Draw-wire sensor- Where to find?

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stianstian123

New Member

• Jun 25, 2018

• #1

Hi, I'm looking for a linear displacement draw-wire, but I cannot seem to find any for purchase online. Does anyone have any links as to where to look? Been googling for a good hour, and all I can find are heavy industrial-draw wires.

I need one that has a range between 600 cm - 1 m. Thanks!

 

alec_t

Well-Known Member

Most Helpful Member

• Jun 25, 2018

• #2

Welcome to ETO!

stianstian123 said:

all I can find are heavy industrial-draw wires

Click to expand...

Are you up to making your own? What accuracy do you need? How "not-heavy, not-industrial" ?

 

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stianstian123

New Member

• Jun 25, 2018

• #3

Would be nice to not make my own Don't need it to be too accurate. 1-3 mm accuracy would be fine.

Something to be used on a small mechatronic setup would be fine, nothing too big or chunky.

 

Last edited: Jun 25, 2018

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Pommie

Well-Known Member

Most Helpful Member

• Jun 25, 2018

• #4

Is 600cm (6m) a typo or do you really need 1m to 6m?

Mike.

 

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stianstian123

New Member

• Jun 25, 2018

• #5

That's a typo.. I meant to say max range between 0.6 m and 1 m.

 

dknguyen

Well-Known Member

Most Helpful Member

• Jun 25, 2018

• #6

Like this?
https://www.phidgets.com/?tier=3&catid=4&pcid=2&prodid=996

I've never seen one under $100. I'd love to know where to find 1" cubed ones too.

 

Reloadron

Well-Known Member

Most Helpful Member

• Jun 26, 2018

• #7

You may want to try a Google of a few terms. Over the years I have called them string potentiometer, sometimes also known as a string pot, a draw wire senor, a string encoder or a yo yo pot. I've used versions running out to 120" (3048 mm). Anyway string potentiometer will get you a dozen hits from various manufacturers. The better the uncertainty the higher the cost. Micro-Epsilon has a good line, not cheap but good stuff, UniMeasure is another also Baldwin may still make string pot encoders.

Ron

 

W

Western

Member

• Jun 26, 2018

• #8

I never knew they made such a thing ... fascinating. Learning every day.

 

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KMoffett

Well-Known Member

• Jul 2, 2018

• #9

I had purchased several string pots from Space Age Controls several years age, to measure the movement of the underside of a glacier. They were the cheapest plastic ones I could find. But they were still $160. https://www.spaceagecontrol.com/s054b.htm

Ken

Note: DIY


and

https://www.instructables.com/id/Low-cost-string-pot-displacement-transducer/

and

https://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-2674.htm

 

Last edited: Jul 2, 2018

dknguyen

Well-Known Member

Most Helpful Member

• Jul 6, 2018

• #10

KMoffett said:

I had purchased several string pots from Space Age Controls several years age, to measure the movement of the underside of a glacier. They were the cheapest plastic ones I could find. But they were still $160. https://www.spaceagecontrol.com/s054b.htm

Ken

Note: DIY


and

https://www.instructables.com/id/Low-cost-string-pot-displacement-transducer/

and

https://www.andymark.com/product-p/am-2674.htm

Click to expand...

Why do you need plastic for glaciers? Don't you need something more durable sitting outside for that long?

 

K

KMoffett

Well-Known Member

• Jul 6, 2018

• #11

dknguyen,

I was looking for small, light weight, accurate, and relatively inexpensive. And because of the wet environment in the caves under the glaciers, the string pots were in waterproof Pelican cases with a rubber glans to feed the string and data cable out.

Ken