FSR which can withstand ~200lb

Other Hardware Sensors
1

I am in the middle of creating a program which determines the force of an air cylinder. The cylinder can distribute forces up to 170lbs. Is there an FSR which can read/withstand forces this high or is there a smarter choice for a sensor?

2

The Tekscan's FlexiForce A401 FSR is capable of sensing up to up to 7,000 pounds, so tailoring them to work at 170 lb or 200 lb would be no problem.

According to the datasheet, they can be configured to read 0 to 1 lb, 0 to 7000 lb, or any range in between.

Sparkfun sells them for $25.

Whether FSRs are a smart choice depends on your project's details........

3

Hi,
If you are looking to 7000lb, over 3000kg, you need to google loadcell
not force sensor.

Tom... :slight_smile:

4

Thanks for the replys. Are there any other options for FSR's in the range of ~200 lbs or a load cell which is not very large? I am trying to attach it to an air cylinder, so it cannot be too bulky.

5

Based on the information provided to-date, the A401 ought to be fine.

Dwr0808:
...are there any other options for FSR's in the range of ~200 lbs or a load cell which is not very large? I am trying to attach it to an air cylinder, so it cannot be too bulky.

DaveEvans:
....depends on your project's details........

....which, to-date, are totally lacking (as is any evidence that you have tried to find a solution by yourself.)

6

I am applying a 170lb force to a plastic wheel in order to test if a rivet is properly fixed, by use of an air cylinder. I want to attach the FSR to the air cylinder itself in order to detect a quick drop in force if the rivet breaks. It is a small space I must fit through in order to test the wheel so a bulky load cell would not work. This is my first true project with an Arduino outside of the classroom so I know little about the sensors themselves.

The A401 seems great, by the sound of it. I cannot find any better. If I were fasten the sensor directly to an air cylinder and apply 170lbs of force onto a round wheel, do you think that it would damage the sensor fairly quickly? Is there some sort of buffer I should put to protect it?

I appreciate your response, Dave. My name is also Dave.

7

If you take the precautions mentioned in the datasheet and user's manual, you won't damage it.