Load cell

Summary

A load cell converts a force such as tension, compression, pressure, or torque into an electrical signal that can be measured and standardized. It is a force transducer. As the force applied to the load cell increases, the electrical signal changes proportionally. The most common types of load cell are pneumatic, hydraulic, and strain gauges. Strain gauge load cell Strain gauge load cells are the kind most often found in industrial settings. It is ideal as it is highly accurate, versatile, and cost-effective. Structurally, a load cell has a metal body to which strain gauges have been secured. The body is usually made of aluminum, alloy steel, or stainless steel which makes it very sturdy but also minimally elastic. This elasticity gives rise to the term "spring element", referring to the body of the load cell. When force is exerted on the load cell, the spring element is slightly deformed, and unless overloaded, always returns to its original shape. As the spring element d

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Effect of different loading conditions on the accumulation of residual strain in a creep resistant 1%CrMoV steel

Michael Andreas Weisser

EPFL2013

This paper presents a convenient and cost-effective experimental tool for measuring the mobility characteristics of a mechanical structure. The objective is to demonstrate that the point mobility measurement can be performed using only an electrodynamic inertial exciter. Unlike previous studies based on a voice coil actuator, no load cell or accelerometer is needed. Instead, it is theoretically shown that the mobility characteristics of the structure can be accurately estimated from variations in the electrical input impedance of the actuator fixed onto it, provided that the electromechanical parameters of the actuator are known. A thorough discussion is provided to describe and justify the derivation of the mobility characteristics of the structure from the actuator impedances. The proof of concept is made experimentally using a commercially available inertial exciter on a simply supported plate, leading to a good dynamic range from 100 Hz to 1 kHz. Measured data are compared to a standard shaker testing and the strengths and weaknesses of the sensorless mobility measuring device are discussed. It is believed that this sensorless mobility measuring device can be a reliable and convenient experimental tool to determine the dynamic characteristics of a wide range of mechanical structures.

Elsevier2016

Optimisation of industrial production of low-force sensors – adhesive bonding of force-centring ball

Maxime Blot, Caroline Jacq, Thomas Maeder, Peter Ryser

This work addresses the issue of attaching the force-centring part (a round ball) to the load cell of a force sensor, a piezoresistive thick-film Wheatstone bridge deposited onto a ceramic cantilever. As the current soldering process requires expensive metallisation steps for both the ball and the cantilever, and subjects the solder pads used for mounting the cantilever to an additional reflow cycle, an alternative adhesive bonding process was developed, allowing both simpler production and the use of other ball materials such as ceramic and glass. The self-centring action of solder capillary forces was ensured by structuring the adhesive so as to form a mechanical cuvette allowing centring of the ball by gravity. The selected adhesive materials exhibited good printability and bonding, as well as surviving the subsequent soldering and cleaning process steps.

IOP2015