Ideal Uses

• Human‑touch controls for user interfaces, buttons, and soft keys in consumer or automotive electronics.

• Robotics and grippers to detect grip strength, contact force, or object presence.

• Weight/force sensing for simple load detection (e.g., presence on a platform, instrument pads).

• Musical and gaming interfaces, such as drum pads, pressure‑sensitive buttons, and footswitches.

• Educational projects illustrating force‑to‑resistance transducers and analog sensing.

• Compatibility

  • Works with Arduino, ESP32, and other microcontrollers using an analog input and a fixed resistor to form a voltage divider.

  • Can interface with 3.3 V or 5 V systems since it behaves as a passive resistor with no polarity.

  • Suitable for integration into custom PCBs or flexible circuits where thin, low‑profile sensors are required.

  • Compatible with many common FSR interface circuits and libraries used in hobbyist and professional designs.

  • Key Features

    • Force Sensing Resistor (FSR) – resistance decreases as applied force increases.

    • Single‑zone sensor with a circular active region; optimized for localized force/touch detection.

    • Ultra‑thin construction (around 0.45–0.55 mm nominal thickness), easy to embed under surfaces.

    • Active area approximately 12.7 mm diameter (standard FSR 402 size).

    • Typical force sensitivity range from very light touch (~0.1 N) up to around 10 N (check exact datasheet ranges).

    • Highly repeatable force readings with long life, rated up to around 10 million actuations in typical tests.

    • Simple 2‑wire device with no polarity, easy to integrate in a voltage divider circuit.

    • Technical Specs (Typical, FSR 402 Short Tail)

      Exact values should be confirmed from the specific sensor’s datasheet:

      • Sensor Type: Force Sensitive Resistor (FSR), FSR 400 series.

      • Active Area: ~12.7 mm diameter circular sensing region.

      • Overall Diameter: ~18.28 mm total sensor size.

      • Thickness: approx. 0.2–1.25 mm range; nominal around 0.45–0.55 mm.

      • Actuation Force: as low as ~0.1 N.

      • Force Sensitivity Range: typically ~0.1–10 N for standard 402 devices.

      • Non‑Actuated Resistance: typically >1 MΩ (often ~10 MΩ) with no load.

      • Lifetime: tested up to around 10 million actuations without failure under specified conditions.

      • Operating Temperature: approximately −30 °C to +70 °C (recommended range).

      • What’s Included

        • 1 × FSR402 Short Tail Thin‑Film Pressure Sensor (Force Sensitive Resistor)

        • Safety Note

          • FSRs are designed for force and pressure sensing, not for measuring precise weight; for critical weighing applications, use a calibrated load cell and amplifier instead.

          • Avoid bending the sensor sharply or creasing the active area, as this can affect calibration or damage the sensor.

          • Do not exceed the recommended force range or operating temperature to maintain repeatability and lifespan.

          • When integrating into products, ensure the sensor is mechanically supported and that forces are applied evenly over the active area to avoid concentrated stress points.