Introduction
There is a new era of innovation in the contemporary engineering industry. The assembly, engineering and manufacturing applications of today’s world are highly sophisticated. These applications require precision in fitting of parts, techniques involving the removal of materials and assembly lines that are flawless. Industries that manufacture construction and automotive equipment and those that deal with machine tooling and gear matching are constantly striving to improve their production quality, processes and reducing costs. To their rescue is the innovation that is force sensing and robotic vision. Low force sensors are used in different engineering applications in order to increase precision, quality of production and lower production costs. This research paper will delve into the basic information of low force sensors and their applications in engineering.
What are low force sensors?
A low force sensor is a device that is able to detect any physical contact with a surface or an object (Ştefǎnescu 12). Unlike other types of force sensors, low force sensors are so versatile they can detect very small amounts of force applied on a surface or object. They appropriate for sensitive operations that require the detection of small amounts of force. This technology can be traces back to 1980 when low force sensors were developed for use by dentists. Low force sensors were used to measure the force and distribution of pressure when a patient bites relative to time (Rosen, Blake & Richard 145). Since then, the technology has been refined and many other applications f low force sensors have emerged.
How do low force sensors work?
Low force sensors work on the principle that when any amount of force is applied on resistors implanted into the device, the resistance of silicon in the resistors will increase. When external force is applied on the low force sensor, the sensor concentrates the force from the external source through a ball that is made of stainless steel. A stainless steel ball is used because of its excellent mechanical stability as well as its adaptability to different applications. The ball is situated directly above the sensing element that is made of silicon. The amount of resistance in the silicon sensing element is directly proportional to the amount of force from the external source. The change in the resistance in the circuit of the device causes a corresponding change in the output level of the mill volts.
What are the applications of low force sensors?
Conclusion
Force sensors come in different variants. Some measure mechanical forces of between 0 and 25 pounds while others measure mechanical forces of between 0 to 1000 pounds. However, in recognition of the requirements of the contemporary industrial applications and others from other fields, low force sensors are an innovation that is important to technological advancements. Many applications in different fields produce mechanical force that is miniature compared to the enormous force amounting to 1000 pounds produced in other fields. It is important for the quality of production to be able to detect and measure these small mechanical forces, sometimes as small as 0.1 Newtons. Low force sensors enable this.
Works cited
Rosen, Jacob, Blake Hannaford, and Richard M. Satava. Surgical Robotics: Systems Applications and Visions. New York: Springer, 2011. Print.
Schwizer, Jèurg, M Mayer, and Oliver Brand. Force Sensors for Microelectronic Packaging Applications. Berlin: Springer, 2004. Print.
Ştefǎnescu, Dan M. Handbook of Force Transducers: Principles and Components. Berlin: Springer, 2011. Print
