Interfacing a Magnetic Linear Slide with Arduino

Projects General Guidance
1

Hi there,

I'm hoping to acquire data from a self-contained (no output ports) Magnetic Linear Slide. Attached is a picture of the electronics--the batteries are contained in the LCD unit and the LCD unit is attached to the magnetic slide via micro B USB to micro B USB connection. The magnetic slide itself seems to require power from the LCD unit to operate (it's not a just a mechanical potentiometer).

Any guidance anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,

Leo




2

Please add links, datasheets.

3

Hi Leo

this is just a hint and not a solution ....

The magnetic slider has some 40 or 50 magnets (when i look at your fotos).

A magnetic signal is picked up with a reed relay or a hall sensor.

If you have a look at the electronics in your device,
you might be able to find out what it is and pick up the signals at the sensor.

If it is a reed relay it is very easy,
if it is a hall sensor you have to google for the data sheet to find out about the connections.

The Arduino analog inputs have a high-ohm input so you do not have to care about a voltage loss.
You might need a resistor divider in this case if the input is higher than 5 volts.
(this is probably not the case as the device is powered via an usb cable).

if the speed of your device is controlled by the black box it will be hard to replace its electronics
with a simple sensor.

4

surbyte: this is the only data sheet I was able to find online for the magnetic slide: http://eacmedia.net/manuals/IGAGING/424-0160.pdf

arduinoaleman:

"if the speed of your device is controlled by the black box it will be hard to replace its electronics
with a simple sensor."

The slide is manually actuated--there's no actual motor or anything moving the slide. It's meant to be attached to a mill or something to measure linear motion.

"A magnetic signal is picked up with a reed relay or a hall sensor.

If you have a look at the electronics in your device,
you might be able to find out what it is and pick up the signals at the sensor."

This is a good idea! I'll take a look and see if I can try to deduce the sensor and plug into the output. Thanks!

Leo

5

Hmm..so this is what the magnetic slide sensor part looks like. I can't tell what sort of sensor it's using, or what lines on the PCB I should tap into to get a signal.

Anyone have any ideas?

6

Have a read of this document (there's way more out there)

http://www.shumatech.com/support/chinese_scales.htm

People have been hacking at these things ever since they came out.

7

DrAzzy:

Unfortunately, my device doesn't have the pinout hidden under a plastic cover. Thanks for the info though!

8

Check out this site. Arduino Your Home & Environment: Igaging Micrometers and Calipers

9

detown:

Thanks! That looks relevant to the Mitutoyo sliders, but unfortunately the plug the instructable uses can't interface with my slide.

The only way I can interface with the electronics is with a split micro B connector or soldering wires directly to the sensor board.

I might start looking at other options for this...