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PCB electrro-magnet — Parallax Forums

PCB electrro-magnet

BitsBits Posts: 414
edited 2012-11-28 14:10 in General Discussion
Has anyone ever made a PCB electromagnet?

I was wondering if I could design a coil on a PCB and use it to make electromagnetic fields to spin another magnet above the PCB.

Ideas?

Comments

  • Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi)Phil Pilgrim (PhiPi) Posts: 23,514
    edited 2012-11-27 11:58
    It should work. Do a spiral inward toward the center, cross over to the other side, then do a spiral outward in the same direction. Adding an iron core to the center (e.g. a bolt or rivet) will help to concentrate the magnetic field.

    -Phil
  • lanternfishlanternfish Posts: 366
    edited 2012-11-27 12:00
    Hi Bits

    Have a look at this discussion on Electro Tech Online. It might help.

    Cheers
  • Heater.Heater. Posts: 21,230
    edited 2012-11-27 12:06
    You mean like this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSkj-OdujoU

    You can always etch a spiral coil onto a PCB and use that to attract a metal object or other magnet.
    Then you can imagine many such coils in some circular arrangement to make a motor.
    Problem is the efficiency is low because of the gap between coil and its armature. Also you cannot pump much current through the PCB coil as the guy in the video found out.
  • tonyp12tonyp12 Posts: 1,951
    edited 2012-11-27 12:20
    Would it be possible to do a PCB stepper motor, using regular wirewound smt inductors (non shielded) in a round circle with a round magnet in center?
  • BitsBits Posts: 414
    edited 2012-11-27 12:28
    Wooo, now my head is buzzing with all sorts of ideas. Time to start the prototype phase. I can see ill need to layer a few PCBs together (making a sandwich) to get the magnetic field I need. I don't have a lot of room in the X and Y direction but have plenty in the Z direction.
  • BitsBits Posts: 414
    edited 2012-11-27 12:29
    TonyP12 Yes nice idea too and it should work but might be a tad bit choppy.
  • RobotWorkshopRobotWorkshop Posts: 2,307
    edited 2012-11-27 12:42
    Heater. wrote: »
    Also you cannot pump much current through the PCB coil as the guy in the video found out.

    You may be able to get the thicker copper plating on the PCB material so you can get a higher current through it. I have a couple OSMC motor controller boards that had heavy copper plating due to the current those boards were made to handle.

    Robert
  • BitsBits Posts: 414
    edited 2012-11-27 12:55
    Well I am looking at a maximum of 200ma of current so I think it wont be an issue, unless someone thinks so please chime in.

    Would it be better to make the coils on the PCB round or will 45 degree angles be sufficient? I cant seem to make rounded traces using my over priced layout software. I know this is a problem for some circuits but this might work none the less.
  • tonyp12tonyp12 Posts: 1,951
    edited 2012-11-27 13:12
    spiral pattern diptrace
    http://www.diptrace.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=172&p=731&hilit=spiral#p731
    lib
    lib
    spiral.lib
    3K
  • BitsBits Posts: 414
    edited 2012-11-27 13:24
    I use National Instruments myself.
  • kwinnkwinn Posts: 8,697
    edited 2012-11-27 20:57
    You could do the same thing with copper wire to get more turns in the same space. if you have an old floppy or CD drive take a look at how the pancake motors are made.
  • frank freedmanfrank freedman Posts: 1,983
    edited 2012-11-27 22:18
    Bits wrote: »
    Has anyone ever made a PCB electromagnet?

    I was wondering if I could design a coil on a PCB and use it to make electromagnetic fields to spin another magnet above the PCB.

    Ideas?

    Check out pcbmotor.com They have dev kits with motors and controllers that may meet what you are looking for.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVwWtSPni-U&list=UU70dOqAKSlpbIxvmb4ncM-w&index=2&feature=plcp


    FF
  • GadgetmanGadgetman Posts: 2,436
    edited 2012-11-28 11:48
    tonyp12 wrote: »
    Would it be possible to do a PCB stepper motor, using regular wirewound smt inductors (non shielded) in a round circle with a round magnet in center?

    Well, have you ever taken apart an old diskette drive?
    Take a look at the motor spinning the disk.
    They're mostly inductors mounted on a PCB...
  • tonyp12tonyp12 Posts: 1,951
    edited 2012-11-28 12:05
    I found some pics here, though they don't use off the shelf SMD inductors.
    I do get an idea how it could possible be done.
    http://www.beyondthejunkpile.com/2012/07/motor-winding-magic.html
  • prof_brainoprof_braino Posts: 4,313
    edited 2012-11-28 14:10
    tonyp12 wrote: »
    Would it be possible to do a PCB stepper motor, using regular wirewound smt inductors (non shielded) in a round circle with a round magnet in center?

    THAT is a cool idea
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