What materials/conditions could damage a FlexiForce sensor?

Question: What materials/conditions could damage a FlexiForce™ sensor?

Answer: Temperatures >155°F (420°F if you are using High-Temp model HT201), 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 the FlexiForce Specifications table for sensor performance details.

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What is the lifetime of a FlexiForce sensor?

Question: What is the lifetime of a FlexiForce™ sensor?

Answer: The durability of the FlexiForce sensor depends on the conditions to which it is exposed:

• The magnitude of the load
• The interface material
• 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 still provided an output proportional to applied load.

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How much can I overload a FlexiForce sensor without damaging it?

Question: How much can I overload a FlexiForce™ sensor without damaging it?

Answer: 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.

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FlexiForce User Manual

The FlexiForce™ User Manual can be downloaded from this link.

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What is equilibration?

Question: What is equilibration?

Answer: Equilibration is a method of normalizing the sensor and system so that the output of every sensing element is the same when a uniform pressure is applied. The software then determines a unique scale factor for that sensing element to compensate for the slight variation.

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Is calibration possible for dynamic loads?

Questions: Is calibration possible for dynamic loads?

Answer: Yes.

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Do sensors come calibrated?

Question: Do sensors come calibrated?

Answer: No. Sensors should be calibrated by the user with the material (or a material similar) to the one being used in the application.

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What is calibration?

Question: What is calibration?

Answer: Calibration is the method by which the digital output of the system is converted to an actual engineering unit. Calibration enables you to compare the output of the same sensor in various environments and allows you to compare calibrated outputs of various sensors.

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Will my system work with all Tekscan sensors

Question: Will my system work with all Tekscan sensors?

Answer: When you purchase a system, your software allows you to read only the sensors that come standard with that system. You can purchase additional sensor “maps” (drivers) for your software that will allow you to use the system with additional types of sensors. This can be done at the time of the initial purchase, or later on if your application needs change.

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Can your sensors be trimmed to a smaller size or shape?

Question: Can your sensors be trimmed to a smaller size or shape?

Answer: Several sensors available are trimmable. Refer to the sensor's detail page to determine whether your sensor is trimmable.

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