All About Load Cells

A load cell can be described as a type of transducer. It helps transform any kind of stress, compression, pressure or force into an electrical wave that can be constant and even measured. As the power used to the cell surges, the electrical motion changes relatively. The load cell application varies from manufacturing, healthcare, commercial, biomedical, and engineering fields.

Types of load cells

The most common types of load cells are:

Hydraulic: This load cell uses a regular piston and cylinder arrangement with the piston sited in a thin flexible diaphragm. The piston, however, does not extend to the load cell. Machine-driven stops are located to avert over tension of the diaphragm when the load exceeds limit.

Pneumatic: This type of load cell is planned to mechanically control the corresponding pressure. Air pressure is applied to one end of the diaphragm and it moves out through the nozzle positioned at the bottom of the load cell. A pressure gauge is attached with the load cell to measure the gravity inside the cell. The deflection of the diaphragm affects the airflow through the nozzle, apart from affecting the pressure inside the chamber.

Strain Gauge: These load cells are very accurate, versatile and cost-effective. They are ideal for industrial setting. Structurally, a load cell has a metal body to which metal gauges have been secured. The body is typically made of aluminium, Alloy steel or stainless steel, which not only makes it durable but minimally elastic.

Some of the other types of load cells include:

Vibrating load cell: They are beneficial in geo-mechanical implementations. This is primarily due to small volume of drift.

Capacitive load cells: In this form of load cell, the capacitance of a capacitor differs as the load presses the 2 plates of a capacitor nearer together.

Piezoelectric load cell: They work on the same principle of deformation just like strain gauge load cell. The only thing is, it generates a voltage output, proportion to the deformation of the load cell.

Compression load cell and S-type load cells are some of the other common types of load cells used for various purposes, these are strain gaged based Load Cells.

How to choose the best load cell manufacturers?

Ensure that the load cell manufacturer you choose, does the following:

Calibrates the load cell: Periodic setting is essential for regulatory compliance and the upkeep and reliability of the load cells. Ensure that the manufacturer have the latest equipment and expert technician to assure that the load cells are reliable and accurate. This would avoid breakdowns in the future.

Gauges load cells: Ensure that the manufacturer customizes the load cell according to your requirement. In many cases, structural elements must be fixed with replacement gauges to fit product specifications.

Serviceability of load cells: There might be an occasion or two when the load cell may malfunction. Speak to the manufacturer if he provides repairing facilities. Ensure that the manufacturer has all the right equipment and skill to repair load cells.

24 hours assistance and support: The manufacturer should always help you if you are in trouble. The relationship between a buyer and seller should not be restricted to just buying and selling. The manufacturer should be in a position to help you wherever, whenever. To sum up, the customer care service should be adept and well-informed.