CHOOSING THE RIGHT LOAD CELL

1
Types of Load Cells
Bending Shear Miniature Diaphragm Column
Beam Beam

Single point Shear

weighbeam pancake Diaphragm Diaphragm Single
pancake Column

Bending Bending
Clevis Pin
Beam Beam
Multiple
Column

Donut
Column Donut
Cannister

S Type

2
Application Segments
Some Customers

OEM Industrial weighing

Retail weighing

Oil & Gas

Specialist Force
Process Weighing
Measurements
Main Focus Main Focus

Scientific weighing

Test &
Research/Calibration
Measurement
Force measurement
3
Application Segments

FORCE
MEASUREMENT

INDUST RIAL
W EIGHING

OF F ICE
W EIGHING

RET AIL
W EIGHING

4
Principle of the Load Cell

Tension

Compression

5
Principle of the Load Cell

10V

6
Principle of the Load Cell

LOAD

10V

7
How a Load Cell is Constructed

8
How a Load Cell is Constructed

9
How a Load Cell is Constructed

10
How a Load Cell is Constructed

11
How a Load Cell is Constructed

12
How a Load Cell is Constructed

13
How a Load Cell is Constructed

14
How a Load Cell is Constructed

15
How a Load Cell is Constructed

16
How a Load Cell is Constructed

17
How a Load Cell is Constructed

18
How a Load Cell is Constructed

19
How a Load Cell is Constructed

20
How a Load Cell is Constructed

21
How a Load Cell is Constructed

22
How a Load Cell is Constructed

23
How a Load Cell is Constructed

24
How a Load Cell is Constructed

Compression Tension

25
Elements of a Load Cell

26
Elements of a Load Cell

27
Elements of a Load Cell

28
Unique Load Cell Characteristic

Load Cells form part of the structure that they are measuring

29
Load Cell Specifications

Connection
Connection to measurement
to structure system
Electrical Connection
Mounting considerations Signal O/P
Size Excitation
Weight Sensitivity
Additional O/Ps

Sensor Properties
Internal External
Measurement Type Environmental
Range Extraneous Loads
Accuracy Temperature Range
Overload protection

30
Specifying a Load Cell

• So many combinations of specs are mutually

exclusive: Specifying a load cell is trading one
performance criteria against another.
– Example Pick 3 and you compromise the fourth

• High load capacity

• Small size
• High accuracy
• Immunity to extraneous loads

31
Mounting

32
Mounting

33
Mounting

34
Mounting

35
Mounting

36
Mounting

37
Mounting

38
Mounting

39
Mounting

40
Mounting

41
Mounting

42
Mounting

43
Mounting

44
Mounting

45
Mounting

46
Mounting

47
Mounting

48
Mounting

49
Mounting

50
Load Range

Mechanical
failure

Load Range Overload Progressive

Range Damage

Usually same
as load range

51
Load Range
5 50 250 15000 50000 500000
Specials
Model TG
Model TH
Model MPB
Model WG
Model LFH-71
Model 73
Model 43
Load Range

Model 53
Model D
Model 13
Model RM, RH, RF
Model 82
Model 81
Model RGM, RGH, RGF
Model 45
Model 46
Model 75
Model UG
Model 41
Model 11
Model 34
Model 31

0 10 100 1,000 10,000 100,000 1,000,000 Lbs

Load Range
Tension Compression Tension & Compression Bending
Fatigue rated version Fatigue rated version
52
Accuracy

Model UG Model WG Model GR Model SP Model 82

Model 47 Model 49

Model 81

Model 41 Model 75 Model MBL Model 73 Model 43

Model
Model 31 Model 34 Model TG RM,RH,RF

Model Model D Model 13

RGM,RGH,RGF Model TH Model MPB Model 53

Model 11

Model
LFH-71 COMPRESSION TENSION

53
Physical Size
TENSION/COMPRESSION 100,000 lbs 10,000 lbs 1,000 lbs 100 lbs 10lbs

Model UG Model UG Model UG

Model UG
Model
RGM,RGH,RGF
0.02%
0.02%
0.02%
0.02% 0.02%
0.02%

0.02%
0.02% 0.03%

0.03%
0.03%

0.03%

Model 47
0.03%

0.03%
0.03%
Model Model 47
0.03%
Model 47 RGM,RGH,RGF
0.02%
0.02%

Model 47 0.02%
0.02%
0.03%

0.03%

0.03%

0.02%
0.02%
0.03%
Model 49
0.02%
0.02%

0.03%
Model 49
0.03% 0.03%
Model 34 Model 34
Model 31 Model 34
0.03%
Model 49
Model 49
Model 31
100,000 lbs 10,000 lbs 1,000 lbs 100 lbs 10lbs

