Magnetic Levitation Parts List

A detailed list of electronic components is shown below. For parts availability and places to buy them, you can read about buying the parts.

Resistors

Resistors listed in order by value are 1/4-watt, 5% unless otherwise indicated.

Capacitors

Semiconductors

Miscellaneous

+/- 15 vdc power supply, 1 amp
9 vdc power supply, 1 amp
Breadboard wiring pad (or printed circuit board by Amadeus)
18-ga stranded wire for power
Solid hook-up wire
24-ga (or thicker) magnet wire for lifting coil
6-terminal barrier strip (2 ea.)
Wood for base and frame

Alternatives for the LM741 Op-Amp

I chose the LM741 op-amp out of nostalgia and convenience. It was an extremely successful and common op-amp about twenty years ago.

There are lots of modern choices for dual- and quad-package op-amps. By using a package with multiple op-amps, you can reduce the number of parts and lower the cost. For example, you could use a single quad-package op-amp instead of four separate 741s. This would allow a very small printed circuit board to contain all the electronics!

Different packages also provide improved parameters such as noise immunity, speed, power, etc. Here are several good choices recommended by David at www.ninetrees.com. All these are better in every parameter than the trustworthy but ancient LM741.

These parts are commonly available on-line suppliers such as Digikey or Future-Active.