fit, or add 12 mm on the short side of the PCB. That would be much easier.

[Detectorist#1]

Hi,
Will be very interesting, if Don will answer on the question of the Prospekteur (#115). My experiments early this year with TX-ON analysis of the RX signals points that the polarity of the RX signals depend of the orientation of the target. As Carl said, balanced search sensor (concentric or DD) is capable only for very raw discrimination unfortunately.

[Infamy]

dfbowers wrote "This project will not work well in iron infested areas, nor will it work well in highly mineralized soils. "
Hi, I have to state the obvious, why bother when a cheap vlf will do the job of this design?
A second hand Explorer will cover mineralized ground as well, I don't see a use for this.

[Detectorist#1]

Thank you Infamy for this remark. My serious question for Don is " how sure is the discrimination Fe/non-Fe with different target orientation in " MPS-PI-Iron-discriminating-metal-detector" ?