Designing a computer based coin sorter

Hello,

So lately i've been wanting to design a coin sorter that can measure both diameter and thickness with an accuracy of +/- 0.02 mm and then place the coins into 1 out of 20 3D printed columns.

I will either use stepper motors to determine thickness and either another stepper motor or light sensors in order to determine the diameter of the coins.

Has anyone tried something like this?

What would be the use of such an apparatus, if I may ask?

The use of a scanning laser or membrane scanner would be interesting to create a topographic profile. With that point cloud you have all your diameter and thickness details but also design element thicknesses that could accurately determine high points for grading purposes.

yvon

What would be the use of such an apparatus, if I may ask?

To sort about 3000 coins that haven't been placed in their own container yet.

Idolenz

The use of a scanning laser or membrane scanner would be interesting to create a topographic profile. With that point cloud you have all your diameter and thickness details but also design element thicknesses that could accurately determine high points for grading purposes.

 

Interesting.

But how long would it take per coin?

A few seconds but the parts alone could set you back for more then a few 1000s 😅 so not really applicable for a mere sorting job.

Idolenz

A few seconds but the parts alone could set you back for more then a few 1000s 😅 so not really applicable for a mere sorting job.

Not really,

With the proper modules that can work with Raspberry pi or Arduino, I can possibly build it for 100$ or so.

But personally I just might take a few stepper motors, linear screws, limit switches and just have it compute the diameter and thickness.

Cole34

yvon

What would be the use of such an apparatus, if I may ask?

To sort about 3000 coins that haven't been placed in their own container yet.

I understand what you want to do with it, but I do really not understand WHY, it is a very pleasant work

 (at least for me) to sort out coins by hand…

yvon

Cole34

yvon

What would be the use of such an apparatus, if I may ask?

To sort about 3000 coins that haven't been placed in their own container yet.

I understand what you want to do with it, but I do really not understand WHY, it is a very pleasant work

 (at least for me) to sort out coins by hand…

Because with my slowly worsening muscle spasms, it will get harder to sort by hand.

Had to take frequent breaks last time since my hands kept locking up.

So this will help speed up the sorting process.

Cole34

yvon

Cole34

yvon

What would be the use of such an apparatus, if I may ask?

To sort about 3000 coins that haven't been placed in their own container yet.

I understand what you want to do with it, but I do really not understand WHY, it is a very pleasant work

 (at least for me) to sort out coins by hand…

Because with my slowly worsening muscle spasms, it will get harder to sort by hand.

Had to take frequent breaks last time since my hands kept locking up.

So this will help speed up the sorting process.

Ok, now I understand. Is there any cure for your problem?
 I feel very sorry for you, I know it is not from any help, but still..

yvon

Cole34

yvon

Cole34

yvon

What would be the use of such an apparatus, if I may ask?

To sort about 3000 coins that haven't been placed in their own container yet.

I understand what you want to do with it, but I do really not understand WHY, it is a very pleasant work

 (at least for me) to sort out coins by hand…

Because with my slowly worsening muscle spasms, it will get harder to sort by hand.

Had to take frequent breaks last time since my hands kept locking up.

So this will help speed up the sorting process.

Ok, now I understand. Is there any cure for your problem?
 I feel very sorry for you, I know it is not from any help, but still..

Not really since it's tied into Cerebral palsy but I think the closest I can get to making the sorter contactless as possible is to have:

Use a high quality camera and somehow upload both the diameter, thickness, and photo into Numista's coin and exonumia search menu.

So I might have figured out an idea for the camera module idea.

By getting a USB arducam or any high quality auto-focusing USB camera with a close focus, I might be able to use one of those phone camera clip ons for macrophotography and desgin a housing for both of them.

Just play with the distance between the camera and the lens and the lens to the coins.