Load cell Sensors: How to Measure Weight

Essentially, a load cell is a force transducer. Weight is typically measured with load cells. We will concentrate on weight measuring applications in this article, but they can also be used to measure torque, compression, pressure, etc.

 In spite of gravity being the weakest of the four fundamental forces keeping the universe from breaking apart, it is the only one that we can directly observe. Gravity is experienced by everything on our planet that has mass, as our planet's iron core draws everything towards it. Mass and weight are related by gravity. These weight detector wholesale supplier are available special under vehicle inspection system.

Pneumatic load cells (often used in intrinsic safety applications) are among the basic technologies used in load cells. In remote, hard-to-access locations, hydraulic load cells are frequently used since they don't require power. Another high-level (but non-linear) load cell is a piezoelectric load cell.

Today, the most common type is strain-gage-based load cells. Their prices are extremely competitive, they are very reliable, and they have a wide range of force input capabilities. Their full-scale accuracy is about 0.25% and they are the industry standard.

Modern digital scales calculate weight using strain gauge-based load cells instead of traditional levers to distribute weight.

A microcontroller takes the outputs from the scale, converts them into an aggregate weight value, and displays that value on the gauge when you step onto it. Since strain gages are resistance-based sensors and are affected by temperature, some models use a thermocouple to measure the ambient temperature.

Load Cell Measurement Applications

Large and small load cells have virtually unlimited applications. Among them are the following:

• Materials testing - the process of weighing components during manufacturing for consistency

• Aerospace - measuring the load on wheels and undercarriages, testing the thrust of jet engines

• Marine - Observing the tension on he mooring lines as they stretch under the load of the moving ship

• Transportation - weighing and measuring torque on electric, gasoline and diesel engines, train and truck wheel      loads, as well as cargo weights on highways

• Industrial -- Measurements of forces and tensions for gearboxes, pumps, and pipe laying, tension and force      measurements in paper mills and steel mills, and vessel and hopper weighing

• Medical / Healthcare - Weighting beds for hospitals, precision scales for infant incubators, and load measurement for physical      therapists and exercise equipment.

• Construction - forces on elevator cables, forces on scaffolding in accordance to international standards. 

• Entertainment - To ensure that forces are not exceeded in hoisting acrobats and actors, S-type load cells are installed between the cables

• Petrochemical - measuring the forces applied to drilling machines for oil and gas

• Farming and Ranching - Weighing hoppers, tanks, and silos, as well as weighing livestock flowing through chutes and cables

• Household / Consumer - Bathroom scales with digital display

Types of Load Cells

For a variety of applications, load cells are available in various sizes and shapes. Among the most popular ones are:

• Bar / Bending Beam Load Cells

• Canister Load Cells

• S-Beam Load Cells

• Through-Hole / Donut Load Cells

• Pancake Load Cells 

Bar / Bending Beam Load Cells

Industrial weighing applications often use bar or bending beam (aka binocular beam) load cells. A force is applied to the free end of the bar while one end of the bar is attached to a structure. 

Canister Style Load Cells

A compression load cell, also known as a "canister load cell," is the simplest type of load cell. Industrial scales are primarily used to measure the weight of an object placed on them. Their canister-like shape gives them their name.

S-Beam Load Cells

In addition to pushing applications, S-beam load cells can also pull applications. They are named after their distinctive shape. A steel cable typically holds them. Imagine hoisting a heavy load on a cable.

Through-Hole / Donut Load Cells

Certain types of these can only be compressed, while others can be compressed and tensioned simultaneously. As a result of the center hole, part of the load cell can pass through it if necessary. The centers of some of the through-holes have additional mechanical connections.

Pancake Load Cells

Load cells designed for pancake shapes are designed for applications that involve both compression and tension (pulling and pushing).