Normmatzen
New member
Norm's back!
I'll try to explain the eddy current meter made by Juenke.
First, there is nothing wrong with the original design, just that today some of the circuit blocks can be done easier and with more consistency and accuracy.
The basic unit is an electronic oscillator running at, say, 5kHz to 20 kHz. This oscillator frequency is set by an inductor and a capacitor. The inductor is nothing but a bunch of turns of fine copper wire on a form of anything from paper to iron or ferrite. This oscillator is set for an oscillating mode where the waveform is relatively distortion free. Then, the metering system is set for the actual amplitude of oscillation.
When a bullet is put next to the end of the coil, the metal of the bullet looks like a shorted turn of wire which the inductor thinks is the secondary of a transformer and the inductor is the primary. With a shorted secondary turn (the bullet), The oscillator circuit is loaded more than usual and the circuit gain decreases lowering the amplitude of the oscillations. This lower amplitude, or the difference between no load and bullet load is what is displayed on the meter. And, when the bullet is spun, the amount of "wiggle" indicates deformities in the bullet. All things in order, the meter indication could even indicate bullet shell thickness or case neck thickness or continuity between shell and lead core, etc. That is, with very accurate set-up and very stable operating points. These items are quite difficult with the original circuit, but in some cases may be possible.
See, very simple!
I'll try to explain the eddy current meter made by Juenke.
First, there is nothing wrong with the original design, just that today some of the circuit blocks can be done easier and with more consistency and accuracy.
The basic unit is an electronic oscillator running at, say, 5kHz to 20 kHz. This oscillator frequency is set by an inductor and a capacitor. The inductor is nothing but a bunch of turns of fine copper wire on a form of anything from paper to iron or ferrite. This oscillator is set for an oscillating mode where the waveform is relatively distortion free. Then, the metering system is set for the actual amplitude of oscillation.
When a bullet is put next to the end of the coil, the metal of the bullet looks like a shorted turn of wire which the inductor thinks is the secondary of a transformer and the inductor is the primary. With a shorted secondary turn (the bullet), The oscillator circuit is loaded more than usual and the circuit gain decreases lowering the amplitude of the oscillations. This lower amplitude, or the difference between no load and bullet load is what is displayed on the meter. And, when the bullet is spun, the amount of "wiggle" indicates deformities in the bullet. All things in order, the meter indication could even indicate bullet shell thickness or case neck thickness or continuity between shell and lead core, etc. That is, with very accurate set-up and very stable operating points. These items are quite difficult with the original circuit, but in some cases may be possible.
See, very simple!