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Introducing Interface Load Cell Selection Guides

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When it comes to breadth and depth of sensor solutions, Interface has more than 35,000 products and countless options for customization. This can make choosing a specific load cell, torque transducer or instrumentation device for your next test project seem like a daunting task.

Our goal is to make your selection process easier. In addition to our global network of partners and team of Interface applications engineers, our online Interface Guides are resources designed to help you find the right measurement solution based on your exact requirements.

Recently, we have released two new selection guides to assist you in choosing the best load cell products, the Interface Load Cell Selection Guide and Interface Mini™ Load Cell Selection Guide. The two new Interface load cell selection guides offer a simple drop down menu for filtering the characteristics and model options of our extensive line of load cells. In addition, we provide a checklist for specific features that are best suited for your application and the environment in which you are utilizing the devices for testing and monitoring.

If you are not sure of what you need, we also include a helpful guide below each selection guide to walk you through the distinct types of load cells and their capabilities. Each selection will provide references to existing standard products that meet your criteria with easy links to additional specifications.

INTERFACE LOAD CELL SELECTION GUIDE

The Load Cell Selection Guide begins with criteria that will help you to narrow your options, including load cell types, options, features, and capabilities. Once you have selected one or more of the types to explore, each option will provide you a quick view of the product, capacities, and a link to detailed specifications, drawings, and datasheets. Start by selecting the model that provides the best fit based on the following types:

  • 2-Axis
  • Amplified
  • Axial Torsion
  • Calibration Grade
  • Canister
  • Column Rod End
  • Compression Only
  • Eccentric Load Compensate
  • Fatigue-Rate
  • Flange Mount
  • Intrinsically Safe
  • Moment Compensated
  • Overload Protected
  • Sealed
  • Stainless Steel
  • Submersible
  • Tension and Compression
  • Wireless

With every guide, Interface provides several technical references that are helpful in learning the ins-and-outs our load cells. As part of the Load Cell Selection Guide, you can review the technical make-up of our load cells, details about our proprietary strain gages, calibration insights, plus critical high-accuracy and quality performance parameters that set our products apart from the competition. You can also learn about the effects of temperature, moment compensation, and options available to support a variety of applications.

INTERFACE MINI LOAD CELL SELECTION GUIDE

For the Mini™ Load Cell Selection Guide, we provide a list of our popular miniature load cells with a detailed explanation of each model group. These descriptions provide an overview of the various features and capabilities of our mini products to help you choose the best solution for your use case. The products included in the Mini Load Cell Selection Guide include:

  • Load Cell Load Buttons
  • Load Washers
  • Bending Beam Load Cells
  • Double Bending Beam Load Cells
  • Sheer Beam Load Cells
  • S-Beam Load Cells
  • Overload Protected S-Cells
  • Single Point Impact Load Cells

These guides provide you with a solid baseline of information for making the right selection for your next project or for designing a sensor into your machine, product, or component. If you need further help or require an engineered-to-order or custom product, reach out to our experts. We are here to help!

For an all-time great load cell 101 reference, listen in as our top engineers detail load cell basics in this Interface Classic Series recorded webinar.

Additional Resources

How Do Load Cells Work?

Interface Load Cell Field Guide

Torque Transducer Selection Guide

Contributing Factors To Load Cell Accuracy

LowProfile Load Cells 101

Webinar Recap of Taking Measure of Miniature Load Cells

Interface Presents Load Cell Basics

How to Choose the Right Load Cell

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Load cells are used to test and confirm the design of hardware, components, and fixtures used across industries and by consumers. From the structural integrity of an airplane to the sensitivity of a smartphone touchscreen, there’s a load cell available to measure force. In fact, here at Interface we have over tens of thousands of products used in force measurement, for all types of different applications.

How do engineers and product designers go about choosing the right load cell for a specific application or testing project?

Have no fear, Interface has put together a short guide on choosing the load cell that is right for you. This blog will cover the basic questions to answer when selecting a product, as well the most important factors affecting load cell choice.  Be sure to watch the online video, Load Cell Basics, that highlights key factors of consideration when choosing the right load cell for additional insights.

The basic questions you need to consider when selecting a load cell include:

  • What are the expected loads? What is the minimum and maximum load you’ll be measuring?
  • Is there any potential for higher peak loads than what you intend to measure? What are these expected peak forces?
  • Is it tension, compression, or both?
  • Will there be any off-axis loads? If so, what is their geometry? Do you want to measure them too?
  • Will it be a static, dynamic or fatigue measurement?
  • What is the environment in which you’ll be conducting your test? Will the load cell need to be sealed?
  • How accurate do your measurements need to be? Do they need to be at the highest accuracy of ±0.02-0.05% or within ±0.5-1%?
  • What additional features, accessories and instrumentation does your application require to complete a test?
  • Do you need standard electrical connectors or customized options? What about additional bridges or amplifiers?
  • How are you planning to collect and analyze the data output from the load cell?

Next, these are the most important factors affecting accuracy, which will have a heavy influence over the load cell you choose. It’s important to understand how your application and the load cell will be affected by each of the factors, which include:

  • Mechanical – Dimensions and Mounting
  • Electrical – Output and Excitation
  • Environmental – Temperature and Moisture

One of the most important factors in choosing the right load cell is understanding how it will be mounted for testing or as a component within a design. There are a wide variety of mounting types including threaded connections, inline, through hole or even adhesive. Understanding the mounting type that suits your application is critical to getting the correct data because a poorly mounted load cell will distort the results and can damage the load cell.

The mounting process also requires you to understand which direction the load is coming from, in addition to any extraneous loads that may be present. The load cell mating surface is also an important factor. For example, when using our LowProfile® load cells without a pre-installed base, the best practice is to ensure that the mating surface is clean and flat to within a 0.0002-inch total indicator reading and is of suitable material, thickness, and hardness (Rc 30 or higher). Also make sure that bolts are torqued to the recommended level.

If you’re conducting a fatigue measurement, it’s also important to address the frequency and magnitude of load cycles with your load cell provider. Factors to address include single mode versus reverse cycles, deflection versus output resolution, and material types. Interface offers a wide variety of fatigue-rated load cells that are perfect for these types of applications.

Another consideration in choosing the right load cell is the electrical signal. Load cells work by converting force into an electrical signal. Therefore, it’s important to understand the electrical output type necessary for your application, which could include millivolt, voltage, current or digital output. You can find the excitation voltage data on our website for each of our load cells. Additional considerations include noise immunity, cable length and proper grounding.

The environment is also a critical factor in ensuring accurate performance of your load cell. Interface provides load cells in a variety of material types including aluminum, steel, and stainless steel. Each material has a variety of properties that make them more suitable for different environments. For a more in-depth perspective on the different strengths and weaknesses of materials, please read our blog titled, Considerations for Steel, Stainless Steel and Aluminum Load Cells. For applications where load cells need to be submerged in liquid or enter an explosive environment, we also have a variety of harsh environment and IP rated load cells, in addition to load cells suitable for high humidity or splash resistance. Learn more about our intrinsically safe load cells here.

Learn more about choosing the right load cell in these online resources:

WATCH: Load Cell Basics with Keith Skidmore

WATCH: How to Choose a Load Cell with Design Engineer Carlos Salamanca

READ: Load Cell Field Guide

VISIT: Interface Technical Library

To learn more about choosing the right load cell for any application, connect with our applications engineers about the force measurement needs for your next project at 480-948-5555.