Why not try something like a strain gauge or force sensors? There are a
variety of force sensors for tension measurement, compression etc. that will
surely fit your requirements. The only problem is that I am sure they must
be expensive.

Check this site:
http://www.globalspec.com/Frames?Url=http%3A//www.globalspec.com/ProductFind
er%3Fse%3Dgt

Good luck!!

-----Original Message-----
From: pic microcontroller discussion list
[mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of Bill & Pookie
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 5:19 PM
To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: [EE]: Mechanical Force Transducers


Mr. Bell was ahead of his time, as we are just now
learning.

Have heard about the amateur radio operator who
hooked a carbon microphone across the twin lead
antenna feed lines, turned on his transmitter and
started talking.

The black antistatic material that ic's are stuck
into is conductive and resistance decreases as it
is compressed.  So maybe that could be the new
carbon granules?

Bill

----- Original Message -----
From: "Nelson Hochberg" <nelson@NOSUFFERING.COM>
To: <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
Sent: Friday, August 16, 2002 2:00 PM
Subject: Re: [EE]: Mechanical Force Transducers


> How about a modification of Alexander Graham
Bell's original microphone?
> Carbon granules between two metal plates.
>
> Nelson
> nelson@nosuffering.com
> www.nosuffering.com
>
> I was thinking of the opposite of that.  Suppose
I put dielectric foam
> between two conductive parallel plates.  When
force is applied to the
> plates, the foam will deform and cause an
increase in capacitance.  The only
> trick is finding foam with a coefficient of
deformation and thickness that
> allows for capacitance changes that are
significant to the measurement
> instrument. The permittivity of the foam isn't
important.
>
>
> -Mike
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Richard Mellina" <rsillem@FLASH.NET>
> To: <PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU>
> Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 12:07 PM
> Subject: Re: [EE]: Mechanical Force Transducers
>
>
> >         A cheap pressure sensor can be made
from conductive foam. Sandwich
> the
> > conductive foam between two sheets of copper
foil. Solder a wire to each
> > sheet of copper. It works just like a variable
resistor:  when pressure is
> > applied the resistance between the two plates
decreases. You will probably
> > need to experiment with it to find the amount
of pressure associated with
> > the resistance change.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: pic microcontroller discussion list
> > [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of
Michael A. Powers
> > Sent: Wednesday, August 14, 2002 10:25 PM
> > To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> > Subject: [EE]: Mechanical Force Transducers
> >
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > I have an application that requires the use of
a mechanical force
> > transducer.  Basically, I want to know the
force that one flat surface
> > imparts upon another.  Does anyone know of a
cheap sensor that can be
> bought
> > (or easily made) that is appropriate?  I saw
some pressure sensors in
> > Jameco's catalog, but they appeared to be gas
pressure sensors and
> wouldn't
> > be applicable here, or would they?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > -Mike
> >
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