The Tugger

[ltxrob]

I bet if you got hold of one of those cheap holiday digital scales that you hang a case from and gutted it... you'd have a suitable strain gauge! 😁

[The inspector]

Oddly enough I’m looking at them on amazon. May purchase it and have a play. Need another arduino and other parts will see after pay day

[Like Ra]

Have a look here: pressure sensors and force sensors

[essanym]

Have a look here: pressure sensors and force sensors

Your "force sensors" URL is not working.  Nevermind

[Like Ra]

Your "force sensors" URL is not working.

Fixed! (It was a "space" between "url=" and the actual URL)

[Like Ra]

Moved to a separate thread.

[essanym]

The tugger sensor is a load cell. Most of them I found are quite expensive (hundreds of $$) but here is one on aliexpress which is more affordable.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32916580700.html

[Like Ra]

Aha! So it's called tension sensor!

[The inspector]

Ok electronics and arduino specialists! Let’s unite and make a shopping list of required items and how to make this damn thing! I want one! Ha ha ha

[essanym]

Ok electronics and arduino specialists! Let’s unite and make a shopping list of required items and how to make this damn thing! I want one! Ha ha ha

With the following, I think I could build a tugger clone.  The only thing I can think of that's missing is the knob that the tugger engineer used to change the settings on his.  It would be easy enough to use the up/down arrows on the controller in the arduino kit rather than the knob.  If you're looking up arduino/load cell interfacing instructions, consider also looking up respberry pi/load cell interfacing instructions.  The electronics part of it would be quite similar, just the program would be different... and not necessarily too different to be of use.


Parts
https://www.amazon.com/LAFVIN-Project-St...B07CTFVM1L  - kit with multiple useful things to cover the most of the arduino side.
https://www.amazon.com/SunFounder-Channe...B00E0NTPP4  - arduino relay board to interface with the shock collar
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32916580700.html  - The same sensor (load cell) I posted above.
https://www.circuitar.com/nanoshields/mo...index.html  - Interface module to connect the arduino to the load cell.  Also contains a plethora of relevant information.
https://www.amazon.com/Petrainer-PET998D...B01N22G8AR  - Shock collar you can re-purpose
https://www.amazon.com/CBAZY-Stranded-Fl...B073RDBW7L  - Wire to go between the arduino relay and the shock collar remote.  This wire will need to be soldered.


Tools
https://www.amazon.com/DOWELL-Stripper-M...B06X9875Z7  - I can't speak to the efficacy of these wire strippers but I've seen them used a lot.  I generally just use a box cutter or whatever unsafe, sharp thing is near me when I need to strip a wire.
https://www.amazon.com/Weller-WLC100-40-...B000AS28UC  - Weller soldering iron.  Too much headache dealing with a cheap soldering iron so I recommend this one.
https://www.amazon.com/Soldering-weller-...B076ZQZQ8W  - Tips for your weller soldering iron.  You probably need the small one for this project.
https://www.amazon.com/WYCTIN-Solder-Ele...B071G1J3W6  - I'd get the .8 mm or 1.0 mm solder for this if I didn't aeady have some.  It's got lead in it, so wash your hands after handling and try not to breathe the fumes.

Optional
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=electronics+project+box  - Find a project box to put the loose electronics in.  May require additional parts and tools to finish.  I usually just leave my own electronics out in the open but if I were to build this now, I would probably just 3d print something.

Also, this is not necessarily related to building a tugger but would be a devious bondage device; connect this motion sensor to the shock collar remote.  It will require an external power supply to the sensor but it would very simply keep whoever is wearing the collar from wanting to move very much.  I can vouch for that sensor because I attached it to a "jolly chimp" for a halloween decoration.