Author Topic: Has anyone ever built the MachTach Tachometer kit???? (Read 13213 times)

ddoyle · « **on:** June 05, 2014, 08:21:11 PM »

I would like to put a Tach on my lathe, and saw this kit, fairly reasonable price, and I watched a video of one of the guys from the company putting the pcb together, just wondering if anyone here had already built one of them before that could give their opinion on it.

Manxmodder · « **Reply #1 on:** June 05, 2014, 10:19:30 PM »

ddoyle, see micktoon's post #206 on page9 in his Harrison L5 rescue thread for details of the cheap LED tachometer he fitted to the L5. http://madmodder.net/index.php/topic,7321.msg108840.html#new

Here is the ebay page link to the item:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261307045946?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

.....OZ.

John Rudd · « **Reply #2 on:** June 06, 2014, 03:02:57 AM »

There's a cheaper version here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141279212574?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Same item different vendor....

ddoyle · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2014, 02:18:37 PM »

Quote from: John Rudd on June 06, 2014, 03:02:57 AM

There's a cheaper version here:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/141279212574?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Same item different vendor....

Thanks for the info guys, ordered me one of these to see how it works. Actually found one in the US...was a few dollars more, but I'll have it buy this Wednsday insteady of July 1 ;).

DavidA · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2014, 02:27:06 PM »

John Rudd,

Might try one of these myself.

But what interested me more is that when I clicked on your link the resulting page addressed me by both my Ebay user name and my Christian name.

Yet I hadn't logged in to EBay.

Big Brother is definitely out there.

Dave.

Chuck in E. TN · « **Reply #5 on:** June 06, 2014, 02:34:56 PM »

Dave, you must have a E-bay cookie stored on your machine for E-Bay-UK. My account with them is with E-bay-US and when I click the link, it doesn't log me in.
FWIW...

Bluechip · « **Reply #6 on:** June 06, 2014, 02:50:50 PM »

Quote from: DavidA on June 06, 2014, 02:27:06 PM

But what interested me more is that when I clicked on your link the resulting page addressed me by both my Ebay user name and my Christian name.

Yet I hadn't logged in to EBay.

Big Brother is definitely out there.

Dave.

At least you have a user name ... I keep getting e-mails from the ebay twats to change my password ...

'Cept I ain't got one.

So, if I follow their link to change said errant password it asks for my user name or e-mail ........

Then promptly gives me the heave-ho 'cos they have no record of me.... despite sending numerous e-mails there .. dozens of them ...

Tempted to shove my head in the gas oven ..... don't have one ... maybe try the uWave ...

Another Dave

DavidA · « **Reply #7 on:** June 06, 2014, 03:05:04 PM »

You're right about the cookies.

I've just run my Advanced System Care (back on the XP at the moment) sweep and then once again clicked on the link.

No references to me this time.

So I suppose the lesson is to run the sweep evary time after booting up.

Dave.

miss_emma_jade · « **Reply #8 on:** June 08, 2014, 07:56:18 AM »

interested to see how this goes...

I just bought an arduino board with the intention of doing a similar thing...

any inspiration welcome...

Emma

ddoyle · « **Reply #9 on:** June 08, 2014, 08:15:02 AM »

Quote from: miss_emma_jade on June 08, 2014, 07:56:18 AM

interested to see how this goes...

I just bought an arduino board with the intention of doing a similar thing...

any inspiration welcome...

Emma

Emma....I'll post pics and details when I get it done...should be middle to end of this coming week

I actually just bought one of the kits from ebay that is already built.

John Rudd · « **Reply #10 on:** June 08, 2014, 08:29:43 AM »

Emma,
Using 7 seg displays is cumbersome way to tie up an Arduino.....IMHO...An LCD would be better and could display a bit more info too....
Let's see, 3 led displays, 7 cathodes and three anodes, 10 pins; LCD display 4 data lines, reset and enable...6?
A suitable driver chip could reduce the Arduino pin count...depends on what you want....

I'm sure I've seen code snippets on the Arduino site, saves having to write your own....

Ddoyle, I'd be interested to see how you do yours....

Are you using an Arduino or something else?

ddoyle · « **Reply #11 on:** June 08, 2014, 08:38:39 AM »

Quote from: John Rudd on June 08, 2014, 08:29:43 AM

Emma,
Using 7 seg displays is cumbersome way to tie up an Arduino.....IMHO...An LCD would be better and could display a bit more info too....
Let's see, 3 led displays, 7 cathodes and three anodes, 10 pins; LCD display 4 data lines, reset and enable...6?
A suitable driver chip could reduce the Arduino pin count...depends on what you want....

I'm sure I've seen code snippets on the Arduino site, saves having to write your own....

Ddoyle, I'd be interested to see how you do yours.... Are you using an Arduino or something else?

John....I actually went the simple route

and decided to give one of these a try.... http://www.ebay.com/itm/171351416114?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649 very inexpensive and has everything ready to go, just mount and go. If this works out, I may upgrade later on to one with a few more functions, although this one is probably all I would ever need.

Bluechip · « **Reply #12 on:** June 08, 2014, 08:51:39 AM »

Quote from: John Rudd on June 08, 2014, 08:29:43 AM

Emma,
Using 7 seg displays is cumbersome way to tie up an Arduino.....IMHO...An LCD would be better and could display a bit more info too....
Let's see, 3 led displays, 7 cathodes and three anodes, 10 pins; LCD display 4 data lines, reset and enable...6?
A suitable driver chip could reduce the Arduino pin count...depends on what you want....