Model 31

TENSION/COMPRESSION
Model UG Model UG Model UG
Model UG
Model
0.02%
0.02% 0.02% RGM,RGH,RGF
0.02%

0.02%
0.02%
0.02%
0.02%

0.03%
0.03%

0.03%
0.03%

Model 47
0.03%

0.03%
Model
Model 47
0.03%

0.03%
Model 47 RGM,RGH,RGF

Model 47
0.02%
0.02%

0.02%
0.02%
0.03%

0.02%
0.02%
0.03%
0.03%

0.02%
0.02%
0.03%
Model 49

0.03%
0.03%
Model 49
0.03%

Model 34
Model 34 Model 34
0.03%
Model 49 Model 31

Model 49
Model 31

Model 31
Model 31

Model 41 Model 41 Model 11

Model 11
Model 11
Model 75 Model 41

Model 41
Model 75
Model 75 Model 75 Model 41

COMPRESSION
Model
Model MPB Model D LFH-71

Model 53 Model D
Model 53 Model D Model D
Mod el M PB
Model 53
Model TH
Model WG
Model TG
Model MPB Model
Model TH
Model 53 Model 13
Model
LFH-71 Model 13 LFH-71 Model 13
Model WG 10,000 lbs

Model 73
Model 73
Model 73
Model 13

Model 43
Model 73 Model 73
Model 43 Model 73
Model 43
Model 43 Model 43

TENSION
Model Model
Model 82 RM,RH,RF Model 82 RM,RH,RF
Model 82 Model 81

Model 31
Model 41 Model 41 Model 11
Model 11
Model 11
Model 75 Model 41

Model 41
Model 75 Model 75
Model 75 Model 41

Model
Model D
COMPRESSION

Model MPB LFH-71

Model 53 Model D Model D

Model 53 Model D Model 53
Mod el M PB

Model TH
Model WG Model Model
Model MPB Model 13
Model TG Model 53 LFH-71 Model 13 LFH-71 Model 13
Model TH
Model WG 10,000 lbs

Model 73
Model 73
Model 13

Model 73 Model 73 Model 73

Model 43 Model 43
Model 43 Model 73 Model 43 Model 43
TENSION

Model Model Model 82 Model 81

RM,RH,RF Model 82 RM,RH,RF
Model 82

54
Fatigue Rating

High stress
points reduced
by strain gage
placement to Stress Levels
highest stress Reduced below
area. Structure non-fatigue
cross sections Rated load cells
increased -Lower sensitivity

Fatigue rated to 1000 million cycles compared to 1 million cycles

55
Extraneous Loading

OFF AXIS LOADING

TORQUE

SIDE LOADING

56
Extraneous Loading

Pancake Style load cells

have excellent off axis
immunity
Typically 20% side load
gives less than x% error

Pancake design

57
Extraneous Loading

Poor off axis

performance due to
dimensional geometry
Distance from centerline to gauges

Distance from centerline to gauges

Miniature design

58
Extraneous Loading

The larger the width to

height ratio the higher
the immunity to side
load

Poor Better Good Best

Column design

59
Extraneous Loading

Multiple column
cells can reduce
effects of off axis
loading

Column design

60
Extraneous Loading

Multiple column
cells can reduce
effects of off axis
loading

Column design

61
Extraneous Loading

S Beam designs are

poor in side loading
immunity and therefore
poor in compression

S Beam design

62
Extraneous Loading

The use of load

cells in tension
and with rod end
bearings
eliminates side
loading

S Beam design

63
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake

64
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature

65
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature Cannister

66
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature Cannister Donut

Style

67
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature Cannister Donut Rod End

Style Style

68
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature Cannister Donut Rod End

Z Beam
Style Style

69
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature Cannister Donut Rod End Dynamic

Z Beam
Style Style Load

70
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature Cannister Donut Rod End Dynamic Special

Z Beam Applications
Style Style Load

71
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature Cannister Donut Rod End Dynamic Special

