I'm trying to develop a strap you can strap around luggage handles to weigh them. To do this I need to understand the technology and workings of a small pressure weight sensor, if this technology excists or not? I'm only a poor student and could really do with some help!

Also how does a sensor convert the pressure reading into a weight reading?

Thank you very much to anyone who can help me.

George Cracknell

 

Hang the strap on a load cell (containing a bridge of strain gauges) with appropriate electronics. If you're looking for really low cost, and it's not too kludgey for you, get a fish scale with an exposed scale pointer, and run a string from the pointer over a wheel with a potentiometer on the axle. You would need spring load or counterweight the the string to provide a return for the pot, but not too heavily. I guess you could make your own linear pot by wrapping some resistive wire around a pencil or similar cylinder and mount the wiper to the scale pointer.
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Steve Myres, PE
Automation Solutions
(480) 813-1145

 

I would suggest that you read up on "load cells".