Small electronics project help

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Ropata

254 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Topic # 240538 12-Sep-2018 19:41

Hi guys,

I'm a carpenter by trade and have a small pet peeve that involves my nail guns. Every time I climb a ladder and hold a massive lump of timber in just the right spot, my God damn nail gun has no nails in it. It happened twice today (and a lot of other days). I need some ideas for a small long battery life sensor so that when the sensors line up with say 3 nails left, it lets out a beep. I've always thought this should have been standard on these thousand dollar guns for years now. Any ideas?

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10431 posts

Uber Geek
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Reply # 2089538 12-Sep-2018 20:09

Which brand and model?

Ropata

254 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 26

Reply # 2089544 12-Sep-2018 20:21

Ropata

254 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 26

Reply # 2089545 12-Sep-2018 20:22

Ropata

254 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 26

Reply # 2089546 12-Sep-2018 20:25

I've imported a couple of these because they still have the bump fire mode which is not stocked in NZ. I'm pretty sure there could be an off the shelf tiny sensor but I just can't get anywhere searching.

Gordy7

646 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Lifetime subscriber

Reply # 2089548 12-Sep-2018 20:30

OK on the picture of the nail gun.

Where are the nails fitted? Are the nails visible for checking? Are there a standard number of nails fitted?

Can a nail counter be fitted on the trigger?

Gordy

gzt

10431 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1638

Reply # 2089550 12-Sep-2018 20:34

The nails run up that track you can see. Counter idea is good. Acoustic to count the shots maybe. Step counters are cheap. Might adapt.

Ropata

254 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 26

Reply # 2089551 12-Sep-2018 20:49

The thumb release tab has the straight red line on it. Just looking at how many nails are left is by far the best idea ha ha, been trying to do that for years. Even a small piece of spring steel on the side of the thumb tab that connects with an alarm at the right time would be perfect. I'm sure if you ask other builders they would share my frustration. A lot would say "just carry a few strings of nails in your apron" but they weigh heaps and you'll run out of them eventually.

Gordy7

646 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Reply # 2089552 12-Sep-2018 20:50

There seems to be 2 possible track mechanisms (not familiar with how the nail gun is loaded)

If the nails are hidden in some way, why not fit a spring loaded indicator pin (thru a hole you would have to drill) that drops in behind the last few nails. The indicator pin may be able to operate a micro-switch and an alarm of some sort. The indicator pin would have to be pulled back out when new nails are fitted.

The above kind of leads on to using a led beam thru the hole to detect the last few nails... But I don't know if there is a spring behing the nails pushing them up the guide.

Has the OP done a Google search? Or looked at other nail guns on the market that may have a nail alarm?

Gordy

Ropata

254 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 26

Reply # 2089553 12-Sep-2018 20:54

Yes, It's a coil spring. I've searched a lot. I've actually just had a good thought.

Gordy7

646 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Reply # 2089554 12-Sep-2018 20:57

Whatever solution you find it would have to be pretty robust and reliable... to withstand knocks an clashes with other tools.

Otherwise it could end up being a bit of pain.

Gordy

Gordy7

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Ultimate Geek
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Reply # 2089557 12-Sep-2018 21:02

How about a marker nail or indicator nail that fires a blank just before the last few nail are finished?

Gordy

Ropata

254 posts

Ultimate Geek
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Reply # 2089560 12-Sep-2018 21:07

There is a well guarded spot for it.

Ropata

254 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 26

Reply # 2089561 12-Sep-2018 21:09

geocom

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Ultimate Geek
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Reply # 2089566 12-Sep-2018 21:28

Depending on tolerances in the track you could use the nails as a conductor by placing a wire on the body of the nail gun and put some copper tape in the track(you may need to attach a spring connector of some type to make good contact) you should be able to find if this is even possible by using a continuity tester(multimeter) put one probe on the body and the other one on the nails in the track.

Just remember it will be an open circuit when the nails stop making contact with the copper tape and closed when in contact so either you will need to do this as a everything is ok circuit with like an LED(when it goes out check the nails) or make a circuit that will activate when the switch is open.

Geoff E

Masterpiece

241 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 26

Reply # 2089581 12-Sep-2018 21:36

4 people support this post

This why trades have apprentices, run out of something, apprentice goes to get it.

Masterpiece Calibration Ltd, isf certified

www.mastercal.co.nz

"I'm not a robot!"

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