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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?
The gauge is attached to the
object by a suitable
adhesive.
As the object is deformed,
the foil is deformed, causing
its electrical resistance to
change.
The resistance change is
commonly measured using a
Wheatstone bridge.
Wheatstone Bridge
What Is It?
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
Accuracy Apps Strength Weakness
Type Range
Tanks,
Bending Low cost, Simples Strain gages
10-5k lbs 0.03% platform
Beam construction exposed
scales
tanks,
Shear platform Better sealing and
10-5k lbs 0.03%
Beam scales,off- protection
center loads
Truck, tank,
Handles load No horizontal
Canister to 500k lbs 0.05% track, hopper
movement load protection
scales
No load
Ring & Tanks, bins,
5-500k lbs All stainless steel movement
Pancake scales
allowed
0-50k lbs
Button & Loads must be
0-200lbs 1% Small scales Small inexpensive
Washer centered
typ.
Load Cell Comparison Cont.
Mechanical & Other Load Cells
Load Cell Weight
Accuracy Apps Strength Weakness
Type Range
Takes high
Up to
Tanks, bins, & impacts, Expensive
Hydraulic 10,000,000 0.25%
hoppers insensitive to complex
lbs
temp
Slow
food industry,
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
Immune to
Fiber Optic 0.1% transmission
RFI/EMI
cables
Extremely High cost,
Piezo- 0.03% sensitive, high nonlinear
Acknowledgement
Special Thanks To: