Load cells are used in industrial equipment, medical devices, airplane loads, and many other applications. These cells are an example of a weight-measuring gadget. They can measure everything from the tiniest needle to the heaviest drilling rig. These cells may be found in various forms, sizes, and configurations, and they may be found just about everywhere, even in local grocery shops, but they’re hidden behind the equipment.
A load cell is like a standard weighing scale. It is a transducer that transforms mechanical force into readable electrical units. Weighing or checking the amount of weight delivered is the primary function of these devices. Load cell sensors and strain gauges are permanently attached.
Where are the Load Cells used?
Load cells are often used in industrial scales where they are employed in control systems in which the force on a system impacts its behavior.
Types of Load cell:
The most common form of load cell is a metal foil strain gauge. There are several load cell body forms and geometries to choose from, each with its use. Here are a few popular load cell types and geometries:
1. Beam Load Cells:
It is also known as the Shear Beam Load Cell. It replaces the spring or other inline hardware for inline applications to convert mechanical scale to digital. The S Beam Load Cell is available in both English and Metric threads. Inexpensive and easy to install, make it a favorite. Although developed for inline applications, S Beam Force Sensors are particularly sensitive to external loads, torques, and moments.
2. Load Button Load Cells:
Load button load cells are notable for their tiny package size. They are utilized in small places. On the other hand, some more precise ones are created with bending beams for low capacity and shear or column design for larger capacity. The load should be applied without any side load or torque for maximum performance.
3. Single Point & Multi-Axis Load cells:
Single Point Load Cells are developed for processing applications that need small-scale weight control platforms. They are named because they can handle off-center loading with just one sensor. This load cell design features a low profile, great accuracy and is modified for off-center loading.
It is a multi-component sensor (also known as a force-torque or multi-component load cell). Multiple strain gauge bridges on these force-torque sensors reliably detect forces and torques applied in one direction with little or no cross-talk interference from forces or moments applied in other directions
4. The Hole Load Cell:
Compact, smooth thru-hole inner diameter design allows this Donut Load Cell to be used in applications requiring a rod to pass through the sensor center and is a variant on the low profile compression load cell. This sensor type is mostly used to assess bolt loading.
5. Inline Load Cell:
These are known as inline force transducers with male threads. This load force transducer may be utilized in tension or compression. Inline load cell sensors are rugged, accurate, rigid, and have a wide capacity range with little mounting space. They are wonderful for push and endurance.