Strange, geeky questions for the intartubes

[elfs]

I can't sleep, so I'm up late bothering you with strange questions. First, I'm wondering if there's such a thing as a cheap pressure or touch sensor, relatively flat, that has a predictable curve of output the more it's squeezed between your fingers. I'm thinking of something flat and maybe the size of a quarter, it has to be cheap (preferably less than $5 each), it can't have binary output, and it shouldn't deform very much when in use. There's gotta be something like that; isn't that how electronic scales work? (Maybe I should just go to the Salvation Army, buy one, and take it apart.)

Secondly (and you can wonder about this all you want), how do you go about buying Fleshlights wholesale?

Comments

[duskwuff.livejournal.com]

No idea on the second one, but I've seen devices that match the description on the first part. Similar to what's used in electronic drum sensors, for instance.

[antonia-tiger.livejournal.com]

OK, this is a UK source (http://www.maplin.co.uk/module.aspx?ModuleNo=44202&doy=9m1), but it looks to be the sort of stuff you want. I hope that puts you in the right direction.

[mundens.livejournal.com]

I don't think one needs to be quite that esoteric for this job, I think a piezeo-electric sensor should do the job

[solarbird]

I can't wait to see the RFC for this.

[antonia-tiger.livejournal.com]

And only last night I was involved in a conversation about the generally lousy engineering of vibrators.

Gearbox trouble... Having seen a few breakages from overloaded transmission compontents--manufacturers doing things like pushing the power levels because the design hadn't broken yet--there are some sex toys I wouldn't chance my anatomy with.

[featheredfrog.livejournal.com]

sounds like you want a piezo sensor. basically, the innards of a piezo buzzer (from your friendly neighborhood Radio Shack) but they can be found in various places. Think I got one from All Electronics inside an automotive "jiggle" sensor for an alarm system.

analog output when pressure is applied.

You can also go the capacitative route, much the way a theremin works.

I googled it: http://www.google.com/search?q=piezo+pressure+sensor
great information there. Also sources.

[blaisepascal]

Electronic scales use a strain gauge to make the measurements, which provide a resistance that varies linearly with the strain put upon it. Perhaps something like that could be modified for your purposes.

MY first step in trying to buy Fleshlights wholesale would be to call the Fleshlight folks (888-804-4453) and ask them how to buy Fleshlights wholesale. I'm sure they'd know.

[lovingboth]

Yeah, you contact Interactive Lifeforms or whatever it is ILF stands for.

They're about half price, from memory, when you buy in multiples of twelve.

[(Anonymous)]

If you're looking for a)cheap b) soft and flexible, and c) easy to cut to shape, you might try the anti-static foam used for shipping electronics. I remember using that for homemade pressure sensors as a kid (maybe from a Forrest Mims book)

I just tested a piece of the black kind (about 1/4" thick) with an ohmmeter. With the probes on opposite sides of the thickness dimension, it went from about 8K with just enough pressure to make good contact to about 2K with maybe a pound of force applied. It *appeared* to be fairly linear, but I wouldn't commit to that without plotting curves with calibrated weights.

Naturally, increasing the contact area would lower those numbers, while increasing the thickness would raise them. Also, different brands might vary.

But, as I said, it's cheap, comes in big sheets, is easy to cut to shape, and has a texture that may be useful.

I think the black stuff is mostly carbon, but nonetheless I'd be careful about using the foam in direct contact with sensitive bits. Should be okay if enclosed in latex or vinyl.

I don't know how well it would respond to repeated compressions.

The pink stuff might also be worth checking if you need something more rigid.

[Beavis]Heh heh heh. He said "rigid"[/Beavis].

[(Anonymous)]

And if you need something more rigid still, I'd just grind up some charcoal and pack it between two rigid sheets of conductive material. Same design as an old Edison-style carbon telephone mic. You can definitely get a nice predictable response from that setup (it was good enough for audio, after all).