MECHATRONIC SYSTEMS

LABORATORY
MECA 503

EXPERIMENT 1:
Resistance Transducers; Transducers
for Linear Position or Force Applications

Submitted by
Afnan Hassan
Nouman Ahmad
Introduction
This experiment aims to observe the features and responses of position and force sensors subjected to
different input values measured in terms of voltage change induced by resistance and distance
variations. Thus, we will be testing 4-types of transducers as follows.
A potentiometer consists of a movable wiper in contact with a fixed resistor element. The wiper's
location indicates the corresponding resistance value to control the current flow across the circuit.
A strain gauge is a force measurement device usually implemented on a balanced Wheatstone Bridge
setup. Also, it uses the principle of variation in resistance to determine the quantity of applied pressure
to a specific material or object.
LVDT is a frictionless electromechanical transducer used to measure linear displacement obtained by
voltage difference across its outer coils based on the position of its core while being energized by the
middle coil.
Finally, a linear variable capacitor transducer uses similar construction to an LVDT sensor as the
magnetic core represents the moving plate across a fixed plate made of brass where the output depends
on contact area and distance between plates.

Results and Conclusions

Hence, the acquired results using described setups are respectively available for each sensor:

1. Potentiometer

a. Rotary potentiometer
Control 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
setting
Output 0V 0.431V 2.158 3.847V 5.40V 6.93V 8.44V 10.13V 11.97 12.30V
voltage V V
 Rotary Potentiometer
14

12 11.97 12.3

10 10.13
Output in volts

8.44
8
6.93
6
5.4
4 3.847

2 2.158

0.431
0 0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Control setting

b. Slide potentiometer
Control 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
setting
Output -5.04V -4.25V -3.12V -2.0V -0.77V 0.42V 1.67V 2.70V 3.83V 5.0V
voltage

Slide Potentiometer
6
5
4 3.83
2.7
2
Output in volts

1.67
0.42
0
1 2 3 4 5
-0.77 6 7 8 9 10

-2 -2
-3.12
-4 -4.25
-5.04
-6
Control setting
 2. Strain gauge transducer

Numbe 0 1 2 3 4 5 6
r of
coins

Output 0V 0.41V 0.85V 1.30V 1.79V 2.14V 2.61V

Voltage

Strain Gauge
3

2.61
2.5
2.41

2
Output in volts

1.79
1.5
1.3
1
0.85

0.5
0.41

0 0
0 1 2 3 4 5 6
Coins number

As shown above, the output is typically 0V before we add any load to the sensor, which indicates that
there is not enough pressure applied to create a change in resistance.

After loading it with one coin at a time up to a total of 6 small coins, the voltage increments with steps
of approximately around 0.5V then showed a higher increment after the 4th coin, then a final minor
increase to reach a maximum output value of 2.61V.

The configuration and temperature changes also impact the output of a strain gauge.
 3. Linear Variable Differential Transformer (LVDT)

Core -4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
position

Digital
voltmeter
M.C
meter

LVDT
7

6 6.1 6

5 5.2 5

4 4
Output

3 2.8 3

1 1
0.42 0.39 0.28 0.23 0.34 0.42
0 0.16 0.01
0 0.009
-4 -3 -2 -1 0 1 2 3 4
Number of turns
(core position)

Voltmeter M.C meter

An LVDT transducer shows the core displacement from its neutral location represented by 0V. Thus, a
digital voltmeter and moving coil meter readings were compared.

At the center position, the voltmeter gave a reading of 0.01mV that can be neglected and considered as
0V. Moving the core toward the left and right sides resulted in readings with nearly the same values.

In a similar manner, the M.C meter readings were close to each other as well.

However, this indicates that LVDT measurement only provides information about the core movement
but not the direction.
 4. Linear Variable Capacitor
Capacitance Max Min

Turns of 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
screw
Output 2.223 2.220 2.217 2.113 2.208 2.202 2.197 2.193 2.190
Voltage

Variable Capacitor
2.23

2.223
2.22 2.22
2.217

2.21
2.208
Output in volts

2.202
2.2
2.197
2.193
2.19 2.19

2.18

2.17
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Screw turns

*EXPLAIN RELATION*