Entry 2

Still Waiting

Well at the moment I don't yet have everything I need to start running experiments, so here's the breakdown of what I need and what I'm working on while waiting.

• amplifier modules
• oscilliscope
• surge protector
• coil spools

• MR Fluid compositions
• em coil properties

Notes

The signal generator came in and I'm very excited. It turns on and *appears* to function. I don't yet have an oscilliscope to properly measure it, but I've ordered one (a *very* cheap but "good enough" one). I did check the DC voltage when in DC mode, and it seemed to be off by about half a volt. The problem is that I'm working with a $10 dollar multimeter that I certainly don't trust to be acurate to that level.

I need to be able to amplify the signals to about 300 mA, so I've bought 3 small amplifier modules. They are audio amplifiers, but a signal is a signal after all. The volume control knob should let me control power.

I need to power the DC amplifiers. A bench power supply is out of budget for me, so instead I've scrounged up some spare USB wall blocks. Thankfully the amplifiers can run on anything from 5-24 volts so it was easy to find some in that wide range.

Truthfully I don't exactly know how much power I'll need to put into the amplifiers to get the outgoing current that I need. This is because I don't know how much impedence the coils will produce and I don't have a way to measure it yet. The wall blocks are 90W and I certainly think that will be enough.

I've also ordered a surge protector with a breaker so I can safely work with all of this stuff.

I've finished the 3D models for the coil forms and I'm just waiting for the open lab time at the library's maker space to get them printed. If everything else comes in before that I can still make some simple coils just to get started testing the equipment out.

So far this has all been a "hurry up and wait" process, but I've been trying to use the time to research, learn, and prepare for when I can properly start the actual testing.


Thanks for reading, I can't wait to get started!