MD30-60 Thin Film Pressure Sensor 0-30kg - Flexible Force Sensitive Resistor

Specifications

• Sensor Type: Resistive 

• Force Range: 0 ~ 30kg (Non-linear response).

• Active Area Diameter: ~10mm.

• Thickness: <0.25mm.

• Response Time: <1ms.

• Durability: >1 Million Actuations.

• Terminal Type: 2-Pin Male Header (2.54mm pitch compatible).

• Waterproof: Yes (Sensing area is sealed; connector is not).

Key Applications & Projects

• Smart Seating: Detect if someone is sitting on a chair or car seat to trigger lights/alarms.

• Medical Monitoring: Bed occupancy sensors or gait analysis in shoes.

• Robotics: Grip force feedback for robotic grippers to prevent crushing delicate objects.

• Interactive Art: Create pressure-sensitive floor tiles or touch surfaces.

Project Evolution

• The Bottleneck: Buttons only tell you "On" or "Off." They can't tell you how hard the user is pressing.

• The Upgrade: This sensor gives you Analogue Feedback. You can differentiate between a light tap (200g) and a heavy press (10kg). Use it to control the speed of a motor or the brightness of an LED based on pressure intensity.

• Effort Level: Beginner. It acts just like a potentiometer. Connect it in a voltage divider circuit with a 10kΩ resistor, and read it with analogRead().

Virtual Technician & Wiring Guide

• The Voltage Divider: FSRs are resistors. You cannot plug them directly into an Analogue Pin. You must create a "Voltage Divider" circuit.

  • Connect one leg of FSR to 5V.

  • Connect the other leg of FSR to A0 (Signal).

  • Connect a 10kΩ Resistor from A0 to GND.

• Coding: As you press, the voltage at A0 will increase. analogRead(A0) will return a value from 0 (no touch) to ~1023 (max pressure).

• Do Not Solder: The plastic film can melt instantly. Use jumper wires or crimp connectors. Do not solder directly to the tail pins unless you are extremely fast and careful.

Accessories & Compatibility

• Included: 1x MD30-60 Thin Film Pressure Sensor.

• Required: 10kΩ Resistor (for voltage divider), Jumper Wires.

• Related: Arduino Uno, Op-Amp (for linearising output).

Frequently Asked Questions (Technical SEO)

• Can I use this sensor to build a digital weighing scale? No, this is a Force Sensitive Resistor (FSR), not a Load Cell. It has an error margin of ±10-25% and is designed for detecting presence or relative pressure, not for measuring precise weight in grams.
• How do I connect this to an Arduino? You cannot connect it directly to an analog pin. You must build a "Voltage Divider" circuit by connecting a fixed resistor (usually 10kΩ) in series with the sensor. You measure the voltage at the junction between the two.
• Is the output linear? No, the response is logarithmic. The resistance drops sharply with the first few kilograms of force and then levels off as you approach 30kg. It provides excellent resolution for light touches but less differentiation at high loads.
• Can I cut the sensor to fit a smaller space? Absolutely not. Cutting the sensor will break the sealed air channel and the internal silver conductive traces, rendering the sensor permanently dead. You can only trim the length of the tail pins if necessary.
• Is this sensor waterproof? The circular sensing head is sealed and water-resistant, but the connector tail and the contact pins are exposed. It is not suitable for full submersion without additional potting/sealing.
• What value resistor should I use for the voltage divider? A 10kΩ resistor is the standard starting point. If you need higher sensitivity for very light touches (<1kg), use a higher value (e.g., 47kΩ). for measuring heavier loads (near 30kg), use a lower value (e.g., 1kΩ).
• Can I solder wires directly to the pins? It is highly risky. The base material is plastic film, which melts instantly under soldering iron heat. We strongly recommend using female jumper wires or crimp connectors. If you must solder, be extremely quick (<1 second).
• Does it work with 3.3V devices like ESP32 or Raspberry Pi Pico? Yes, since it is a passive resistive component, it works perfectly with 3.3V logic. Just power your voltage divider with 3.3V instead of 5V.
• Can I use this with a Raspberry Pi 4? Not directly, because the Raspberry Pi does not have Analog Input pins. You will need an external ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) chip like the MCP3008 or an ADC HAT.
• What is the "Drift" specification? If you keep a constant heavy weight on the sensor for a long time, the resistance value may slowly change (drift) by about 5-10%. Therefore, it is better for dynamic events (taps/squeezes) than long-term static weighing.
• What happens if I apply more than 30kg? The sensor will "saturate," meaning the resistance will stop changing even if you add more weight. It typically won't break unless the force is extremely sharp or focused on a tiny point that punctures the film.
• Does it come with adhesive backing? Most MD30-60 units come with a peel-and-stick adhesive backing on the rear side for easy mounting onto flat surfaces.
• Can I bend the sensing area? You can bend the tail, but the circular sensing area must remain relatively flat during operation. Bending the active area causes internal stress that registers as "force," giving you false readings.
• Why are my readings fluctuating when no one is touching it? This often happens if the "pull-down" resistor in your voltage divider is loose or missing, leaving the pin "floating." Ensure your 10kΩ resistor connects firmly to Ground.
• Can I use a "Puck" to improve accuracy? Yes! Placing a small rigid disk (a "puck") on top of the sensing area helps distribute the force evenly, ensuring the entire active area is engaged. This significantly improves consistency.
• What is the response time? The sensor is very fast, with a response time of less than 1 millisecond, making it suitable for detecting impacts or rapid taps.
• How durable is the sensor? It is rated for over 1 million actuations. However, sharp objects or folding the tail at a sharp 90-degree angle can cause premature failure.
• Does temperature affect the readings? Yes, like all resistive materials, temperature fluctuations can slightly alter the resistance. It is not recommended for environments with extreme temperature swings without software calibration.
• Can I use multiple sensors on one microcontroller? Yes, you can use as many sensors as you have Analog Pins. Each sensor requires its own individual voltage divider circuit.
• Is there a library for this sensor? You don't strictly need a library; a simple analogRead() works. However, libraries like ForceSensitiveResistor or FSR are available in the Arduino Library Manager to help convert analog values into approximate Newtons/Grams.