Bend Sensors Longevity Tests
We seem to be experiencing a change in the bend sensor’s behavior over time - an increasing hysteresis in the sensors recovery from bend over time. Bending the sensor results in an immediate increase in resistance, but straightening the sensor out, it takes a moment for the resistance to decrease again.
We are setting up a test rig to monitor how they might be changing over time.
Bend sensors to test:
- Spectra symbol long and short
- Flexpoint 3” (no overlaminate, polyester overlaminate, polyiamide overlaminate)
- Handmade bend sensors with conductive thread and Velostat/Eeonyx non-woven
Spectra symbol long and short
Flexpoint 3” (no overlaminate, polyester overlaminate, polyiamide overlaminate)
Materials:
The Polyester Overlamimnate is a 3M product 1 mil thick.
The Polimide Overlaminate is a Sheldahl product 1 mil thick #T161211.
The material that we print on is called Kapton.
Performance:
The sensors with Polyimide Overlaminate performed up to 30 million cycles without fail.
The sensors with Polyester Overlaminate performed up to 5 million cycles without fail.
Handmade bend sensors with conductive thread and Velostat/Eeonyx non-woven
It could just be me, but I didn’t understand the verdict. Which bend sensors ended up performing best? How did the hand-made sensors perform?
the tests have not been completed yet. but will post data as soon as we do!