QTC

[ilikeguns40]

Is there a website or anywhere I can purchase QTC material from? Why is it so hard to source

 

[Voider of Warranties]

Maybe try contacting Peak and ask where they get it. I think that they are a small enough operation to actually answer such an inquiry.

 

[ilikeguns40]

Thanks, yeah I'll email Robyn. Not a big deal, I'd just like to experiment with it. I can't seem to find a source online for it anywhere

 

[Voider of Warranties]

To be honest, I had to look up what QTC stood for at first, and Peak flashlights are the only place that I know of that use it. It's a curious material. Experimenting is good.

 

[ilikeguns40]

Fraz labs also use it in their lights

 

[Voider of Warranties]

I found this on the Fraz site, so it's definitely available. Good luck.
"Originally developed as QTC (quantum tunneling composite), it reacts with pressure to achieve the variable brightness in our piston-based flashlight engine. This material is now called 'smart material' or 'smart rubber' and can be obtained from several different sources. It can easily be replaced in our lights, and each purchase comes with extra pieces."

 

[ilikeguns40]

I'll try typing in those words and see what comes up

 

[Flynn's Arcade]

Has anyone tried Zoflex brand sheeting. At work, I have limited and infrequent use of their pressure mats for intrusion detection systems. I don't know if their pressure sensitive sheets are a viable substitute or not.

Zoflex: Products

Provider of conductive rubber sheets and pastes. Unique materials for your most challenging designs.

zoflex.com

 

[ilikeguns40]

Has anyone tried Zoflex brand sheeting. At work, I have limited and infrequent use of their pressure mats for intrusion detection systems. I don't know if their pressure sensitive sheets are a viable substitute or not.

Zoflex: Products

Provider of conductive rubber sheets and pastes. Unique materials for your most challenging designs.

zoflex.com

Interesting. Gonna check that stuff out.

 

[thermal guy]

To be honest, I had to look up what QTC stood for at first, and Peak flashlights are the only place that I know of that use it. It's a curious material. Experimenting is good.

It was first invented to be used on the spacesuits on the gloves for the astronauts

 

[ilikeguns40]

It was first invented to be used on the spacesuits on the gloves for the astronauts

Thanks for that information, but what for?

 

[Voider of Warranties]

Very interesting stuff and a great idea.

"QTCs were used to provide fingertip sensitivity in NASA's Robonaut in 2012. Robonaut was able to survive and send detailed feedback from space. The sensors on the human-like robot were able to tell how hard and where it was gripping something."

 

[Voider of Warranties]

"The following are possible uses of QTCs:

• Sporting materials such as training dummies or fencing jackets can be covered in QTC material. Sensors on the material can relay information on the force of an impact.
• Mirror and window operation such as gesture, stroke, or swipe can be used in automotive applications. Depending on the amount of pressure applied from the gesture, the car parts will adjust to the desired setting at either a fast speed or a slow speed. The more pressure is applied, the faster the operation will be.[11]
• Blood pressure cuffs: QTCs in blood pressure cuffs reduce inaccurate readings from improper cuff attachment. The sensors tell how much tension is needed to read a person's blood pressure."

 

[Ocelot808]

The original developer of the QTC material (1996) is the UK based company Peratech which designs custom force sensing and haptic feedback OEM applications for a wide variety of technology clients for touch sensitive keyboards, mice, VR gloves, etc. The Peratech QTC squares were readily available from numerous sources a decade ago for a few bucks a piece but now it seems the supply has dried out. Peratech still uses the material in its products but makes no mention of selling the raw QTC parts. Some inquiries need to be made.

FrazLabs, whose design centers on QTC squares has a finite supply on hand but no current resupplier so they limit what they can give out based on necessity. I recently obtained my first FrazLabs QT-L Nugget so I'm on a mission to find a source equivalent to what FrazLabs currently uses in their lights.

I read on the Peak subforum that some folks were having flickering and erratic behavior using liion cells but normal operation with NiMH. Apparently Peak was trying out alternative QTC materials since new Peratech-made squares are somewhat unobtanium.

Peratech has a great website about its applications: www.peratech.com

Also, here is a comprehensive history of the development of QTC materials in flashlight design dated 2016. It offers great detail and is very informative.

Using QTC as Direct Load Control in Flashlights

Nice read, since it starts with such a high initial resistance I wonder if shaved to a thinner initial thickness would reduce that enough that less compression force is needed and also if it could the be used as a variable sense resistor.

budgetlightforum.com

It's great to see others interested in this unique method of brightness control in flashlights.

I'm on a mission to find the equivalent of the original Peratech squares.

 

[yellow]

Sooo
this is/are "resistors" that reduce (?) their value, when pressed
? ?

 

[KITROBASKIN]

The springiness of the material seems to decrease with use.