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Design by T. Giesberts
l
long as the loudspeaker sounds, the comply with the International tuning
fork wlll vibrate. The circuit thus acts frequency (note A). Preset PI allows f,
as an oscillator. to be varied from 352 Hz to 528 Hz.
The 440 Hz signat is applied to a.f.
amplifier IC2 via Cs.This stage has
been designed to give maximum am-
1 The c d ts a solenoid from a second-
hand relay. preferably a 24 V type be-
puflcatton at 440 IIz to ensure further
attenuation of any harmonics. The
cause of its greater sensitivity. A small amplifkation. a. is set with Pz.
permanent magnet is ffxed at the back The output of ICI is applied to
of the solenold to create a permanent 'power' amplifier TI-T%Feedback re-
- - magnetic Add.
The coil potential is applied to
440 Hz fflter ICI.The reaistm and ea-
sistors RrRlo determine the gain of
the ampliiler:-ihe amplification factor Is
IRo+Rd/Ro
. " .v.. S
.
= 430/100 = 4. Slnce the
Fig. l. Block dtelparn of the tuning pacttors assodated with the IC, except ampmer can be drtven almost to the
Fork amplilkr. decoupling capadtors C3 and C4,de- level of the supply b e . the output sig-
board.
Cl0~ Make sure that IC! and IC2 are
placed correctly in their sockets.
In the assembly of the electronics
and tuning fork in the enclosure. it Is,
of course. important that the tuning
fork can vibrate freely just as in man-
ual operation. Also. the pick-up coil
must be placed close to the tuning fork
to avoid undue attenuation of the volt-
age induced in the coil.
As stated earlier, the pick-up coil is
the solenoid removed from a discarded
(preferably 24 V) relay. Using super-
glue, fix a small permanent magnet at
the back of the solenoid (where the ter-
minals emerge).
Superglue is also used to fix the
loudspeaker and the pick-up coil as-
sembly to the enclosure as shown in
Fig. 3. Printed-circuit board for the tuning fork amplifier. Fig. 4. For the prototype. perspex was
used, but wood ts, of course, also per-
fectly all rtght. If perspex is used, be
nal of IC2 must be not greater than 1/4 Construction careful with the glue, because every
of the supply voltage. spilt drop remains visible.
The power output of the amplifier is The amplifier is intended to be built on The board is fixed to the enclosure
applied to the loudspeaker via Cg. To the printed-circuit board shown in on spacers as shown in Fig. 4 and
make this capacitor also function as Fig.3. In the design of the board, par- Fig.5.
additional impedance to limit the ticular attention has been paid to the Note that the distance between the
power to the loudspeaker and thus the avoidance of earth loops. tuning fork and pick-up coil should not
total current drain, its value has been During the building of the board , be greater than 1-1.5mm. The block in
kept relatively smalI. make sure that enough space is left for which the tuning fork is clamped may
As already stated, the sound waves the heat sinks of Tj and T2: these must be made from a piece of perspex into
emanating from the loudspeaker keep not touch any components. which two holes are drilled at rtght an-
the tuning fork in vibration. Note that CIO and CIl must be gles. The smaller one is tapped for the
mounted in opposite directions on the fixing screw. Alternatively. it may be
/1
/ ! \
/
I I
Fig. 4. Artist's impression of the completed Fig. 5. Photograph of the completed amplifier with
amplifier in its enclosure. the rear panel removed.
made from two pieces of wood a s near 440 Hz will be heard from the Capacitors:
shown in Fig. 6. Whatever material is loudspeaker. If nothing is heard, turn Cl. C2 = 10 nF
used. the block is glued on to the en- P2 for full volume and try again. If this C3. C4 = 100 nF
closure (superglue in the case of per- produces no results either. switch off C5 = 150 nF
spex, good woodglue in the case of and inspect all connections and the C6 = 330 nF
wood). board again. C, = l nF
The batteries are best f i e d in place The unit may he set to exactly C; = 3 3 pF
with double-sided sticky tape. 440 Hz (which is a must for musi- C9 = 10 pF. 40 V, bipolar. radial
cians) with the aid of a frequency Cl@CI1= 220 pF. 25 V
Setting up meter. The frequency is set with P I .
Note that if a tuning fork of differ- Semiconductors:
Switch on the supply, set P2 to the ent frequency is used. the values of D,. D2 = IN4001
centre of its travel, and lightly tap the the components in the low-pass filter T1 = BC327
tuning fork. If all is well. a tone a t or and the various RC networks must be TZ= BC337
recalculated.
Integrated circuits:
Parts list IC,. IC2 = LF411
Resistors: Miscellaneous:
RI = 47 kR LI = see text
R2 = l kR Lsl = loudspeaker 28 R. 0.5 W
R3 = 1 MR Btl. Bt2 = 9 V (PP3) battery with
h.R5 = 4.7 kR connecting leads
R+j=lOkR 2 off heat sinks for Tl. T2
R-/.R~ = 220 n PCB not available ready made
RQ= 1 0 0 R (9360091
= 330 R
R ; ~
Fig. 6. The clamp for the tuning fork P, = 500 R (470 R) preset
may be made from two blocks of wood. P2 = 100 kR. linear
Fig. 4. Artist's impression of the completed Fig. 5. Photograph of the completed amplifier with
amplifier in its enclosure. the rear panel removed.