I'm going to try to get a diagram of what exactly i have to set it up on.
The rod that drops is lifted from rest by a magnetic up to a specificed height. It has a maximum height but the height it is dropped from may vary.
For instance the maximum height is 26 cm, however it could start at 15/21/23 cm etc.. height.
will i be able to configure the induction method if the height varies? Didn't even think about approaching it that way I'll have to read more into it!
The rod that is dropping is also being accelerated by spring that are attached to it. So as the magnetic drags it up to x height (maximum being 26 cm) it also compresses the spring creating additional acceleration for its fall.
The rod being dropped is actual being caught by a dash-pot. It would be nice to measure the bounce the rod does at the bottom so if a suggestion for a inexpensive interferometer would be nice.
As for the dropping mechanism, i can look at that for more info but i'm unsure if its mechanical or electrical. All i know is that they push a button and the magnetic releases the rod. So i could assume that is is electrical switch.
As far as the bang goes, I think it produce a little vibration but i'm not sure how significant it is because ideally they want to use data from my sensor to be able to configure the dash pots to approach a critically damping state. ( i think that's why they want the sensors haha, they just told me they want a start and stop time, and if i can a couple more points so they can graph it on excel or something)
Thanks for the reply so far!
It depends upon whether you are measuring its speed or the time it takes to drop. It's not clear to me which measurement you want.that is what i was considering to do initially but wouldn't i need multiple sensor to make sure it can see exactly how high it the rod rises before releasing? or are you referring to when it drops have the sensor detect the moment it hits the dash pot because that seems like a good idea too.
It depends upon whether you are measuring its speed or the time it takes to drop. It's not clear to me which measurement you want.
To measure the speed you would need two sensors. If you need the height, then you would need multiple sensors. If you need the time, then you could use one sensor at the bottom and detect the time from the release of the magnet holding the rod until the bottom sensor detects it.
That's basically what I said in the last sentence of my previous post.Now that i think about it what i think i might do is have a IR sensor on the bottom to tell me when the moment the rod hits the ground as you suggested.Then I'll just use the same signal that is used to turn off the magnetic (which initiates the drop) for the start timer. Does that sound feasible?
I need the time it takes dropping from a random height to the bottom.The height can vary after each drop. I will need the initial height it drops from (if they don't have a sensor that tells that) and the time interval during the drop. Eventually i would like the speed/velocity.
Now that i think about it what i think i might do is have a IR sensor on the bottom to tell me when the moment the rod hits the ground as you suggested.Then I'll just use the same signal that is used to turn off the magnetic (which initiates the drop) for the start timer. Does that sound feasible?
That sounds feasible as long as your stop signal is right across the dash pot so you get the true bottom. By the way, the dash pot is acting like a shock buffer correct? If so does the dash pot move? When the rod strikes the dash pot does it collapse any? The fact there are several of these things in close proximity could screw with using an accelerometer to catch the bang. Bummer on that note.
Ron
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