There has been a long thread(s) about force measurement on the arocket
list for static motor test stands. Richard Nakka has a website with
detailed design procedures for ($10.00) load cells (but there is a
minimum quantity for buying the strain guages -- 10pcs/$45.00 from Omega)
http://members.aol.com/riccnakk/strainlc.html   (direct link but AOL so
{very} slow - at least this morning)
http://www.nakka-rocketry.net/   (some sorta mirror site??)


As for Pitot tubes, make your own using the differential IC preassure
guages (~$35.00??) and calibrate with your car - (at least two people
here please - one to drive and one to attend to the instruments)

Also, you could use a preassure guage and a bellows for a low stick, low
hysteryses force sensor (liguid filled system of coarse) This should
elliminate the problems with a piston arrangement although those glass
dashpots are really low friction and may work fine (can they be filled
with fluid??).
--
Looking forward:
Alan Shinn


Experience the
beginnings of microscopy.
Make your own replica
of one of Antony van Leeuwenhoek's microscopes.
visit    http://www.mindspring.com/~alshinn/

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