Force and Load Sensors Specifications

Force Sensor Type



	Your choices are...
	Tension		Tension cell for measurement of a straight-line force "pulling apart" along a single axis; typically annotated as positive force.
	Compression		Tension cell for measurement of a straight-line force "pushing together" along a single axis; typically annotated as negative force.
	Shear		Shear is induced by tension or compression along offset axes.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

	Load Cell Package:		Most force sensors actually measure the displacement of a structural element to determine force. The force is associated with a deflection as a result of calibration. There are many form factors or packages to choose from: S-beam, pancake, donut or washer, plate or platform, bolt, link, miniature, cantilever, canister, load pin, rod end, and tank weighing.
	Your choices are...
	S-beam		S-beam units are shaped like a squared-off 's'. Variable resistors (whose resistance is a function of strain induced by the load, for example strain gages or piezoresistive elements) are bonded to the regions of maximum strain and change resistance as a load is applied. These resistance changes are typically measured in a Wheatstone bridge circuit.
	Pancake		Pancake cells are similarly instrumented short, low-profile cylinders. They are quite popular and are capable of measuring very small through very large loads.
	Donut / Washer		Donut cells are like pancake cells but with a through bore or hole.
	Plate / Platform
	Bolt		Load sensor with one or two threaded ends for attachment to measured system; measures force along the long axis of the bolt.
	Link		Sensor for in-line measurement of tension or compression.
	Miniature		Miniature is a characteristic assigned by the supplier. If the supplier considers the load cell to be miniature, it will be carried in the database as such.
	Cantilever		Cantilever units are designed to have the load applied to a cantilever that is typically instrumented at the base.
	Canister		Canister cells are instrumented cylinders. They are of considerably higher aspect ratio than pancake cells.
	Load Pin		Load pins are typically instrumented shear elements that undergo a strain when a load is applied. A typical application is an instrumented wrist pin that attaches a hook to a cable on a crane.
	Rod End - Male		Rod End - male is an instrumented rod with male threads.
	Rod End - Female		Rod End - female is an instrumented rod with female threads.
	Tank Weighing		Tank weighing load cells are specially designed to support tanks.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

	*Shear Cell Type (if applicable):*
	Your choices are...
	Shear Beam		Measures shear but not a bending or single-point beam.
	Bending Beam		Sensor configured so that shear is deduced from the measurement of the bending moment of a beam.
	Single Point Bending Beam		Measures vertical component of applied force.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

Sensor Output


			The type of electrical signal that will be produced.
	Your choices are...
	Analog Voltage		Output voltage is a simple (usually linear) function of the measurement. Includes voltages ranges such as 0-10V, 5V, and voltage ratios dependent upon excitation, typically expressed as mV/V.
	Analog Current		Often called a transmitter. A current is imposed on the output circuit proportional to the measurement; typical ranges are 4-20 mA, 0-50 mA, etc. Feedback is used to provide the appropriate current regardless of line noise, impedance, etc. Current outputs are often useful when sending signals long distances.
	Analog Frequency		The output signal is encoded via amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), or some other modulation scheme; the signal is analog in nature.
	Switch / Alarm		Sensor triggers on a sensed force level to close or open a switch, or provide a signal to an alarm or interlock.
	Serial		A standard serial digital output protocol such as RS232, RS422, RS485, USB, etc.
	Parallel		A standard parallel digital output protocol such as IEEE 488, a Centronics or printer port, etc.
	Other		Any digital output other than the standard serial or parallel signals. Simple TTL logic signals are an example.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

Category of Device


	Category of Device		You can think of products as belonging to general categories based on what they are designed to do and what you have to do to use them. The 'category' criteria attempts to distinguish 'unpacked' sensors that might be used as part of a larger sensor from, say, a gauge which can be read just by looking at it.
	Your choices are...
	Sensor Element / Chip		Denotes a "raw" device such as a strain gage, or one with no integral signal conditioning or packaging.
	Sensor / Transducer		A more complex device with packaging and/or signal conditioning that is powered and provides an output such a dc voltage, a 4-20mA current loop, etc.
	Instrument / Meter		A self-contained unit that provides an output such as a display locally at or near the device. Typically also includes signal processing and/or conditioning.
	Gauge / Indicator		A device that has a (usually analog) display and no electronic output such as a tension gage.
	Recorder / Totalizer		Instrument that records, totalizes, or tracks force measurement over time. Includes simple datalogging capability or advanced features such as mathematical functions, graphing, etc.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

	Sensor Technology:
	Your choices are...
	Piezoelectric		For piezoelectric devices, a piezoelectric material is compressed and generates a charge that is conditioned by a charge amplifier.
	Strain Gauge		For strain gage devices, strain gages (strain-sensitive variable resistors) are bonded to parts of the structure that deform when making the measurement. These strain gages are typically used as elements in a Wheatstone bridge circuit, which is used to make the measurement. Strain gages typically require an excitation voltage, and provide output sensitivity proportional to that excitation.
	Search Logic:		All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches.

Features


	Biaxial Measurement?		Biaxial load cells can provide load measurements along two, typically orthogonal, axes.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

	Triaxial Measurement?		Triaxial load cells can provide load measurements along three, typically orthogonal, axes.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

	Temperature Compensation?		Temperature compensated load cells provide special circuitry to reduce/eliminate sensing errors due to temperature variations.
	Search Logic:		"Required" and "Must Not Have" criteria limit returned matches as specified. Products with optional attributes will be returned for either choice.

Environment


	Operating Temperature:		The temperature range over which the device must operate.
	Search Logic:		User may specify either, both, or neither of the limits in a "From - To" range; when both are specified, matching products will cover entire range. Products returned as matches will meet all specified criteria.

	Maximum Shock:		The maximum shock that the device is required to survive. Items that are 'typical' may not explicitly give their Maximum Shock value, so it is a good idea to use this only when working with extremes.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.

	Maximum Vibration:		The maximum vibration that the device is required to survive. Items that are 'typical' may not explicitly give their Maximum Vibration value, so it is a good idea to use this only when working with extremes.
	Search Logic:		All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value.

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