Can I use FlexiForce sensors to measure dynamic loads?

Question/Problem: Can I use FlexiForce sensors to measure dynamic loads?

Answer/Solution: If you calibrate with static weights and test dynamically, the results will differ.  This discrepancy is because the sensor has a “rise time” associated with the output.  The response is in the microseconds, as fast as a load cell, but rise time refers to how long it takes the sensor to settle at the appropriate value within our error limits.  The rise time for our sensors is between 0.1-0.3 seconds, which is usually too slow for a quick impact.

Therefore, what is commonly done, is that our customers will calibrate the sensor dynamically against a load cell with a quicker rise time -- so that you can see the comparable responses of both sensors.  The amplitude of the FlexiForce sensor will be smaller than that of the load cell by a certain factor that can usually be calculated by comparing the amplitudes of the load cell and FlexiForce sensor after a few tests.  If a load cell is not available, the next best option would be to calibrate the sensor statically and to use the sensor for comparative studies.

Tekscan, Inc.
307 West First Street. South Boston, MA. 02127-1309. USA
tel: 800.248.3669 / 617.464.4500 fax: 617.464.4266
marketing@tekscan.com


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