How to use a load cell as a "switch", more or less

Other Hardware Sensors
3

Hey MarkT,

I will try your suggestion of using the three resistors and a voltage comparator; if I'm not mistaken that's sort of like an OP amp and I am a bit familiar with them. I don't have them on hand, however.

Mind if I ask why this is necessary? I am very interested in this technique and want to know as much about this sensor as I can. Is it because the change in resistance due to load is very small, and needs to be amplified using a bridge?

During application, the cell will bend more than 90 degrees and then return back to 0 degrees. So it will flex a lot, and I could use the midpoint of the amount of load as a switch. It's just difficult for me to find out what these values are.

Additionally, this is my code:

#include <Servo.h>

int strain1AnalogPin = 0;
Servo servo1;
int pos1 = 0;

void setup() {
Serial.begin(9600);
servo1.attach(9);

}

void loop() {
int read1 = analogRead(strain1AnalogPin);
Serial.print(read1);
if (read1 = -1) {
pos1 = 180;
servo1.write(pos1);
}
else{
pos1 = 0;
servo1.write(pos1);
}

}

EDIT:

I have measured the resistance of the strain gauge, it is 125.57