Your Pressure Sensor Pad is Now Complete! Turning to the left will increase sensitivity (requiring less force to produce a response), while turning to the right decreases sensitivity (requiring more force to produce a response). To adjust sensitivity, use a small screwdriver to either tighten or loosen the potentiometer (a small, blue unit with a screw). This article explains how FlexiForce users can get the most of their sensor performance with the ability to adjust force ranges.
The FlexiForce Quickstart Board we’re using in this example includes an adjustable potentiometer that allows the user to adjust the sensitivity of their sensor. No matter what you plan for your pressure sensor pad application, it’s always ideal to select an interface circuit that includes adjustable components. Step 2: Adjusting the Pressure Sensor Pad Sensitivity For instance, if you plan to embed this sensor into a handheld device – e.g., a remote controller – you determine what materials will provide the best results from a sensitivity perspective. Note: This point of the process is a good time to try testing different interface materials on your force sensor. Press down on your sensor to test the connections, and monitor feedback on the multimeter. This setting allows you to capture raw force readings.
For the purpose of this exercise, we’ll be setting the multimeter dial to Direct Current Voltage (DC voltage). Once everything is connected, turn on your multimeter. The Black probe should be clipped to the wire that is labeled “ground” or “GND.” Next, connect the Black and Red clips from the multimeter to the connecting wires of the interface circuit board. Most interface electronic boards include a small light that will light up when the power supply is successfully connected. Step 1: Connecting the Pressure Sensor Pad Componentsįirst, insert the two leads of the force sensor into the connecting points of the interface electronics, and then connect the 9V battery to the battery clip. Pressure Feedback Display: A Fluke ® digital multimeter Interface Circuit: A FlexiForce Quickstart Board
#Ultra magicad how to#
In this article, we will show you how to create a simple, single-point pressure sensor pad, using an ultra-thin force sensor.įorce Sensor: A single FlexiForce A502 sensor with crimped housings Interface materials or protective covers may also be required, depending on the operating environment. Interface circuit (aka, breadboard or microcontroller)Ī method to capture or display feedback from the pressure sensor padĬertainly, these elements get more complex depending on the needs of the application. Load cells, strain gauges, microelectromechanical systems (MEMs), and force-sensitive resistors (FSRs) Most pressure sensor pads are typically created with four source components: How Are Pressure Sensor Pads Constructed? Identifying force thresholds to trigger an appropriate reaction Whether developed as a single-point sensing device, or as an array of multiple pressure-sensing elements, pressure sensor pads can be created to perform many different types of functions, including:ĭetecting and measuring relative change in force or applied loadĭetecting and measuring the rate of changes in an applied load There is a truly endless amount of applications for pressure sensor pads, ranging from an input mechanism in a human-machine interface (HMI), a method to capture intruders in a force-sensitive security system, and beyond. Pressure sensor pads are electronic devices that capture physical force contact to generate some sort of a response.