PASCO CI-6746 User Manual

Instruction Sheet
for the PASCO
Model CI-6746

ECONOMY FORCE SENSOR

012-06906B

TARE button

detachable hook

finger
holds

Dynamics Cart mount

Accessory Bracket mount

8-pin DIN plug

Introduction

The PASCO CI-6746 Economy Force Sensor is
designed to be used with a PASCO
ScienceWorkshop Computer Interface. This
version of the force sensor has an output between

-8 volts and +8 volts and a range between -50
newtons and +50 newtons. In other words, it
produces -8 volts for -50 newtons, 0 volts for
“zero” force, and +8 volts for +50 newtons. (A
push is considered to be positive, and a pull is
considered to be negative.) The sensor has strain
gauges mounted on a specially designed “S-bend
beam”. The beam has built-in over-limit protection
so it will not be damaged if a force greater than 50
newtons is applied.

support rod mount

thumbscrew

The Force Sensor consists of the housing for the
beam and electronics, a cable with a 8 pin DIN
plug for connecting to the computer interface, and
a detachable hook. The housing has a thumbscrew
(for mounting on a support rod up to 1/2” diameter)
on the end opposite to the mount for the detachable
hook. The housing also has two finger holds.

The bottom of the housing has an indentation that
fits on the end of the accessory tray of a PASCO
Dynamics Cart. The top of the housing has a mount
(Cart) for attaching the sensor to a Dynamics Cart,
a mount (IDS Bracket) for the Accessory Bracket
with Bumpers (CI-6545) for attaching the sensor to
a Dynamics Track, and a tare button for zeroing the
sensor.

Economy Force Sensor 012-06906B

®

Equipment

INCLUDED

• Economy Force Sensor (CI-6746)

• detachable hook

• accessory mounting thumbscrew

ADDITIONAL REQUIRED

• ScienceWorkshop Computer Interface

• Computer

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDED

• Introductory Dynamics System (carts, track,
track accessories), such as PASCO Model
ME-9429A.

• Force Sensor Bracket and Collision Bumpers
(CI-6545)

Operation

Connecting and Zeroing the Sensor

1. Connect the 8-pin DIN plug to an analog

channel on the computer interface.

ScienceWorkshop

500 Computer
Interface

Mounting the Sensor on a PASCO Dynamics Cart

The Economy Force Sensor has a built-in mount
that aligns with the threaded holes in the
accessory tray of a PASCO Dynamics Cart (such
as the ME-9430 Plunger Cart or ME-9454
Collision Cart ). A thumbscrew is provided to
secure the Force Sensor to the cart.

To mount the sensor:

1. Position the Economy Force Sensor on the tray of

the Dynamics Cart so the indentation on the
bottom of the Force Sensor is seated over the
end of the cart tray, and the mount for the cart
is directly over the threaded hole in the
accessory tray of the cart.

2. Insert the accessory mounting thumbscrew into

the cart mount hole and screw it into the
threaded hole in the accessory tray of the
Dynamics Cart.

Mounting on a Support Rod

The Economy Force Sensor has a hole and
thumbscrew at one end that allows you to mount
the sensor on a support rod from 3/8” to 1/2” diameter.

Mounting on the Accessory Bracket

analog channels

DIN plug

2. To “zero” the sensor, press and then release the

tare button. When the tare button is pressed, the
voltage from the sensor will be set to
approximately zero volts.

Note: You can also zero the sensor while a force
is applied to the sensor. For example, if you want
to measure the change in force during an
experiment, set up the experimental equipment as
needed, and tare the sensor at the beginning of the
experiment before taking data. The sensor can
maintain its “zeroed” condition for more than thirty
minutes.

To fasten the Economy Force Sensor to a Dynamics
Track, use the Accessory Bracket
(CI-6545):

1. Place the Force Sensor on the Accessory

Bracket so the IDS mount aligns with the hole
near the front of the bracket.

2. Insert the accessory mounting thumbscrew into

the IDS mount hole on the Economy Force
Sensor, and turn it clockwise until it is tight.
Mount the Accessory Bracket on the
T-slot on the side of the IDS Track. (See the
Accessory Bracket instruction sheet for more
information.)

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