I want to build a project where an array of electromagnets are activated and deactivated in response to an array of photoresistors. It should work with shade (blocked light) on the photoresistor causing more magnetic strength. The idea is to place a magnetic medium, either iron shavings or ferrofluid, in a bath above the magnets, with the photoresistors being placed underneath, facing down toward a light. There would be a space to wave your hand between the lights and the photoresistors. So it would look like:
~~~~~~~~ (fluid/shavings medium)
======== (electromagnets)
^^^^^^^^^^ (photoresistors)
— — — — (space for hand or other objects)
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ (lights)
My desired result is that the medium (fluid/shavings) would respond to the individual magnets and the surface could be manipulated.
This is the first step in the project. The end game is to place a Raspberry Pi or an Arduino between the photoresistors and the electromagnets. This way, I would have input being processed digitally, so it could be transformed; the other advantage would be that I could "print" patterns in real time in the medium with the Pi/Arduino, bypassing the need for input.
For now, though, I feel the first step is learning how to work with the magnets and the photoresistors, and wiring them directly seems like a good idea. In fact, I just want to start with one.
I have a photoresistor and magnet wire, as well as some variable resistors (guitar-style potentiometers), switches, wires and a bread board, but I need to know how to make an electromagnet and wire these together. I've looked at some tutorials about making electromagnets, but what I've come across seems somewhat scatterbrained. I'm hoping someone can point me to a book or a website where the process of making an electromagnet is laid out clearly. Specifically, I need to know how to maximize the power (pull, attraction etc.) and shape the magnetic field, and I need to know about heat management and safety. It sounds like making a nail (for example) magnetic by just wiring a battery to a bunch of wire wrapped around it has the potential to blow up the battery, and of course I don't want that. Would it be a possible solution in this case to wire a resistor in series with the coil?
I hope this is enough information to get a conversation started. I believe the steps for this process will be something like:
1. Design the electromagnet
a) budget for current (let's say 5V. I'll run it off my breadboard wired to a 5VDC wall wart)
b) balance size and strength (Let's say 1" or so tall, and 1" or so wide)
2. Design the surrounding circuit
3. Build it out.
Any help, resources or pointers you can offer would be most appreciated. Thank you.
~~~~~~~~ (fluid/shavings medium)
======== (electromagnets)
^^^^^^^^^^ (photoresistors)
— — — — (space for hand or other objects)
\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/ (lights)
My desired result is that the medium (fluid/shavings) would respond to the individual magnets and the surface could be manipulated.
This is the first step in the project. The end game is to place a Raspberry Pi or an Arduino between the photoresistors and the electromagnets. This way, I would have input being processed digitally, so it could be transformed; the other advantage would be that I could "print" patterns in real time in the medium with the Pi/Arduino, bypassing the need for input.
For now, though, I feel the first step is learning how to work with the magnets and the photoresistors, and wiring them directly seems like a good idea. In fact, I just want to start with one.
I have a photoresistor and magnet wire, as well as some variable resistors (guitar-style potentiometers), switches, wires and a bread board, but I need to know how to make an electromagnet and wire these together. I've looked at some tutorials about making electromagnets, but what I've come across seems somewhat scatterbrained. I'm hoping someone can point me to a book or a website where the process of making an electromagnet is laid out clearly. Specifically, I need to know how to maximize the power (pull, attraction etc.) and shape the magnetic field, and I need to know about heat management and safety. It sounds like making a nail (for example) magnetic by just wiring a battery to a bunch of wire wrapped around it has the potential to blow up the battery, and of course I don't want that. Would it be a possible solution in this case to wire a resistor in series with the coil?
I hope this is enough information to get a conversation started. I believe the steps for this process will be something like:
1. Design the electromagnet
a) budget for current (let's say 5V. I'll run it off my breadboard wired to a 5VDC wall wart)
b) balance size and strength (Let's say 1" or so tall, and 1" or so wide)
2. Design the surrounding circuit
3. Build it out.
Any help, resources or pointers you can offer would be most appreciated. Thank you.