The circuit you show in #20 is the one I use with a 10k pull up into a Pic input.
What are you inputting to?
Max.

 

A Pic. But for now just measuring with my scope.

Are you reading analog or digital? If digital are you getting 0 to VCC?

What is your supply voltage? What value resistor are you using for the current limiter (doubtful that should matter)?

 

This is what I have so far. Instead of the 10k, I am using 560K. I get 0 to about 2.4v on out with about 320 mv of ripple off of zero. Can I do better? My supply is 5v. And I went with 180 ohms for the current limiter

That may be adequate to detect a black mark on the spindle when a mm or so from it. Have you tried that?
I don't see why you are concerned about what the device does with your hand or a white sheet of paper in front of it?

Why did you increase the current limiter resistance? That will reduce the LED output light and thus the output signal level.
The LED has a maximum current rating of 50mA, and 100Ω gives about 38mA with a 5V source, which should be a good value.

 

That may be adequate to detect a black mark on the spindle when a mm or so from it. Have you tried that?
I don't see why you are concerned about what the device does with your hand or a white sheet of paper in front of it?

Why did you increase the current limiter resistance? That will reduce the LED output light and thus the output signal level.
The LED has a maximum current rating of 50mA, and 100Ω gives about 38mA with a 5V source, which should be a good value.

Just trying to improvise. Spindle is down in the garage, lab is upstairs.

I used the test conditions in the datasheet if = 20ma. There was at least one report of the device getting hot with the 100 ohm. But I will give the 100 ohm a try. Seems that would still be well within the diode's limits.

 

I recall a previous post to this by Snr Martinez http://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/is-this-a-pnp-or-npn-photo-transistor-qre1113.114940/
and at the time I looked at the Sparkfun one advertised and the board appears to show 2 & 3 connected to ground, they still show it with a resistor from 4 to VCC and LED resistor to Pin1.
It was quite a while ago now when I fitted it and it means some dismantling to find out exactly what I ended up with.
It was a 180Ω and 10k pull up.
https://www.google.ca/search?q=spar...sAQIOg&biw=1920&bih=961#imgrc=_vnwCQqjUGFVMM:
Max.

 

I have used these for a digital tach with a pic, just white paint or 3M retro reflective tape.

I would go for the retro reflective tape. Good tape makes white snow look gray in comparison. Maybe put black crepe tape on the spindle with a strip of the retro tape on top of it. That would give about the highest contrast I can think of.

With the retro tape and less than 1mm of gap I doubt that you will gain much with an IR filter.

 

I would go for the retro reflective tape. Good tape makes white snow look gray in comparison. Maybe put black crepe tape on the spindle with a strip of the retro tape on top of it. That would give about the highest contrast I can think of.

With the retro tape and less than 1mm of gap I doubt that you will gain much with an IR filter.

Where do you find "retro reflective tape" and "black crepe"? Can it be found in office supply place?

So if I follow you. The whole spindle should be in black with a strip of white?

 

The users of the spindle controller in post #19 just used a white paint mark on the spindle shaft.
I think I have a spare QRE1113 around, if I find it I will do a little testing.
The 3M 'Scotchlite' product is quite a common product, should be available from hardware stores or safety supplier, I keep some for putting on shafts to use a hand held digital tach unit.
Max.

 

The users of the spindle controller in post #19 just used a white paint mark on the spindle shaft.
I think I have a spare QRE1113 around, if I find it I will do a little testing.
The 3M 'Scotchlite' product is quite a common product, should be available from hardware stores or safety supplier, I keep some for putting on shafts to use a hand held digital tach unit.
Max.

So you purchased TheRB's controller? Or you were able to buy the sensor? If so where did you get it?

Does it have a temperature sensor too? Display seems to show temperature. Might be an interesting addition to my project since I have a number of those Dallas sensors around.

 

So you purchased TheRB's controller? Or you were able to buy the sensor? If so where did you get it?

Does it have a temperature sensor too? Display seems to show temperature. Might be an interesting addition to my project since I have a number of those Dallas sensors around.

The unit was on sale initially as a promotion so I picked one up, mainly for assessment purposes, It worked pretty good but the Mk1 did not have the temp indicator of the Mk11.
Ended up selling it, but I did pick up the QRE1113 from DigiKey for a PWM controller I was programming.
Max.

 

Where do you find "retro reflective tape" and "black crepe"?

As Max said you can get retro tape at hardware stores. Lots of variation from brand to brand. Chose the one that is whitest when looking at it with the light directly behind you. The best way of doing this is to hold a flashlight against your temple.

I got my black crepe tape at an art supply. You might be able to get some at a camera store as well.

 

The best way of doing this is to hold a flashlight against your temple

Oh, and I wouldn't be self-conscious at all doing that!

 

Oh, and I wouldn't be self-conscious at all doing that!

It's better than a gun.

 

Oh, and I wouldn't be self-conscious at all doing that!

I got over that a lonnnnnng time ago. I can now walk up and down _all_ of the aisles of a Jo-Ann's fabric/hobby store with all the women looking my way and not blush a bit.

p.s. There are lots of things in offbeat places like that. For instance, Jo-Ann's has a great selection of felt for making carrying cases for cell phones and black velveteen for taking pictures without reflections. Not to mention different types of "Velcro", snaps and other fasteners.

 

Oh, I have spent a lot of time in JoAnns myself. Between children's theater and Hsunted Houses...