FlexiForce FAQs

Tekscan, Inc, 307 West First Street, South Boston, MA 02127-1309. Tel: [phone].464.4500 Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail] Website: www.tekscan.com
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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. For more information on custom sensor design, refer to
the custom sensor page on our website.
What is the resolution of the A201 sensor?
The sensor will produce an analog signal and the resolution depends upon the electronics used.
How does the sensor react to force? Is the resistance constant, or is it decreasing with a constant value?
The inks in our sensors are resistive: the greater the force, the less the resistance. Refer to the sensor performance graph,
found under
FlexiForce® Features.
How much can I overload the sensor without damaging it?
The mechanical properties of the different force range sensors are very similar. The polymer materials from which these
sensors are manufactured will start to deform plastically around 10,000 PSI.
What is the lifetime of a FlexiForce sensor?
The durability of the FlexiForce sensor depends on the conditions to which it is exposed: magnitude of the load, the
interface material, and the direction of the load (minimal shear). The sensor was tested under “normal” conditions with a
50 LB. impact load on the sensor, which was between two pieces of metal. 1,000,000 cycles/hits were achieved. Upon
completion of the tests, the sensor’s output still varied with applied load.
What materials/conditions could damage the sensor?
Temperatures >155°F, water-submersion (as the adhesive holding the top & bottom layers together would likely separate),
sharp objects, shear forces, creasing the sensor, and loads that are around or above 10,000 PSI can damage the sensor.
Refer to
FlexiForce
®
Specifications for sensor performance details.
Can I fold the sensor?
The sensor is designed to be flexible, however the sensing area should not be folded as this causes shearing. The traces
should not be bent more than 90° as the silver conductive leads could break.
Can I adhere the sensor to a surface?
If you need to adhere the sensor to a surface, a thin, double-sided tape is recommended. It is best to apply tape to the shaft
of the sensor rather than underneath the sensing area. An adhesive (glue) can be used if it will dry evenly.