Comments on: May the force sensor be with you

Question: May the force sensor be with you

bluefrog — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 08:50:49 -0800

What is this handheld "force sensor" Jamie Hyneman yields in the "concrete glider" episode of Mythbusters?

At some point in the "concrete glider" episode of Mythbusters, Hyneman tests the strength of a sheet of concrete using is "trusty" handheld "Force sensor" (or strain gauge or probe?). Looked a bit like an oversized electronic meat thermometer. What is the exact name of that apparatus? Looking for links to manufacturers/retailers (although these should be easy to come by once I know what to call it).

By: alby

alby — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 09:21:55 -0800

Was it a (spring-balance) newton meter?

By: Rumple

Rumple — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 09:33:22 -0800

probably a Schmidt Hammer

By: bluefrog

bluefrog — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 10:22:43 -0800

It looked a bit like this but interesting feature was that it had a display ("standalone", no need to plug it on a computer)

By: TheAnswer

TheAnswer — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 11:45:27 -0800

Was it a "push pull force gauge"?

Google Images

By: asavage

asavage — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 13:04:53 -0800

Adam Savage here- Jamie's Co-host. The "Meters" cabinet is right next to my desk, and I just took a look, but unfortunately, both force gauges are with the other team right now.

We use two. Both are digital, both are push-pull types. One goes to 40lbs, the other to several hundred. I've broken both, but by and large, they're pretty resilient.

I'm sorry I don't have specs on the big one, but our small one is this:

http://www.extechstore.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=253

runs a bit over 300 bucks.

The big one is considerably more expensive.

Hope this helps.

a

By: bluefrog

bluefrog — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:12:47 -0800

Well, straight from the horse's mouth! (Can't say I wasn't hoping for it) Thanks asavafge (and the others for your suggestions). The potential use for thing would be to help high schoolers explore the issues of tension and compression in material resistance. The fact that it is standalone makes it very flexible (although obviously pricier than the computer sensor kind).

As an aside: how to call this phenomenon of getting a comment/answer from s'one directly or closely related to a post/question? Pulling a Woz ?

By: trevyn

trevyn — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 16:30:12 -0800

I would call it an "authoritative answer". It doesn't need a stupid name.

By: fixedgear

fixedgear — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 17:29:22 -0800

Adam's on MeFi!

By: bluefrog

bluefrog — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 20:48:06 -0800

Yes, so I realized (Well I'd seen some of his comments around, but now realize that he has a very high level of activity on Askmefi, both side of the fence). Anyway, sorry if my comment seemed stupid to some... Didn't mean any offense...

By: trevyn

trevyn — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 21:47:46 -0800

I understand. Pet peeve. Apologies.