Description:
I’m experiencing issues with the Electromagnet not responding to boost or drop
in VEXcode GO version 4.62.0-69.
Setup:
Actual Behavior: The electromagnet does not activate at all both boost and drop
What I’ve Tried:
Additional Questions: What is the recommended distance between the electromagnet and metal disk for reliable operation?
First off, welcome to the Community! I’m sorry that you’re having issues with the Electromagnet. Here are a few other things you can try, in an attempt to troubleshoot and answer your questions.
As for the recommended distance from the Disk, the Electromagnet should be pretty close to the top of the Disk. You mentioned you were using the Code Base. If you freely attached the Electromagnet, it’s possible that it is too high to pick up the Disk. The Code Base 2.0 - Eye + Electromagnet build positions the Electromagnet with enough clearance to pick up a Disk, but it is close to the ground. The additional Yellow Angle Beams on the the build also create ‘forks’, so to speak, also help ensure that the center of the Disk is aligned with the Electromagnet, to make the boost more reliable.
You could also try testing just the action of the Electromagnet in a simpler project. Something like just driving over a Disk, boosting it, then turning to see if it stays attached. That would separate out the functioning of the Electromagnet from the Eye Sensor detection, to help you identify whether the boost/drop was working.
If that works, then you can use the Monitor to see if the Eye Sensor is detecting the Disk as ‘red’, to troubleshoot your original project. If the Eye is reporting ‘false’ for red when the Disk is in position, that would explain why the Electromagnet didn’t get triggered.
I hope this is helpful, and gives you some more avenues to try 
