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I have a setup where I need to measure the weight at the end of an arm.
The arm is clamped between two pieces of aluminum at one end. The Sensor S is mounted a short distance (5cm?) from the aluminum base. The distance from the sensor to the end of the arm is 25cm.
The weight at the end of the arm ranges from 1kg to 100 kg. I'd like to measure it with an accuracy of 0.1kg.
How do I calculate what kind of range my sensor should have?
How do I select the best sensor for this application?
You will never get the kind of accuracy you need detecting the deflection in the arm like that.
Instead modify the clamp. Perhaps something like this.
The longer you can make the clamp block, the better the accuracy since a longer block lessens the effect of manufacturing tolerances between the hole and the sense point. Though you can likely calibrate that out.
Of course you also need to make it long enough that 100kG on the other end does not swamp or crush the force sensor. I guess the ultimate length should get you just under max sensor force at your max arm load.
