For a fun project, I am considering trying to build myself a pressure indicating tamper. I know there are tampers out there that 'click' when you hit 30 lbs, but I am considering trying to build one with a progressive lighting system, like the bars on a cell phone. First light turns on at 15 lbs, 2nd light turns on at 20 lbs, 3rd light at 25 lbs, and 4th light at 30 lbs.

With this in mind, I would like some collective feedback before I begin this challenge. I am planning on using LED's, but am not sure where to place them. The two options I came up with were either in a line vertically on the handle, or around the top edge of the tamper base (more difficult to build, but perhaps easier to see). What do you guys/gals think? Here are two basic illustrations of what I'm thinking:



Or (and this is a top view of the tamper):

By the way, I would have added a poll, but I don't know how to do that (or if I'm even able to do that).

Thanks for your feedback!

Caleb

Tamp is overrated.

That out of the way, I'll put on my UI designer hat. On the handle is no good if you can't see he lights because your hand is in the way. How about using a clear neck on the tamper, and lighting it progressively brighter (PWM) with a tricolored led, snapping to colors on the 10-lb boundaries....

Light pressure starts dim red, ramping to full brightness, then snapping to dim yellow at 10lbs, ramping up to full brightness then snapping to green at 20lbs, blue at 30 lbs, then flashing blue and red at 35 (pull over!)

Going to be hard to see the LEDs while in use. Use a clear, polycarbonate handle with multi-colored LEDs in it that light the entire handle with the color relevant with the desired force.

Hmm.. a bluetooth tamper with wireless, remote, Digital Display...?

One-pound increment talking tamper with user-choice of voice and text..
"Thirty-five pounds, sweetie."
"Mmmmm.. thirty pounds feels SOoooo good!"
"Ten pounds. More... MORE!"
"Push, baby. Push."

Combine the last two so that you can use your Bluetooth earpiece so that your tamper can talk to just you in private.

Of course, this all takes for granted that it matters... it doesn't.

I always wondered about those PITs because I don't push the handle, I push the base with my thumb and first finger. If you use PIT you can not touch the base or it will sway your measurement.

But, interesting project.

I would group the 4 LEDs together on the base. like this- ::

But if you could do beeps, that will give an even better bio-feedback. "beep.. bebeep.. bebebeep... beeeeeeeeep."