Products for USB Sensing and Control
A load cell is a force sensing module - a carefully designed metal structure, with small elements called strain gauges mounted in precise locations on the structure. Load cells are designed to measure a specific force and ignore other forces being applied, this load cell is designed to measure compression. The electrical signal output by the load cell is very small and requires specialized amplification. Fortunately, Phidget Bridge Interfaces will perform all the amplification and measurement of the electrical output, see the Connection & Compatibility tab for details.
This Button Load Cell is used in applications that require a thin form factor. The bottom of the load cell is bolted, and force applied to the button on the top. By loading only the button, which is slightly rounded, the load cell is less sensitive to errors resulting from the load not pushing down exactly straight on the load cell.
Load cells require a power source and produce a very small voltage differential when under strain. In order to read this signal, an amplifier or a board with a high-precision analog-to-digital converter is required. For more details and a list of Phidgets that will connect to this load cell, see the Connection & Compatibility tab.
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Make sure to calibrate your load cell before using it. You can find information on how to calibrate the cell in the Load Cell Primer. You should also have a look at the User Guide for the bridge interface board that you're using to read the load cells. |
Load cells and strain gauges produce a very tiny voltage differential and must be read by a high-resolution analog-to-digital converter. You can connect this load cell to a bridge interface as described in this table:
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 |
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| Sensor Properties | |
|---|---|
| Sensor Type | Compression Load Cell |
| Controlled By | Bridge Input |
| Weight Capacity Max | 200 kg |
| Maximum Overload | 240 kg |
| Creep | * 40 g/hr |
| Zero Balance | * ± 2 kg |
| Cell Repeatability Error Max | * ± 200 g |
| Cell Non-Linearity Max | * 400 g |
| Temperature Effect on Span | * 10 g/°C |
| Temperature Effect on Zero | * 10 g/°C |
| Electrical Properties | |
| Rated Output | * 1 mV/V |
| Rated Output Error Max | 40 μV/V |
| Output Impedance | 350 Ω |
| Supply Voltage Min | 5 V DC |
| Supply Voltage Max | 12 V DC |
| Physical Properties | |
| Compensated Temperature Min | -10 °C |
| Compensated Temperature Max | 40 °C |
| Operating Temperature Min | -20 °C |
| Operating Temperature Max | 55 °C |
| Cable Length | 3 m |
| Cable Gauge | 30 AWG |
| Material | Aluminium Alloy & Alloy Steel |
| Screw Thread Size | M3x0.5 |
The Data Sheet below has a comprehensive glossary that describes in practical terms the meaning and usefulness of the specifications.
| Product | Sensor Properties | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Part Number | Price | Sensor Type | Weight Capacity Max | Creep | Zero Balance | Cell Repeatability Error Max | Cell Non-Linearity Max | Cell Hysteresis Max |
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3132_0 | $6.00 | Shear Load Cell | 780 g | 1.6 g/hr | ± 11.7 g | ± 390 mg | 390 mg | 390 mg |
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3133_0 | $7.00 | Shear Load Cell | 5 kg | 5 g/hr | ± 75 g | ± 2.5 g | 2.5 g | 2.5 g |
 |
3134_0 | $7.00 | Shear Load Cell | 20 kg | 20 g/hr | ± 300 g | ± 10 g | 10 g | 10 g |
 |
3135_0 | $7.00 | Shear Load Cell | 50 kg | 50 g/hr | ± 750 g | ± 25 g | 25 g | 25 g |
 |
3136_0 | $45.00 | Compression Load Cell | 50 kg | 20 g/hr | ± 500 g | ± 100 g | 100 g | — |
 |
3137_0 | $45.00 | Compression Load Cell | 200 kg | * 40 g/hr | * ± 2 kg | * ± 200 g | * 400 g | — |
 |
3138_0 | $45.00 | Compression/Tension Load Cell | 100 kg | — | — | — | — | — |
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3139_0 | $7.00 | Shear Load Cell | 100 g | — | — | ± 50 mg | 50 mg | 50 mg |
 |
3140_0 | $50.00 | Compression/Tension Load Cell | 500 kg | — | — | — | — | — |
 |
3141_0 | $50.00 | Compression Load Cell | 1 Mg | — | — | — | — | — |
