Need Force Sensor(Resister, Switch??)

[S]

I'm not an Electronics expert so forgive me if I don't use the proper
terminology.
I need something to indicate (not measure) a change force(weight), from
about 1 lb. to about 20 or 30 pounds, but it must be able to handle a couple
hundred pounds without getting wrecked. Something that switches on or
varies in resistance. It needs to be smaller than a penny and paper thin,
and inexpensive.

I found something at the following web site that would work, that can
actually be used for measuring force, but it's more than I need, and at $15.
it's way to expensive, especially for a production product.
http://www.tekscan.com/flexiforce/flexiforce.html
Please post reply. Thanks!

 

[Jim Thompson]

I'm not an Electronics expert so forgive me if I don't use the proper
terminology.
I need something to indicate (not measure) a change force(weight), from
about 1 lb. to about 20 or 30 pounds, but it must be able to handle a couple
hundred pounds without getting wrecked. Something that switches on or
varies in resistance. It needs to be smaller than a penny and paper thin,
and inexpensive.

I found something at the following web site that would work, that can
actually be used for measuring force, but it's more than I need, and at $15.
it's way to expensive, especially for a production product.
http://www.tekscan.com/flexiforce/flexiforce.html
Please post reply. Thanks!

I have a simple-minded piece of *thin* PCB-like material that will
light an NE-2 when flexed:

AMP Flexible Film Sensors
P.O. Box 799
Valley Forge, PA 19482
(215)666-3500

However it is my understanding that someone bought them out a number
of years ago, so you may need to do some surfing.

...Jim Thompson

 

[Garrett Mace]

I found something at the following web site that would work, that can

actually be used for measuring force, but it's more than I need, and at $15.
it's way to expensive, especially for a production product.
http://www.tekscan.com/flexiforce/flexiforce.html
Please post reply. Thanks!

What's the problem? It's pretty much what you need, and if you look around
$15 is close to nothing for a force sensor. Plus I don't think you're
looking at the production issue correctly: if you are actually looking for a
production price, ask for a quote from them in quantities of 5,000 or
100,000. The qty. four price isn't what a large buyer would pay.

 

[Don Cleveland]

I have a simple-minded piece of *thin* PCB-like material that will
light an NE-2 when flexed:

AMP Flexible Film Sensors
P.O. Box 799
Valley Forge, PA 19482
(215)666-3500

However it is my understanding that someone bought them out a number
of years ago, so you may need to do some surfing.

...Jim Thompson

I think they are now Measurement Specialties Inc. Here's the web site.

http://www.msiusa.com/piezo/vibration_dynamic_sensors.htm

Don Cleveland

 

[qrk]

I'm not an Electronics expert so forgive me if I don't use the proper
terminology.
I need something to indicate (not measure) a change force(weight), from
about 1 lb. to about 20 or 30 pounds, but it must be able to handle a couple
hundred pounds without getting wrecked. Something that switches on or
varies in resistance. It needs to be smaller than a penny and paper thin,
and inexpensive.

I found something at the following web site that would work, that can
actually be used for measuring force, but it's more than I need, and at $15.
it's way to expensive, especially for a production product.
http://www.tekscan.com/flexiforce/flexiforce.html
Please post reply. Thanks!

http://www.interlinkelectronics.com/ makes a product called a force
sensing resistor (FSR). The FSR is silkscreened on to a thin plastic
sheet. Resistance changes with force applied. It's cheap and very
durable. I ran a test on this material back in the mid 1980s, shooting
a couple thousand steel balls at a drum skin coated with the FSR
material.

Mark