Benchtop Centrifuge with Microcontroller Based Non Contact Type Digital Tachometer

Centrifuge is a machine with a rapidly rotating container that applies centrifugal force to its
contents, typically to separate fluids of different densities (e.g. cream from milk) or liquids from
solids (e.g. blood components).

Digital tachometer is a device that measures the rotation speed of a rotating shaft or a motor.
Digital tachometers are used in different applications such as automobiles, aeroplanes, and
medical and instrumentation applications.

In our project we are proposing to designe a centrifuge machine along with a digital tachometer.
The schematic of the centrifuge is shown in the figure 1 below.

Figure 1 Schematic of the Centrifuge with Digital Tachometer

The centrifuge will consist of 5 different parts. The function of each separate part is discussed
below.

1 Motor

The motor will be a simple induction motor. The motor is supposed to have rotation speed of
around 500 rpm. This much rotation speed will be sufficent for the centrifuge to work. A
continuous regulator will be used to regulate the rotation speed of the motor.

2 Motor Shaf
The shaft will be long enough to facilitate the smooth rotations of the rotar and the testubes
within the test tube compartment attatched to the motor shaft.

3 Test Tube Compartment

The test tube compartment will contain space for test tubes to be fitted into. The test tube
compartment will be attached to the shaft of the motor very carefully to balance the weight
distribution of the test tubes perfectly.

4 Digital Tachometer

The digital tachometer will measure the rotation speed of the motor shaft. The tachometer will
be of non contact type. The tachometer will use infrared light to measure the rotation speed of
the shaft by shining the infrared light on the motor shaft and detecting it back through a IR
sensor. The reflection of infra red light wll not be continuous from the shaft as part of the shaft is
coated with a non reflecting coating. Thus after every revolution of the shaft, the infrared light
will not reach the photosensor. This is how the tachometer will measure the rotation speed of
the shaft.

The digital tachometer will consist of 5 separate parts. The working of the Tachometer could be
understood by understanding the function of each of its separate part.

4.1 IR Module

This mdule will consist of a IR Led and a IR sensor. This module will be connectted to the nano
aurdino board for the processing of recieved infrared signal after reflection from the motor shaft.

4.2 Aurdino Nano Board

The Aurdino Nano will be a standard microcontroller with ATmega 328 processor. This
microcontroller will be used to process the infrared signal and to display the rotation speed of
motor shaft on the display unit.

4.3 Display

The display will be a 5V DC 16x2 ASCII Character LCD Display. The display will consist 2 rows and
16 characters per row.

4.4 Battery

A standard DC battery of 9V will power the entire tachometer circuit.

4.5 Printed Circuit Board

The whole of the circuit will be assmbled on the PCB (Printed Circuit Board).
Figure 2 is the schematic of the Digital Tachometer.

Figure 2 Schematic of Digital Tachometer