New UK manufactured metal detector

[Skeggydetector]

Hello everyone, we are new to this site and was put onto it by Don from America who manufacturers the coil shells, after having a stroke last year and being told I will not work again I have decided to make my love of metal detecting a business and manufacture a range of metal detectors for disabled and deaf people here in the UK.

So first of all where do I start and what type of detector do I build as the first prototype I am looking for suggestions and idea's as we do not want to infringe on any copy rights but we will be adding a vibration pad in the hand grip and a light display for the version for our deaf customers as that is the feedback we got from a survey we did.

I have spoke to a number of electronic component manufacturers and they have all said the same have you got a design of your own as they will not copy another manufacturers pcb, or they want a Gerber file or BOM and we are just wondering if anyone can help and advise us and also if the vibration pad idea will work or if not some other kind of vibration device.

We are also looking for a coil manufacturer, a control box manufacturer and a stem manufacturer or supplier?

I know it is a lot of advice we are seeking but being a joiner and not an electronics engineer I am seeking the advice of the experts on this site.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Ian & Joanna Elliott

[Qiaozhi]

Which type of detector are you interested in? VLF or PI?

You might also want to contact Silverdog -> www.silverdog.co.uk
and get a copy of this book -> Inside the METAL DETECTOR - Second Edition - Published 2015

[Davor]

Perhaps the best starting point is visiting a detectorists venue, and see what people want. Then see what patents are lapsed in that flavour of detectors to see what makes sense. Next you apply your competences to improve upon those patented designs, and there you have it.
Or you can hire an engineer that knows his thing, pay him 3x the average, and all the perks imaginable. Give him freedom, resources, a team of his choice, and a reasonable deadline, and there you have it.
Geotech so far has no jobs classifieds, but that can change.

[Skeggydetector]

PI we think what are your thoughts? we want a good detector that will compete with models like the Garrett Ace Range. Thanks Ian

[WM6]

Don't be so modest. There is no gain in niche of ACE range anymore. Go at Minelab GPZ-7000.

[kt315]

Which type of detector are you interested in? VLF or PI?

You might also want to contact Silverdog -> www.silverdog.co.uk
and get a copy of this book -> Inside the METAL DETECTOR - Second Edition - Published 2015

i do not see big problem to add a divider in any tesoro, getting those 5-50Hz for vibrator.

[Skeggydetector]

Why Minelab GPZ-7000? we are looking to build a detector and not contravene any copyrights or patients so we were looking at the design of the Garrett Ace range mor for the style as it is a very big seller in the UK market, we have sent you messages about your coils and stems have you got them? Regards Ian & Joanna Elliott

[Skeggydetector]

Hi thanks for that we are looking at various designs of detectors and detector kits to see which one is the best for us to adapt. Regards Ian & Joanna Elliott

[WM6]

It is nice to see so optimistic one person.

But if you want to destroy yourself (financially etc.) there are easier way, than start
metal detector production without basic idea about technology applied.

If vibrating MD feature is in your focus, then grab for detectors that incorporate vibrators (some Nokta models par example).
Another possibility is (as KT315 suggest) go with modification on existing detectors in ACE price range.

Do not forget that the manufacturing-efforts failed even to some metal detector patent holders whom,
unlike you, was quite clear what the detector is.

[green]

I'm building a PI detector. Never done any metal detecting before. When I watch most of the detecting videos I can't hear the detected signal sitting in front of the computer. My wife hears the signal in the other room with walls between. I tried a led light mounted on the shaft near my hand, 3 to 4 ma on current. Works a lot better with the led mounted on the shaft next to the coil. The ground signal in my yard is strong enough that I couldn't detect without GEB using threshold and led target indication. My house is built on a old farm house site. One thing about the PI. I'll never run out of targets, mostly junk.

[Funfinder]

@ Ian & Joanna Elliott

Why not - I think this is a good idea concerning the features.
It would be some Makro Racer or Nokta Impact "Light-Version"
for the beginners who just wanna spent 300 bucks or something.

Vibration really is a fantastic feature because it defeats search-boredom
if someone can listen to music etc. while finding stuff by vibration.
I guess that within the next years many detectors will have it.

Now it depends on the money you wanna invest.
In the beginning you should get some contacts to China
to start a production of 500 pieces for maybe 20.000 dollars
production and shipping price.
They have already enough circuits - this is not the problem.
Next you need some online shop etc. and make enough promotion.
This will costs ya another 5.000 bucks.
For the beginning this might be a little bit low quality but
if some MD fails you can replace it with not much costs
and from year to year you can add improvements.

Installing a totally new brand will not be that easy.
Maybe you have to visit all kind of homeworker-discounters
or electronic-shops who might add your MD to their stuff.

[Qiaozhi]

PI we think what are your thoughts? we want a good detector that will compete with models like the Garrett Ace Range. Thanks Ian

As you're in Skegness, I assume you want to detect on the beach. In which case a PI would be preferable. As a small niche manufacturer, you would find it difficult to compete with the Garrett Ace (which is a VLF) in their price range for inland detecting. I think your main problem will be your relative lack of experience in electronics. Reading ITMD will give you the necessary background, and may reset your expectations of what you can actually achieve.
There are a number of PI designs available in the Projects section of this site, and none are covered by patents, and the Gerber files are available. Essentially they are all open-source. A good place for kits for these designs is the Silverdog site, which is in the UK. You can contact Andy for more details.
At the end of the day, it's going to be about how confident you are with the reality of building a metal detector. As a first electronics project, many people get the wrong idea that it will be an easy introduction. In fact, metal detector design can be a complex subject for the uninitiated, and even those who think they know what they're doing.

[Dave J.]

would make a lot more sense to develop an accessory that plugs into the headphone jack of an existing commercial metal detector. I've got a plug-in LED accessory sitting on my workbench right now; however it's compatible only with machines the audio of which is pulse width modulated to fake amplitude modulation.

Qiaozhi is right, if you're not already exceptionally good at electronics, don't waste your time trying to develop a commercial metal detector. That part's already been done many times over by people who actually understood what they were doing, and it took a lot of time and money for them to do it.

[Skeggydetector]

Well just got back from China and we have been developing a model with our own modifications on it by a highly recommended manufacturer that supplies parts and kits to other big name metal detector manufacturers and we hope to be looking at the prototype board soon and the detector in June. As for a plug in LED accessory that sounds interesting as we have been looking at them.

Kind Regards

Ian Elliott

[6666]

a highly recommended manufacturer that supplies parts and kits

Kits ?
what kits ?