need coil advice for homebrew PIC Microcontroller PI pinpointer project

[radarwill]

I'm in the electronics field for a living and in my spare time I've been developing a microcontroller based pinpointer. It works pretty well but I'm having problems with the shape of the field emitted from the probe. Anyone have any design ideas for the coil? I'm after max sensitivity at the tip with very little side signals.
Thanks

 

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[sniffer]

not sure if this would work but, could you shield the main conducter like RG6 coax and ground the shield to the pcb. maybe leaving a 1/4 inch of the winding past the shield ?
what about winding the coil into the shape of an arrow tip to concentrate the field forward ?
bad thing is, you'll still get some side signals.
I just thought of something, Zircon makes a stud finder for metal studs, what kind of sensor are they using ?
I've used one and they only detect straight out through the back of the housing.

Sniffer

 

[WV Hillbilly]

You might get more suggestions if you posted your question in the TECH forum . Good luck with your
project .

 

[radarwill]

I think the stud detectors are using ultrasonic? I'll check into that.
Two great pieces of advice, thanks guys.

 

[Born2Dtect]

Get a field strength meter and do a little R&D. By the way the coil design is what you pay good money for when you get a pinpointer. good luck,



Ed D.