Interface load cells are used in subzero testing, ranging from heavy machinery to consumer products. Load cell design, rigorous calibration, and temperature compensation are critical for thermal cycling, enabling it to transition repeatedly from extreme cold to room temperature without losing sensitivity or structural integrity. From ski equipment to wearables to energy and aerospace equipment. Interface provides load cells to use in subzero environments.

Interface engineers provide tips and insights on load cell design, installation, calibration frequency, and common failure modes. A reliable quality load cell must be designed with appropriate materials, installed correctly, and regularly maintained to ensure accurate output. Understanding a load cell's fundamental performance characteristics is a strategic necessity. Maintaining the sensor and preventing overload are essential for achieving high-accuracy measurements.

Interface strain gage load cells are the most reliable and accurate sensor for measuring force, as it's specifically designed to capture the total mechanical load. In contrast, a pressure sensor is designed to measure force distributed over a known area. While it is possible to design a load cell to measure pressure like Interface's IPCD, load cells are commonly used because they are specifically engineered and calibrated to measure total force accurately. Attempting to measure force with a standard pressure sensor is problematic because its output depends on both the force and the area over which it's applied. If the force distribution changes, the sensor's reading will change even if the total force remains constant. This makes a pressure sensor an unreliable tool for measuring the total force applied by a solid object.