Construct your individual multi-function digital measuring wheel with Arduino

Measurement instruments, like calipers and micrometers, are simply as vital as your soldering iron and aspect cutters. However if you happen to’re nonetheless utilizing a measuring tape for lengthy components, you might be subjecting your self to pointless frustration. Digital measuring wheels allow you to simply measure nearly infinite lengths by rolling the system alongside. There are wheels like these on the patron market, however you can even observe AGBarber’s Instructables tutorial to create your individual.

Along with distance measurements, this wheel has two different capabilities. You may roll it across the circumference of a spherical object, like a pipe, and the system will routinely calculate the diameter. You can even spin the wheel and it’ll inform you the RPM. We’re not fairly certain what the RPM operate’s software could be, however we’re certain that somebody has a use for it. The unit is in regards to the measurement of a typical measuring tape and has a giant battery for transportable use.

The BoM for this undertaking is intensive, as a result of it makes use of a customized PCB. However most of these elements are easy resistors and capacitors. The standout components are an Arduino board, a 0.96″ OLED display, a LiPo battery, a TP4056 LiPo charging board, and a pc mouse scroll wheel encoder. That encoder attaches to a gear which the system’s outer wheel spins. It tracks rotations and provides an correct distance measurement. The physique of the software, the outer wheel, and the gear are all 3D-printable.

If you would like a enjoyable undertaking and a handy method to take measurements, that is the gadget for you.