Decoding Fatigue Rated Load Cells: Meaning And Uses

Load cells are valuable industrial tools for measuring and analysing force. Load cells have multiple varieties and applications. As a result, their variants require different features and configurations. If you buy your instrument from the top load cell manufacturers, you may come across the term "fatigue rated" in some product manuals. What does "fatigue rated" mean in the world of load cells? Why is it relevant for certain applications? Let's find out!

Fatigue Rated Load Cells: What Are They?

If you buy a compression load cell, you may find that its product manual mentions a high fatigue rating. A load cell that is fatigue rated can withstand fatigue test machines. These machines have a high cyclical loading pattern. A high fatigue rated design ensures the durability of components across your rigorous industrial uses. The top-quality load cells can resist the damaging forces of side-loading or external bending. You may require these load cells for three types of testing. These are:

●       Life cycle testing for components

●       Material testing

●       Structural testing

Typically, a fatigue rating indicates that the load cell is protected against failure across one hundred million completely reversed cycles.

Salient Features of Fatigue Rated Load Cells

A fatigue rated load cell has the following characteristics.

●       High versatility and adaptability across industrial applications

●       Capable of withstanding minor installation errors

●       Capable of managing external loads emerging as a result of misalignment

●       High overload capacity

●       Compensated for temperature and pressure-related issues

●       Has a “Static Error Band” that lies between 0.04% and 0.06%

These characteristics help a fatigue rated load cell handle cyclical loading without damages or instances of component breakdown.

Applications of Fatigue Rated Load Cell: Some Notable Examples

You can use fatigue rated load cells for different types of applications. The versatility of these load cells extends to the following uses:

●       Static material testing

●       Simulators for vehicle road loads

●       Testing of component life cycles

●       Testing of bumper impact

●       Crash barriers

●       Testing of seat structures

These are only some common examples of using fatigue rated load cells. You can use fatigue rated load cells for more applications based on your unique industrial needs.

How to Find a Fatigue Rated Load Cell?

You can follow some simple tips to find the best fatigue rated load cell for your needs. These are:

#1 Assess the Product Manuals for your Chosen Load Cell Type

You can check whether a load cell is fatigue-rated by analysing the product manual. For example, if you need a compression load cell, you can check out the detailed manual and assess its features. If the manual mentions a high fatigue rating, you can purchase it for your needs.

#2 Contact the Load Cell Manufacturer for Help

If you cannot find a fatigue rated load cell of the type you need, you can directly contact the manufacturer. The manufacturers can help you find or create a custom fatigue rated load cell so you can meet your industrial needs.

Whether you need a fatigue rated load cell or a simple s-type load cell, you can contact the Sensomatic team! They make high-quality products like beam load cells, weighbridge load cells, crane load cells, and more.