Posts

LowProfile Load Cells 101

/0 Comments/in , /by

In the field of force measurement, load cells are defined by a set of specifications attributed to a configured shape and size of the flexure model. These models are engineered to meet requirements in weight, size, cost, accuracy, use life, rated capacity, extraneous forces, test profile, error specs, temperature, altitude, pressure, and materials.

Of all the flexure models available, the low profile load cell is the most common force measurement sensor model used for general test and measurement applications.

Did you know that Interface is known for creating the first low profile load cells more than 50 years ago? Our founder first introduced the low profile in 1969 and later trademarked as the first of its kind precision LowProfile® Load Cell by Interface. With this invention, Interface became with market leader of precision load cells. In fact, our 1200 Standard Precision LowProfile® Load Cell, designed for eccentric load compensated tension and compression, remains our most popular product today.

This pancake-style shear beam cell design is world-renowned for durability, accuracy, and performance. The LowProfile design resembles two shear beam cells end-to-end, exhibiting the stability of a doubled-ended shear beam and augmented by the fact that the circular design is equivalent to four double-ended cells. Thus, it provides stability in eight directions at the center point.

The LowProfile designs include a base, bolted to the flexure around its outside rim. The base is a flat surface, guaranteed to provide optimum support for the flexure. The use of a base ensures the exceptional performance in the Interface LowProfile series, as each load cell is built, evaluated, and calibrated with the base.

Advantages of all Interface LowProfile design include:

  • Higher output
  • Better fatigue life
  • Better resistance to extraneous loads
  • Shorter load path
  • Extremely low compliance with higher stiffness
  • Option for compression overload protection integral to the cell
  • Proprietary strain gages
  • Customization

One process step that is standard in the LowProfile series is the adjustment to extraneous load sensitivity. Although the design itself cancels out the built of this sensitivity, Interface goes one step further and adjusts each cell to minimize it even more.

The Interface LowProfile Series is available in compression-only, tension and compression and calibration grade. There are high and low-capacity options, flange-style, amplified, as well as fatigue rated models. Various features are available through hundreds of configurations to accommodate the wide range of testing profiles, such as connectors, wireless, additional bridges, and overload protection.

The LowProfile Series has three major classifications: precision, ultra precision and fatigue rated. The basic construction of all the cells in the series is quite similar. The major differences are in the number of shear beams and the number of gages in the legs of the bridge.

LowProfile Precision Series: Standard capacities of the precision low profile designs can measure up to 2M lbf. The gaged sensors in every load cell are individually inspected and tested and certified to meet our rigid standards. With greater stiffness, respectable static error band specifications and resistance to extraneous loads, this is Interfaces number one line of products.  The standard 1200 is by far the most sought after low profile today.

1200 Precision LowProfile Load Cell Standard Series features:

  • Proprietary Interface temperature compensated strain gages
    Performance to .04%
    High output – to 4 mV/V
    0.0008%/°F (.0015%/°C) temperature effect on output
    Low deflection
    Shunt calibration
    Barometric compensation

This 1200 Standard Precision LowProfile® Load Cell standard model is available through our QuickShip48 expedited delivery service. Click here to order now. For additional low profile capacities of the Model 1200 series, base options, connectors, bridge options and overload protection availability, go here for the specifications datasheet, model options, drawings and technical specifications.

LowProfile Ultra Precision Series: Engineers at Interface designed this series to meet the demands of sophisticated testing labs with precision performance in the critical parameters such as static error band, non-linearity, hysteresis, non-repeatability, and extraneous load sensitivity. The models in the 1100 Ultra Precision LowProfile® Load Cell are the most popular of this design.

LowProfile Fatigue Rated Series: This series guarantees fatigue life of 100 million fully reversed load cycles.  This series has tighter specifications on resistance to extraneous loads and offers stiffer compliance. Interface’s fatigue rated load cells typically have static overload rating of 300% in both tension and compression modes. Originally designed for aerospace testing, the Interface 1000 Fatigue-Rated LowProfile® Load Cell are the most used fatigue-rated low profiles.