I'm sure I've seen code snippets on the Arduino site, saves having to write your own....

Ddoyle, I'd be interested to see how you do yours.... Are you using an Arduino or something else?

You only need 4 pins for the cathodes with a 74HCF4543 chip ..

Not very keen on LCD's . Find them a bit gloomy in w/shop lighting, even with a Backlight ..

Still, not really any of my business ..

Time for lunch ...

Dave BC

John Rudd · « **Reply #13 on:** June 08, 2014, 09:14:01 AM »

Quote from: Bluechip on June 08, 2014, 08:51:39 AM

Quote from: John Rudd on June 08, 2014, 08:29:43 AM
Emma,
Using 7 seg displays is cumbersome way to tie up an Arduino.....IMHO...An LCD would be better and could display a bit more info too....
Let's see, 3 led displays, 7 cathodes and three anodes, 10 pins; LCD display 4 data lines, reset and enable...6?
A suitable driver chip could reduce the Arduino pin count...depends on what you want....

I'm sure I've seen code snippets on the Arduino site, saves having to write your own....

Ddoyle, I'd be interested to see how you do yours.... Are you using an Arduino or something else?

You only need 4 pins for the cathodes with a 74HCF4543 chip ..

Dave BC

Ermmm how so?
Whether CA or CC, will still need 11 pins.....( I only had 3 digits.....

)
Don't interrupt your lunch explaining to me......

@ddoyle,
I found the import tachos very slow to refresh, especially when the machine wasn't spinning....

Bluechip · « **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2014, 11:33:42 AM »

Quote

Ermmm how so?
Whether CA or CC, will still need 11 pins.....( I only had 3 digits..... )
Don't interrupt your lunch explaining to me......

OK. 4 Data Bit pins then .... A,B,C,D ...

Depending on the LD pin polarity, it drives either CA or CC LED displays.

Pinout [ hopefully ] att.

No, you didn't interrupt my lunch ... my youngish

lady friend has been here to cook me lunch as a ~~reprisal~~ reward for fixing her kitchen cabinet door the other day ... done nothing useful all day ....

Dave BC

John Rudd · « **Reply #15 on:** June 08, 2014, 11:37:17 AM »

Ahh I see what you mean, takes a 4 bit code in and drives the segs...

I was thinking of the Maxim offering that does something similar..

miss_emma_jade · « **Reply #16 on:** June 10, 2014, 12:26:37 AM »

More interesting to me is how to mount it neatly on the spindle. Any thoughts?

John Rudd · « **Reply #17 on:** June 10, 2014, 02:07:26 AM »

What lathe is it?
What sensor are you using?
I used a chopper disc and a photo interrupter on my mini lathe, might use a hall sensor on my big lathe....when I get round to it..

ddoyle · « **Reply #18 on:** June 10, 2014, 07:23:39 AM »

Quote from: miss_emma_jade on June 10, 2014, 12:26:37 AM

More interesting to me is how to mount it neatly on the spindle. Any thoughts?

Emma...I got my tach in yesterday that I ordered Friday from ebay and I put my magnet (actually 4 6mm x 3mm neodymium magnets behind the chuck plate on my spindle and made a bracket for the sensor and mounted it to the back of the lathe. The tach itself I glued 3 of the magnets to the bottom and there is a nice bevel on the too of my headstock that it fits perfectly on. I may end up moving it to the other end of the spindle if the magnets collect shavings since they are near the cutting area and open (and very strong lol ). I will post some pictures in a little while.

miss_emma_jade · « **Reply #19 on:** June 10, 2014, 08:37:15 PM »

Awesome! This is what I want to fit it to. Still debating..

ddoyle · « **Reply #20 on:** June 10, 2014, 11:12:57 PM »

Quote from: miss_emma_jade on June 10, 2014, 08:37:15 PM

Awesome! This is what I want to fit it to. Still debating..

Did you see the post I made with the pics of the install???

miss_emma_jade · « **Reply #21 on:** June 10, 2014, 11:14:27 PM »

Not yet. I'm on tapatalk so I'll have to look later

Noitoen · « **Reply #22 on:** June 11, 2014, 11:57:12 AM »

The easy way to build a tach is to buy one of those voltmeter modules, use a toy motor with a friction wheel to the pulley and use a linear potentiometer to calibrate the output voltage of the motor (acting as a generator) to give the correct reading on the meter.

John Rudd · « **Reply #23 on:** June 11, 2014, 01:18:33 PM »

Ddoyle
Where did your pictures go?

ddoyle · « **Reply #24 on:** June 11, 2014, 03:23:09 PM »

Quote from: John Rudd on June 11, 2014, 01:18:33 PM

Ddoyle
Where did your pictures go?

Right here....started a new thread....instead of posting them in the other thread...blonde moment

.

http://madmodder.net/index.php/topic,9818.0.html

Chuck in E. TN · « **Reply #25 on:** June 11, 2014, 05:15:02 PM »

And I can vouch for DDoyle being blond... And Irish, oh, sorry Dickey, couldn't resist!
Chuck

ddoyle · « **Reply #26 on:** June 11, 2014, 06:36:18 PM »

Quote from: Chuck in E. TN on June 11, 2014, 05:15:02 PM

And I can vouch for DDoyle being blond... And Irish, oh, sorry Dickey, couldn't resist!
Chuck

HAHA!! I do have my moments lol....

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Author Topic: Has anyone ever built the MachTach Tachometer kit???? (Read 13213 times)