qtc switches

[paulstreats]

Ive just found this article


http://www.tep.org.uk/millennium_smart_qtc.html


Basically it is a material that changes resistance with depending on how much pressure is on it. This would be ideal for grippers or feet etc.. it will let you know how hard your robot is squeezing something when it picks it up.

has anybody had any experience using these switches.

here is a link to some pads and switches in the uk from maplin:


http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=44202&criteria=qtc&doy=24m4

it seems quite cheap, like $1 or 50p per pill, im thinking about orderingsome the next time i use maplin. (unfortunately farnell dont sell them or id add them to todays order)


edit----------------------------

Ive just found an even cheaper distributor:

http://www.mutr.co.uk/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=18_177_165&products_id=1144&osCsid=882f4b51f2e867b1d26027f4c2193ce1

they sell qtc pills at GBP 0.15 ($0.30) or flexible rubber like sheets for GBP1.45($2.90) end even wires. The shipping is astronomical for outside of the uk though.

They also sell muscle/smart wire for £5 ($10) per metre, is this cheap?

[Steve Joblin]

I remember seeing an "instructable" about how to make your own... it is basically a sandwich of aluminum foil "bread" with the "filling" being a piece of conductive foam.  Conductive foam is the foam that is used to protect IC chips during shipping.

[JAy1st]

Non-conductive foam is the foam that is used to protect IC chips during shipping.

It's supposed to be conductive to avoid static electricity damage.

By compressing the foam cells closer you reduce the resistivity.