Measuring force/distance - components?

[stdold]

Dear eng-tips users,

I'd like to design a mobile instrument which allows to perform a simple compression test.
I need to simultaneously measure both a force (0-20N) and a distance (0-20mm), store several sets of pairs of values on an internal storage and exploit those results after via USB.
Also this gadget should be able to signalize a certain limit (force and distance).

As I've never worked with sensors before I have no idea where I could find corresponding electronics (I found possible sensors but nothing to treat their outputs with).
Do you know any companies that produce such? (those components should be as small as possible because we're talking about a handheld device)

Thanks a lot for any help!
Kind regards,

Stefan

 

[MikeHalloran]

TI, and surely others, have produced development kits comprising an embedded computer on a (tiny) USB plug. Get a couple of them to mess around with. Mouser and Digi-Key probably have them in stock. ... as well as a selection of sensors. Buy a bunch.

Slap a system together. Beat on it. Repeat.
Around iternatiion 10, you will begin to understand what you are doing.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[stdold]

Thank you so much, this is exactly what I was looking for!