I’m interested in making custom piezo transducers (to replace the SDT-1 in applications where it’s too large) in small quantities (i.e. likely too small for custom metalisation to be economical), and am considering buying a sheet of plated piezo film such as https://www.digikey.at/en/products/detail/te-connectivity-measurement-specialties/2-1004347-0/5277288
I have a few questions about whether this sheet is suitable for my application before I drop hundreds of euros on material:
- Can this material be cut freely into different shapes?
- I’ve heard of a simple electric vaporization method for selectively removing electrode from the sputtered sheets, but cannot find any information about how to remove the electrode from sheets printed with silver ink. Would ferric chloride or ferric nitrate work?
- I plan on making folded (i.e. self-shielded) transducers, and connecting wires using some kind of tiny flex PCB crimp connector. Am I correct in assuming that etching away the electrode at the ends and then folding and adhering the sheet will work? When crimped, won’t the crimp connectors connect with the piezo film as well as the electrode material and prevent it from working properly? or would I need to use sections of the piezo film only for the active sensor part, and attach my own electode to each side separately so I can separate the signals from them?
- What adhesives are suitable for bonding the film to itself?
many thanks,
Barnaby