Hey Folks,

 

I'm trying to find out what the components are called and where to get them for the following project. Any help is much appreciated. The project:

 

I need to buy/make a plate or mat that could be placed on a flat surface, then have objects of various flatness and shape put on the mat. The mat is a grid of sensors that is divided up say 1/4 x 1/4 inch. It would be able to output the vertical pressure at each point on the grid. Then output (via USB or other connection) to PC software that would display the readings in something like a heat map or a graph. Much like those devices at the shoe store that map the bottom of your foot to figure out what in-sole is best for you. This mat would need to withstand about 4000lbs vertical force spread over a patch about 4" x 13" wide. The mat/sensor needs to be about 14" square, but bigger is ok.

 

Hope thats enough information.

 

Thanks!

Give us all an idea of the budget for this . $ 1 000 000 ?

Hey Non-Science Guy,

 

The component names can vary but typically you will need a software package, pressure sensors, and data acquisition hardware to read the sensors. These parts are often packaged together in "systems." Tekscan makes pressure mapping systems that are very user friendly you can check them out here: http://www.tekscan.com/pressure-distribution-measurement-system

 

The data acquistion electronics connect directly into a USB port - easily portable! For applications like the one you've mentioned above the Tekscan sensors are ideal because they are dimensionally stable and won't compress when loads are applied, you'll be able to measure even slight un-evenness. The loads and sizes should be no problem for them.

 

Hope this helps.

 

PressureDude