Skip to content
Logo

Hackaday

  • Home
  • Blog
  • Hackaday.io
  • Contests
  • Submit
  • About

shadow sensor

1 Articles

DIY Watt-Balance Redefines Your Kilograms From Scratch

September 30, 2016 by Moritz Walter 34 Comments
national_prototype_kilogram_k20_replica
The definition of the kilogram is still a chunk of metal.

Machined from a chunk of a virtually indestructible platinum-iridium alloy, the international prototype kilogram (IPK) was built to last for an eternity. And yet, being the last remaining, physical artifact in a club of fundamental SI units, the current definition of the kilogram has worn out. Most certainly the watt-balance will take its place, and redefine the kilogram with a true, physical phenomenon. [Grady] just built his own watt-balance from scratch, and he provides you with a decent portion of scientific background on the matter.

Continue reading “DIY Watt-Balance Redefines Your Kilograms From Scratch” →

Posted in Misc HacksTagged electromagnetic actuators, electromagnets, optical feedback, shadow sensor, si units, watt balance

Search

Never miss a hack

Follow on facebook Follow on twitter Follow on youtube Follow on rss Contact us

Subscribe

If you missed it

  • VCF East And Maker Faire Make For A Busy Weekend

    13 Comments
  • What Have We Dumped On The Moon?

    53 Comments
  • SuperDisk: The Better Floppy That Never Caught On

    42 Comments
  • Flash Joule Heating Recovers The Good Stuff

    14 Comments
  • The Kentucky Cave Wars, And Going Viral In 1925

    10 Comments
More from this category

Our Columns

  • Hackaday Podcast Episode 367: Radioactive Weather, Continuous Pickles, And Moon Junk

    2 Comments
  • This Week In Security: Annoyed Researchers, Dangling DNS, And Hacks That Could Have Been Worse

    12 Comments
  • FLOSS Weekly Episode 868: Remove The Noodles

    1 Comment
  • AI For The Skeptics: The Universal Function For Some Things Only

    25 Comments
  • The Splice Must Flow

    41 Comments
More from this category

Search

Never miss a hack

Follow on facebook Follow on twitter Follow on youtube Follow on rss Contact us

Subscribe

If you missed it

  • VCF East And Maker Faire Make For A Busy Weekend

    13 Comments
  • What Have We Dumped On The Moon?

    53 Comments
  • SuperDisk: The Better Floppy That Never Caught On

    42 Comments
  • Flash Joule Heating Recovers The Good Stuff

    14 Comments
  • The Kentucky Cave Wars, And Going Viral In 1925

    10 Comments
More from this category

Categories

Our Columns

  • Hackaday Podcast Episode 367: Radioactive Weather, Continuous Pickles, And Moon Junk

    2 Comments
  • This Week In Security: Annoyed Researchers, Dangling DNS, And Hacks That Could Have Been Worse

    12 Comments
  • FLOSS Weekly Episode 868: Remove The Noodles

    1 Comment
  • AI For The Skeptics: The Universal Function For Some Things Only

    25 Comments
  • The Splice Must Flow

    41 Comments
More from this category

Recent comments

  • InvisibleMan on Tool Embodiment And The Dead Trackball
  • Peter on How Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol Allows For Easy Remote Execution
  • Nick on The Time Of Year For Things That Go Bump In The Night
  • Lightislight on 2026 Green Powered Challenge: Solar-Powered Pollution Monitor
  • ManicMods on Audio-Forward Case Mod Of Classic 90s Portable TV
  • Lightislight on Encrypting Encrypted Traffic To Get Around VPN Bans
  • Christian on This Week In Security: Annoyed Researchers, Dangling DNS, And Hacks That Could Have Been Worse
  • Philip McCoy on Tool Embodiment And The Dead Trackball
  • Antron Argaiv on A Smart Thermostat For 120V Fan Coil Systems
  • Gus Mueller on Using Capacitance For Extremely Sensitive Proximity Sensing
Logo
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Hackaday.io
  • Tindie
  • Video
  • Submit A Tip
  • About
  • Contact Us

Never miss a hack

Follow on facebook Follow on twitter Follow on youtube Follow on rss Contact us

Subscribe to Newsletter

Copyright © 2026 | Hackaday, Hack A Day, and the Skull and Wrenches Logo are Trademarks of Hackaday.com | Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Digital Services Act | Do not sell or share my personal informationCookie Management
Powered by WordPress VIP
 

Loading Comments...