| Electronics > Projects, Designs, and Technical Stuff |
| Strain gauge Joystick - Could something like this work? |
| (1/5) > >> |
| PeterFW:
I would like a 2 axis input device, i have a few wonky design restrictions i set myself, one is no "moving" parts and so i came up with the attachment as a rough idea. The middle hole is just for attaching the stick of the joy-stick part. The deflection gets measured with the PCB strain gauges, the cutout makes it more conforming. I have seen designs like this, so it should work, but what do you think? |
| amyk:
The whole device becomes the (slightly) moving part! More seriously, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pointing_stick_of_a_Lenovo_ThinkPad_keyboard-4488.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pointing_stick_of_a_Lenovo_ThinkPad_keyboard-1047.jpg |
| george.b:
Aha, I see you've been studying the IBM Trackpoint ;D That looks like it could work, yes. There has to be a small deflection for it to work, so maybe it's something to keep in mind when it comes to materials/mechanical layout - how much deflection as a result of how much force, and how sensitive a strain gauge you'd have to use. |
| PeterFW:
--- Quote from: amyk on January 22, 2020, 12:55:18 pm ---The whole device becomes the (slightly) moving part! More seriously, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pointing_stick_of_a_Lenovo_ThinkPad_keyboard-4488.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pointing_stick_of_a_Lenovo_ThinkPad_keyboard-1047.jpg --- End quote --- Thanks for the reply! You are correct, that is why i put the moving in quotation marks :) I have read the patent and a few more resources concerning this design, i was just hoping someone maybe has tried it yet and got some practical knowledge. Sadly the Trackpoint devices are, as far as i can make out, based on regular FSR. I mean, technically a stain gauge is a FSR too but you know what i mean :) |
| PeterFW:
Thank you for the reply! --- Quote from: george.b on January 22, 2020, 01:33:27 pm ---That looks like it could work, yes. There has to be a small deflection for it to work, so maybe it's something to keep in mind when it comes to materials/mechanical layout - how much deflection as a result of how much force, and how sensitive a strain gauge you'd have to use. --- End quote --- Yea, while i know how strain gauges work and what you have to do to get data from them, i never worked with them. On FR4 they should experience a deflection which these usually do not see. Maybe i should just design a couple of different arrangements and try them out but i got a problem with resistance. Using Copper on FR4 i do not get anywhere near >1Ohm. |
| Navigation |
| Message Index |
| Next page |