Interface also provides very high-grade low profiles for calibration. The LowProfile Gold Standard Calibration Series: Interface sets the standard in precision load cells. The model 1600 Gold Standard® Calibration LowProfile® Load Cell are uniquely designed for calibrating other load cells to the highest levels of quality and accuracy used in test and measurement. The Interface Model 1600 provides both tension and compression in one unit. It also has the options for a second and third bridge, as well as overload protection.

1600 Gold Standard® LowProfile® Tension and Compression Load Cell Standard Series features:
• 0.01% creep
• High Output to 4 mV/V
• High-Precision Installed Base
• ±0.0008%/˚F Max Temperature Effect on Output
• Low Deflection
• Shunt Calibration
• Barometric Compensation
• Calibration Adapter
• 3-Run NIST Traceable ASTM E74 Calibrations
• 4% Lower Load Limit per ASTM E74

Low profile load cells are used for all types of testing. There are many options and designs available as standard models. We also provide engineered to order, custom and OEM solutions for all our load cells. As with all our standard load cells, we do offer various capacities, modifications, and custom options.

One thing that is for certain, the Interface LowProfile is a standard across the force measurement industry. They are common in testing rigs, designed in as components, often found in the best metrology labs throughout the world.  Industry leaders in manufacturing, aerospace, automation, food processing, medical and biosciences, energy and transportation choose LowProfiles for the meticulousness required in high-performance force measurement testing.

Low-Profile-Load-Cell-Brochure

Get an Inside Look at Interface’s Famously Blue Load Cells

/0 Comments/in /by

Interface “blue” load cells have been utilized for millions of test and measurement projects and programs around the world.  Since the invention of Interface’s LowProfile® Load Cell, the world’s most popular pancake style load cell series has become a standard for testing engineers and lab technicians for more than five and half decades.  Today, Interface has more than 60 different types of Load Cells, including our line of Mini Load Cells.

Interface load cells come in capacities ranging from 1 lbf (500 gf) to 2 million lbf (9,000 kN). As a U.S.-based manufacturer, our extensive production and engineering facilities produce several shapes and sizes of our Interface load cells, as well as calibrate every model before it leaves our facilities.

Our expansive line of sensor models includes pancake and donut styled load cells in our LowProfile® Load Cell series and thru-hole load cells. Additionally, we offer canister, rod end, downhole, column, coil tubing, load buttons, and load washers. All of these models use Interface’s proprietary alloy strain gages to provide higher output, higher signal to noise ratio, higher resolution and superior fatigue life. This helps us build the most accurate and reliable sensors for test and measurement applications.

What makes Interface’s LowProfile Load Cells a top pick?

Here is a look inside our famous blue load cell, highlighting the top reasons Interface is selected for accuracy, quality and performance.

Interface’s load cell model that has the highest demand and usage is the 1200 Precision LowProfile series. They are used in all types of industry applications, from Material Tensile Testing to Aircraft Lifting Equipment Tests. It’s followed closely by the 1000 Fatigue-Rated LowProfile series and 1100 Ultra Precision Load Cell series.  Every series has multiple configuration and capacity options. For example, the 1200 series provides off-the-shelf model options including:

1200 Standard Precision LowProfile® Load Cell

1200 and 1201 Series 3-Wire Amplified Load Cell Universal or Compression-Only

WTS 1200 Standard Precision LowProfile® Wireless Load Cell

1200 High-Capacity Standard Precision LowProfile® Load Cell

1201 Compression-Only Standard Precision LowProfile® Load Cell

Every designed load cell can also be engineered-to-order or customized to unique specifications.

The accuracy of data, engineered designs, proprietary strain gages, comprehensive specifications, quality inspections, detailed certifications and multiple calibrations of every load cell to ensure performance make the top of the list as to why Interface is considered best in class.

Here is an opportunity to get another inside look at the Interface LowProfile Load Cell:

If you are interested in reviewing this insider’s view with SI measurements, go here.

