Force Sensors | Load Cells

Measuring dynamic forces and heavy loads

Vibrance Solutions offers two varieties of load cells for customers in Northern California and Nevada. The first variety is a classic strain gage-type load cell from Daytronic. For faster, dynamic force measurements that demand high sensitivity, the company offers piezoelectric load cells from Kistler. The terms force sensor, force transducer and load cell are often used interchangeably.

Kistler Force Transducers

Almost every Kistler force transducer relies on the piezoelectric principle exhibited by quartz. Under load, quartz crystals produce an electric charge proportional to the mechanical load applied: the higher the load, the higher the charge. Thanks to the high rigidity of the quartz crystal, the measuring deflections are very small, usually just a few microns. Where slow, quasi-static processes are being measured, this virtual absence of displacement keeps measurement error to an absolute minimum. Typical Kistler force transducer applications:

• Quality assurance in manufacturing and assembly
• Monitoring of presses
• Measurement of cutting forces involved in machining
• Biomechanics Product testing
• Materials testing Dynamic weighing of moving vehicles
• Wheel force measurement

Daytronic Load Cells

Daytronic provides three basic types of general-purpose DC-excited strain gage load cells, with the largest having a capacity of 50,000 lbs. Their strain-gage load cells convert the load acting on them into electrical signals. When weight is applied, the strain changes the electrical resistance of the gauges in proportion to the load. Multiple strain gages are used to obtain maximum sensitivity and temperature compensation. Some of the gauges are usually in tension, and some are in compression, and are wired with compensation adjustments. Thus, the load cells can measure both compressive and tensile forces. Their sensors properly compensate for thermal expansion and other temperature effects.