Draw-wire sensor- Where to find?

[stianstian123]

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]

Welcome to ETO!

all I can find are heavy industrial-draw wires

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

 

[stianstian123]

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.

 

[Pommie]

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

Mike.

 

[stianstian123]

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

 

[dknguyen]

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]

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

 

[Western]

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

 

[KMoffett]

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

 

[dknguyen]

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

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

 

[KMoffett]

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