Take a closer look at the advantages of Interface’s LowProfile Load Cell in this cutaway view.

LowProfile Cutaway

Interface 1200 Precision LowProfile Load Cell Series Product Highlight

/0 Comments/in /by

As a premier force measurement solutions manufacturer of more than 53 years, Interface has developed a giant catalog of more than 30,000 products that are standard, engineered-to-order and completely custom. We’ve seen nearly every challenge and complexity presented by our customer’s application requirements.

Load cells are what we know, inside and out. By design, testing, manufacturing, and calibrating, Interface is the trusted leader in quality load cells. This allows us to keep our finger on the pulse of the marketplace and develop products that meet the unique needs of a wide variety of industries.

From our earliest days, one product that has become truly an industry standard in load cells by popularity and by far the top pick for use in test labs and by product testing engineers is the 1200 Precision LowProfile® Load Cell.

When we originally released our first of its kind LowProfile Load Cell, Interface became an instant market leader in precision load cells.  In fact, our 1200 Standard Precision LowProfile Load Cell, designed for eccentric load compensated tension and compression force measurement, remains our most frequently purchased product every year. This pancake-style load cell is world-renowned for durability, accuracy, and performance.

The 1200 Model Series features and benefits include:

  • Proprietary Interface temperature compensated strain gages
  • Performance to .04%
  • High output – to 4 mV/V
  • 0008%/°F (.0015%/°C) temperature effect on output
  • Low deflection
  • Shunt calibration
  • Barometric compensation

In addition, it’s popularity amongst customers is due to the product’s versatility and customizability. There are multiple models available including the 1240, 1244, 1252, 1260, 1280, and 1290. In addition, the series is compatible with a host of base options, connectors, bridge options and overload protection. And like with all Interface products, our custom solutions team can work directly with you to meet your specific needs.

The 1200 series is used across a variety of industries for test and measurement applications. Included below are a few examples of the product in action expressed as application notes. Industries covered in these examples include aerospace, agriculture, and waste management.

AIRCRAFT LIFTING EQUIPMENT

An aerospace company wanted to check if the valves on their aircraft lifting equipment were working safely and properly. Interface’s recommended installing a 1200 Standard High Capacity Load Cell in between the aircraft testing rig and the lifting jack. The load cell can measure the load’s force safety valve when the lifting equipment opens. Results are then sent to the 9890 Strain Gage, Load Cell, & mV/V Indicator, where the customer can see it displayed in real-time. Using this solution, the customer was able to determine that the aircraft lifting equipment was working properly. Since they are ensured of its safe functionality, it can now be used on real aircrafts that need to be lifted. Read more here.

SILO GRAIN DISPENSING

A customer wants to measure and record the grain being put in and out of their grain dispensing container, as it dispenses content into a carrier truck for transportation. The customer also preferred a wireless solution. Interface suggested installing a WTS 1200 Standard Precision LowProfile™ Wireless Load Cells at the legs of the grain dispensing container. The 1200 can measure the distribution correlation of the grain as it inputted and outputted from the container. Results are transmitted and displayed using the WTS-BS-1-HA Handheld Display for multiple transmitters and logged and graphed using the WTS-BS-4 USB Industrial Base Station. Using this solution, the customer was able to log and graph the measurement results of the grain content that the silo dispenses into the grain dispensing container, and also when the grain is dispensed into the carrier truck.  Get more details here.

WASTE MANAGEMENT CONTAINER WEIGHING

A waste management company wanted to measure the capacity of their waste containers to know when it is time to dispose the waste. Interface provided Model WTS 1200 Standard Precision LowProfile™ Wireless Load Cells to be installed at the bottom of each waste container leg to measure the sum weight of the container. The real time weight data is then transmitted to the WTS-BS-4 USB Industrial Base Station with the supplied Log100 software. Using this solution, the customer was able to determine when their waste container was at full capacity to dispose of the waste, or to transfer it in a timely manner.

To learn more about load cell basics and watch our recorded webinar, go here.