How to Solder a Strain Gage
Teaching Tool
Goal: Develop an easy-to-follow manual and video to teach how to attach and solder a strain gage successfully. Teach the material to the Strength of Materials course when the project runs.
Independent Work for Smith College Picker Engineering Program
Fall 2023
To simplify the process, I broke the application into four steps that consolidated material use (like the number of times you would have to heat up and use a solder pen). I created a document with visual and written directions, with tips on how to adjust steps to fit their specific material needs, and how to problem-solve issues when they inevitably arose.
Written Soldering Directions
I created an instructional video to complement the document. It walked the user through the same steps but provided a more visual option, and the ability to see the process physically being done.
The following spring, I held two workshops during the Strength of Materials course (which I was taking at the time; see my project under research and experiments), teaching students how to apply and solder their strain gages. Throughout the project, I helped students problem-solve their projects and determine what gage and application process was right for their needs.