halle monkey
Greenie
- #1
Thread Owner
Some of you have followed this project from the earlier posts, so here's where it's at now.
Quick recap for anyone who missed it: I'm building a small rover that carries a detector's search coil. Not to replace swinging — that's still the part I enjoy — but to cover ground I couldn't walk in a day. It sweeps a grid, marks where it hits metal, and then I go in and dig properly with a handheld.
Since the last update:
Results: 3 hits, 3 dug, 3 confirmed metal — a nail, a pull tab, and can scrap. All junk, but that's exactly what I wanted to see: the loop works.
What's still rough: ground balance on mineralized red soil (that stuff is brutal), and discrimination — right now it beeps at everything.
Question for the regulars: for those who hunt big open areas or beaches, what would actually make a tool like this useful to you? And any advice on handling heavily mineralized ground would be very welcome.
Build log if anyone's curious: https://matchbox-tech.com/ — nothing for sale, just the project.
Quick recap for anyone who missed it: I'm building a small rover that carries a detector's search coil. Not to replace swinging — that's still the part I enjoy — but to cover ground I couldn't walk in a day. It sweeps a grid, marks where it hits metal, and then I go in and dig properly with a handheld.
Since the last update:
- Gen 1's steering problem is fixed. Moving all the electronics to the rear to keep the coil quiet had turned it into rear-drive/rear-steer, and it could barely turn. Steering is now up front, and it holds a line properly.
- Electronics are shielded and kept clear of the coil, so the signal stays clean with the coil mounted on the chassis.
- The coil is finally mounted the way it should be, not zip-tied on as an afterthought.
Results: 3 hits, 3 dug, 3 confirmed metal — a nail, a pull tab, and can scrap. All junk, but that's exactly what I wanted to see: the loop works.
What's still rough: ground balance on mineralized red soil (that stuff is brutal), and discrimination — right now it beeps at everything.
Question for the regulars: for those who hunt big open areas or beaches, what would actually make a tool like this useful to you? And any advice on handling heavily mineralized ground would be very welcome.
Build log if anyone's curious: https://matchbox-tech.com/ — nothing for sale, just the project.
