Make: Online : Make an LVDT with soda straws

Make an LVDT with soda straws

It's the McLVDT, a linear variable differential transfomer, made from McDonald's straws. The creator writes:

I made a primary coil on a normal sized straw, and made two secondary coils on the outside of the larger McDonald's straw. Since the McStraw is large-bore (perfect for those thick high calorie shakes), the smaller straw with the primary winding fits nicely inside. The position of the inner straw can be determined by examining the amplitude and phase of the combined signals of the secondary coils, which is shown in raw form on the oscilloscope.

"Mc"LVDT

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: Matt Mets on November 17, 2009 at 4:53 PM

Ha! This might make a nice linear movement sensor as well!

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Posted by: Bob D on November 18, 2009 at 7:43 AM

LVDT's

LVDTs are for measuring linear displacement.

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Posted by: Steve Poling on November 17, 2009 at 9:32 PM

Bubble Tea straw

If you live in a town big enough to have a place to buy Bubble Tea, buy yourself a tasty beverage. And save the straw. If you think the McDonalds milkshake straws are large-bore, you've never enjoyed Bubble Tea.

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Posted by: Kevin Rouviere on November 18, 2009 at 11:15 PM

Bubble Tea? I'll have to check that out. Thanks!

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Posted by: Kevin Rouviere on November 27, 2009 at 5:36 PM

Further info

I've since made a detailed article about this.

It can be found here

http://hackscape.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/mclvdt/

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