FlexiForce FAQs

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Tekscan, Inc, 307 West First Street, South Boston, MA 02127-1309. Tel: 800.248.3669/617.464.4500 Fax: 617.464.4266

E-mail: marketing@tekscan.com Website: www.tekscan.com

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FlexiForce

DIVISION

Frequently Asked Questions

GENERAL OVERVIEW

What are some applications in which the FlexiForce sensors have been used?

Do you have representation in my area?

How much do the system and sensors cost?

Can I purchase a system or sensors online?

Does Tekscan give educational discounts?

What is your return policy?

SENSOR OVERVIEW

Of what material is the FlexiForce sensor made?

Are FlexiForce sensors available in different shapes, lengths or sizes?

What is the resolution

of the A201 sensor?

How does the sensor react to force? Is the resistance constant, or is it decreasing with a constant value?

How much can I overload the sensor without damaging it?

What is the lifetime

of a FlexiForce sensor?

What materials/conditions could damage the sensor?

Can I fold the sensor?

Can I adhere the sensor to a surface?

How can I measure forces greater than 100 lbs?

What drive voltages can I apply to the sensor?

Why do I need an excitation circuit to read force with FlexiForce A201 sensors?

What is the maximum recommended current for the FlexiForce sensor?

Does the resistive element react similar to a semiconductor (diode, etc.) that varies conductance with applied voltage?

What is the resistance range of the sensor?

How do I connect the sensor after it has been trimmed?

CONDITIONING & CALIBRATION

Why do you need to condition the FlexiForce sensor?

How much error is induced if the sensor is not conditioned

What is the maximum period of not using the sensor before you have to recondition it?

What is the reason for calibrating the sensor?

How long must the sensor be unloaded before you load it again

Is “110% of the maximum load” what the sensor can handle?

USING A PUCK OR SHIM

What is a puck/shim and do I need to use it?

What material is best to use?

How rough can the load surface be?

What surface is best to use underneath the sensor?

ELF

SYSTEM & CALIBRATION

Why do I need to calibrate the sensor?

Summary of content (11 pages)

PAGE 1
FlexiForce® DIVISION Frequently Asked Questions GENERAL OVERVIEW What are some applications in which the FlexiForce sensors have been used? Do you have representation in my area? How much do the system and sensors cost? Can I purchase a system or sensors online? Does Tekscan give educational discounts? What is your return policy? SENSOR OVERVIEW Of what material is the FlexiForce sensor made? Are FlexiForce sensors available in different shapes, lengths or sizes? What is the resolution of the A201 sensor?
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What is the resolution of the ELF system? What is the maximum speed of the ELF System? Can I use more than one sensor at a time? ENVIRONMENTAL Are the FlexiForce sensors waterproof? What are the influences of humidity on the sensor? Can the sensors pick up electrical noise? What are the influences of magnetic fields or radiation? CUSTOMIZATION OF FLEXIFORCE SENSORS What is the smallest active sensing area you can make? What is the maximum force range that you can make? What is the usual turn-around time f
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GENERAL OVERVIEW What are some applications in which the FlexiForce sensors have been used? FlexiForce sensors provide economical solutions and OEM tools to a variety of force measurement applications. Our sensors have been integrated into drug delivery devices, QA/QC equipment, industrial controls, sports and recreational gear, and more. The applications are endless and the list continues to grow. To see additional application examples, please refer to our Application List.
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SENSOR OVERVIEW Of what material is the FlexiForce sensor made? The outer material is polyester (a brand name would be Mylar), the conductive traces are silver, and proprietary resistive inks are used within the sensing area. Are FlexiForce sensors available in different shapes, lengths or sizes? The standard FlexiForce sensor is one shape, but can be trimmed to any length. We do offer a custom sensor design and manufacturing service.
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How can I measure forces greater than 100 lbs? In order to measure forces above 100 lbs. (up to 1000 lbs.), apply a lower drive voltage and reduce the resistance of the feedback resistor (1kΩ min.) The force ranges of the sensors are based on our electronics. Please refer to FlexiForce® Specifications. What drive voltages can I apply to the sensor? 0.1V (as long as signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio remains acceptable) to 18V is the typical range.
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CONDITIONING & CALIBRATION Why do you need to condition the FlexiForce sensor? You should always condition the sensor prior to testing because the sensor’s output changes the first few times it is loaded. By loading the sensor before your calibration, you will ensure that the sensor is producing repeatable results for your calibration and testing. It will also produce a repeatable drift curve. You can condition the sensor by loading it at 110% of your maximum load for a few cycles.
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USING A PUCK OR SHIM What is a puck/shim and do I need to use it? A puck, or shim, is an object placed between the sensing area and load (like cheese between two pieces of bread) to ensure that the sensor captures 100% of the applied load if the contacting surface is larger than the sensor diameter and to reduce high pressure for point load applications. The applied pressure should be between 1 and 10,000 PSI. If the applied force is small, e.g.
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ELF SYSTEM & CALIBRATION Why do I need to calibrate the sensor? With the ELF system, calibrating the sensor will allow you to choose force units and adjust the sensitivity based on a known load to achieve the best resolution. If you increase the sensitivity of the sensor, the maximum force range essentially shortens, giving you greater resolution. What is the resolution of the ELF system? Elf electronics includes an 8-Bit (256 levels) A/D converter.
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ENVIRONMENTAL Are the FlexiForce sensors waterproof? No, the sensors are not designed for use under water, as the adhesive holding the top and bottom layer of the sensor together would likely separate. Does humidity have any effect on the sensor? The sensors have been tested in high humidity, and their responses have been within normal limits. Can the sensors pick up electrical noise? Yes, to a small degree.
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CUSTOMIZATION OF FLEXIFORCE SENSORS Customization is any modification to the standard FlexiForce design. What is the smallest active sensing area you can make? The smallest and largest are determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on the maximum force being applied. It may be possible to achieve 2mm2 as long as the PSI remains between 1 and 10,000 PSI.
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HOW TO FIND US Looking for more information about the FlexiForce division? Call us at (800) 248-3669 (International 001-617-464-4500) Email us at marketing@tekscan.com Mail us at 307 West First Street South Boston, MA 02127-1309 Visit us at a Trade Show near you. Tekscan, Inc, 307 West First Street, South Boston, MA 02127-1309. Tel: 800.248.3669/617.464.4500 Fax: 617.464.4266 E-mail: marketing@tekscan.com Website: www.tekscan.