Materials Needed
Disc: A circular object like a plastic or metal disc.
Smartphone: With a built-in magnetometer (most smartphones have this in the compass feature).
Tape or Adhesive: To attach components if necessary.
Steps to Create Your Metal Detector
Prepare the Disc:
Take the disc and ensure it’s clean and unobstructed.
If using a metal disc, it will enhance the electromagnetic field.
Use the Smartphone:
Open a compass app or download one that displays magnetic fields. This will serve as your detection tool.
Ensure the app is calibrated for accurate readings.
Positioning:
Hold the smartphone near the disc. The disc affects the magnetic field detected by the smartphone.
Move the smartphone around the disc to observe changes in the magnetic reading.
Detecting Metal:
As you move the smartphone near metal objects, the sensor will pick up changes in the magnetic field.
If you have small metal objects, you can test this by bringing them close to the disc while monitoring the readings.
Tips for Improvement
Enhance Sensitivity: A larger disc may improve detection range.
Experiment with Distance: Alter the distance between the smartphone and the disc to find optimal detection efficiency.
Localize the Metal: Move the smartphone slowly to pinpoint the exact location of metal objects.
Safety and Limitations
This DIY metal detector works best for small metal objects and may have limitations in depth and range compared to commercially available detectors.
Always ensure that your smartphone's sensor is not obstructed and is functioning correctly.
This setup can serve as a fun experiment to understand how metal detection works on a basic level!
It is quite possible to make a simple metal detector by yourself. You will only need a cheap smartphone and an old compact disc.
The stripped wires from the headphones are divided into two parts. One will go to the reflective part of the disc, the other to the power supply element. The disc itself is wrapped in copper wire.
The headphone jack is plugged into the smartphone. The disc with the power element will serve as a signal receiver.
Other questions
Can a metal detector detect 24k gold?
How to make a homemade metal detector with a magnet?
What is a 2 box metal detector used for?
How small of metal can a metal detector detect?
All that is left is to secure the smartphone to a convenient handle, and you can try yourself as a seeker. Such a homemade device won't penetrate deeply, but it will definitely notice something on the surface.
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