An XYZ Pad allows single input force + position measurement. Its operation is similar to that of a four-wire touchpad/touchscreen, but it provides better force (Z-axis) resolution.

How Does it Work?

If you're just getting started with XYZ Pads, we've provided some example schematics and Arduino code in our XYZ Pad Tutorial.

Note: This tutorial uses a slightly different part, but the electrical connections are the same.

An XYZ Pad Demo

XYZ Pads are 3-axis touch sensors that enable a wide range of human input and electronic musical instrument designs. XYZ pads are force-sensitive, and share some common technology / construction with single-zone FSRs. However, they're slightly trickier to interface with a microcontroller, and some basic multiplexing is required to alternately drive and read the same pins.

In this tutorial, we'll wire a Sensitronics XYZ Pad to an Arduino to demonstrate the basics of reading position and force. 4-wire resistive touchscreens also operate according similar principals, so if you've worked with touchscreens, the concepts here will be quite familiar. If not, don't worry, we'll cover things step by step.

Parts / Skills Required

To construct this example, you'll need the following parts & tools: