How can I create a accurately-measured conductive strip for electronic projects?

[geolej]

I am attempting to create a line (5" long by .5") that I can then measure the resistance between. I have tried creating a paint/ graphite mix but no matter what consistency I make by diluting it with acetone, I can't get a accurate distribution of values. They jump erratically when I measure them.

 

[vk6kro]

You can get stick-on copper strip. Would this be OK?

Or, you could just have a track like that on a printed circuit board.

If the problem is making contact to the painted strip, maybe you could try painting it between two copper tracks on a printed circuit board and making contact to those for testing.

I have some supposedly conductive paint but it has never been any good. The particles in it are probably conductive but each one gets non-conductive paint around it so the net result is non conductive.

What are you trying to do?

 

[geolej]

http://grab.by/Sqy
For a glass replacement I have notecards or some bendable object that makes contact with two conductive surfaces, that I can measure the resistance between. Cooper doesn't have enough measurable resistance as far as I know. The end project is a "touchscreen".

 

[BenchTop]

http://www.tedpella.com/SEMmisc_html/SEMadhes.htm#anchor1148917"

 

[vk6kro]

What about carbon tape?

Good idea.
I also thought of Teledeltos paper. I don't even know if you can still get it. It was like carbon paper but intended for plotting electric fields.

Also, there is the conductive antistatic foam that you get when you buy integrated circuits. This is conductive but with measurable resistances.

 

[Carl Pugh]

Use thin copper and four wire measurement.

Put 1 amp DC through the copper. (If copper is thick use 10 amp)
Have voltmeter with probes 1 inch apart.
Measure the voltage drop across 1 inch of copper using the probes.

 

[Dadface]

Aluminium cooking foil glued to a suitable flat surface and the aluminium then cut to size.

 

[famousken]

You might be able to use a conductive paint marker http://www.pemro.com/items.asp?Cc=CONDPEN&iTpStatus=0&Tp=&Bc= they are made with silver in the ink and so are conductive. Also, The Electronic Goldmine has conductive glue http://www.goldmine-elec-products.com/prodinfo.asp?number=G16133 which you might be able to use. I made an electrostatic speaker, and to make the diaphram, I used a piece of projector plastic covered with graphite which was rubbed into the plastic, the trick to getting uniform resistance was to apply the graphite evenly over the film and rub in using another transparency.