Can something else be used instead of gluing metal strips to the plexi?
Yes you can. In theory, all you need is something that sticks to the plexi and that conducts electricity. A strip of Copper tape or aluminum duct tape or alarm contact tape would all work. They are all sticky and do conduct electricity. However, with all that downward punishment, it is hard to say whether or not they will last very long with all that hitting on the mending plates. The metal may just shred the tape to pieces and thus make the sensor inaccurate.