Z Beam Applications
Style Style Load

Fatigue Non-Fatigue
Rated Rated

Tension Tension
Model 75 Model 41
Compression Compression

Compression
10,000 lbs

Compression
Model 73 Model 43
only Model 73
only Model 73

0.02%
0.02%

Ultra High
0.02%
0.02%

Ultra High Model 46

0.03%

Model 45
0.03%
0.03%

Precision
0.03%

Precision
0.02%
0.02%
0.02%
0.02%

0.03%

0.03%

0.03%
0.03%

Model 49
Model 47

72
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature Cannister Donut Rod End Dynamic Special

Z Beam Applications
Style Style Load

Sub Miniature
miniature

Tension Tension/Compression Model 31

Compression Male thread
Model 11

Compression Tension/Compression
only Female Thread Model 34
Model 13

Low Cost
High Capacity Compression Only
Compression Model 53

Model LFH-71

73
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature Cannister Donut Rod End Dynamic Special

Z Beam Applications
Style Style Load

Tension & Compression

Compression Only

100 to 200,000 lbs 10,000 to 500,000 lbs

0.03% 0.03% Model WG

50,000 to 500,000 lbs

Model UG 0.1%
Model TG Model TG

15,000 to 3,000,000 lbs

0.25%
Model MPB

74
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature Cannister Donut Rod End Dynamic Special

Z Beam Applications
Style Style Load

Compression
only

150 grms to 15,000 to

30,000 lbs 200,000 lbs

Model D

Model TH

75
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature Cannister Donut Rod End Dynamic Special

Z Beam Applications
Style Style Load

Tension
Tension
Compression
Model RGM
Model RM
Male-Male Male-Male
Thread Thread

Male-Female Male-Female
Thread Thread
Model RGH Model RH

Female-Female Female-Female
Thread Thread

Model RGF Model RF

76
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature Cannister Donut Rod End Dynamic Special

Z Beam Applications
Style Style Load

Tension
Only

100-20,000 lbs 5-250 Lbs

Model 82 Model 81

77
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature Cannister Donut Rod End Dynamic Special

Z Beam Applications
Style Style Load

1000 lbs 10,000 lbs

Model DLN Model DLS

78
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature Cannister Donut Rod End Dynamic Special

Z Beam Applications
Style Style Load

Clevis Pins

Single Point
Compression

Build from
scratch
special

79
Product Range

Load Cells

Pancake Miniature Cannister Donut Rod End Dynamic Special

Z Beam Applications
Style Style Load

Clevis Pins

Single Point
Compression

Build from
scratch
Specials special
Standard
Product

80
Market Segments: Weighing

FORCE
MEASUREMENT

INDUSTRIAL
WEIGHING

OFFICE
WEIGHING

RETAIL
WEIGHING

81
Market Segments: Weighing vs Force Measurement
Force
– Fast Response
– Long fatigue life
– Large temp range
– Majority: Industrial
– Minority:Hostile
– Low compliance
– Low to medium volume
– Medium to high
accuracy
– NIST traceable
82
Weighing
– DC response
– Low cycle life
– Limited temperature range
– Majority: room environments
– Minority: salt and water
– Large deflections
– High volume
– High accuracy
– Low cost
– ‘Legal for trade’
Environmental

Difficult to seal

83
Environmental

Single sided
diaphragm
Barometric
pressure

Hermetically sealed

50 lb canister example
84
Environmental

Diaphragm each
Barometric side equalizes
pressure pressure effects

Barometric
pressure

85
Environmental

Aluminum only good to 120 F

Stainless good to 500 F

High temp
strain gages
High temp
connector

High temp
solder

86
Electrical

350 ohm
bridge with
mV/V output

Amplified output
0-5V
0-10V
4-20mA

Note: Miniature and high temperature load

cells do not have amplified outputs
87
Noise Immunity

Supply +
Ground
2 mV/V Signal +ve

Signal to noise ratio = 20

(Digitizer error as much as 10%)

Signal = 20 mV maximum Noise = 1 mV

88
Noise Immunity

Internal amplifier
fitted

15-32 V DC Supply
Supply +

Ground

Signal +ve

0-10V output

89
Noise Immunity

Supply +
Ground
0-10V Signal +ve

Signal to noise ratio = 10,000

(Digitizer error only 0.01%)

Signal = 10 V maximum Noise = 1 mV

90