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Load Cells: Leann Armbrust Travis Wyatt
Load Cells: Leann Armbrust Travis Wyatt
=ρ
l
R A
Strain Gauge under
tension.Resistance goes up.
Strain Gauge under
compression.Resistance goes
down.
Strain Gauge
How Does It Work?
A Wheatstone Bridge is an
electrical circuit.
R1 R4
Used in a load cell to +
measure an overall - VEX V0
change in resistance.
R2 R3
Increases sensitivity and
reduces the affects of
temperature.
Wheatstone Bridge
How Does It Work?
R1 R4
+
- VEX V0
R2 R3
Load Cells
Compensation for Error
Hysteresis
Effects reduced by material selection.
Creep
Adhesive and geometry of gauge.
Temperature
Wheatstone bridge, additional temperature sensitive
resistors in series with the bridge.
Load Cells
Applications
Scales
Weighbridge
Force Gauges
Torque Gauges
Load Cells
Types
Button
Canister
S Type
Shear Beam
Load Cell Comparison
Strain Gauge Load Cells
Load Cell Weight Accurac
Apps Strength Weakness
Type Range y
Bending 10-5k lbs 0.03%
Tanks, platform Low cost, Simples Strain gages
Beam scales construction exposed
tanks, platform
Shear 10-5k lbs 0.03% scales,off-
Better sealing and
Beam protection
center loads
Truck, tank,
Handles load No horizontal
Canister to 500k lbs 0.05% track, hopper
movement load protection
scales
No load
Ring & 5-500k lbs
Tanks, bins,
All stainless steel movement
Pancake scales
allowed
0-50k lbs
Button & 0-200lbs 1% Small scales Small inexpensive
Loads must be
Washer centered
typ.
Load Cell Comparison Cont.
Mechanical & Other Load Cells
Load Cell Weight Accurac
Apps Strength Weakness
Type Range y
Up to Takes high
Tanks, bins, & Expensive
Hydraulic 10,000,000 0.25% impacts,
hoppers complex
lbs insensitive to temp
food industry, Slow response.
Pneumatic Wide High hazardous Intrinsically safe Require clean,
areas dry air
Platform,
Handles off-axis
Helical 0-40k lbs 0.2% forklift, wheel
loads, overloads
load
Electrical
Fiber Optic 0.1% transmission Immune to RFI/EMI
cables
Extremely High cost,
Piezo- 0.03% sensitive, high nonlinear
resistive signal output level output
Acknowledgement
Special Thanks To: