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Year in Review of Top Interface Solutions and Applications

As 2023 fades into the rearview mirror, the dust settles on a year where engineers, technicians, and designers across diverse industries conquered the complexities of measurement. Interface was at the forefront of innovative use cases and applications, providing quality devices worldwide to gather precision measurements.

With the growing demand for sensor technologies, we added new markets this year to capture some interesting customer applications, including in our two most recent solution additions: Manufacturing and Natural Resources.

Intrigued by the cross-industry use cases of how our products are used, we added 25 new industry submarkets in 2023. These new markets highlight the vast engineering prowess of those using Interface load cells, torque transducers, instrumentation, and accessories to solve intricate challenges and deliver accurate results. We have highlighted these new submarkets below.

In our vast landscape of products, which industries and applications saw the most action? Join us as we dissect the data and unveil the top trends that define force measurement trends and use cases in 2023.

2023 Top 5 Industry Solutions

To no surprise, test and measurement took the number one spot as the highest-ranked industry solution on Interface’s site in 2023. Aerospace came in a very close second, with automotive following in third position based on user views and interest this past year. The final two most popular industry solutions were industrial automation and newcomer to the top five, agriculture.

2023 TOP 10 Most Viewed Solution Application Notes

The following highlights each industry and the five top-ranking application use cases that highlight how Interface products are used to solve real customer challenges in the respective industries using our measurement solutions.

These rankings are based on the popularity. We’ve measured views from all users, including engineers, lab technicians, buyers, product designers, testing and calibration experts, measurement professionals, educators, and specific industry experts.

2023 Ranking of Industry Solutions with Most Popular Application Use Cases

TIP: When applicable, find links to new submarkets in the different industries below the applications.

#1 TEST AND MEASUREMENT INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS

2023 New Test and Measurement Submarket Solutions

#2 AEROSPACE INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS

2023 New Aerospace and Defense Submarket Solutions

#3 AUTOMOTIVE AND VEHICLE INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS

2023 New Automotive and Vehicle Submarket Solutions

#4 INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS

2023 New Industrial Automation Submarket Solutions

#5 AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS

#6 WEIGHING INDUSTRY SOLUTIONS

#7 MEDICAL AND HEALTHCARE SOLUTIONS

2023 New Medical and Healthcare Submarket Solutions

#8 INFRASTRUCTURE

2023 New Infrastructure Submarket Solutions

#9 ENERGY

2023 New Energy Submarket Solutions

#10 INTERNET OF THINGS (IoT)

#11 MARITIME

2023 New Maritime Submarket Solutions

#12 OEM SOLUTIONS

#13 ENTERTAINMENT

#14 CONSUMER PRODUCTS

2023 New Consumer Products Submarket Solutions

#15 LIFTING 

#16 NATURAL RESOURCES

2023 New Natural Resources Submarket Solutions

#17 MANUFACTURING

2023 New Manufacturing Submarket Solutions

Of course, we know that visually showcasing applications is also appealing, so we offer a series of animated application notes that you can view here.

What is the top animated application note of all time?

The #1 Animated Application Note of 2023

If you want additional application support or inspiration on how our products are used in different industries, save a copy of the Interface Applications Catalog.

Applications-Catalog-1

Please contact our application engineers for questions or to help source the right force measurement solution for your specific requirements.

Small in Dimension and Precise in Measurement

The world of force measurement is vast. Interface products are used across industries and in a wide range of applications. From the measurement of minute forces in catheter stint testing to jumbo load cells for massive structural testing of rockets, Interface load cells provide highly accurate measurement no matter the size of the load cell.

One of the many benefits of Interface products is the extensive range of measurement capacities and dimensions we offer, including our Mini Load Cells used for small and precise measurements. Interface Mini™ load cells are ideal for light touch, weight, or limited space test and measurement applications. The Mini Load Cells provide remarkably accurate measurements like our LowProfile load cells. With capacities available as low as 0.11 lbf / 0.5 N and as high as 100 kN, there are various miniature load cells for testing and options for custom OEM solutions.

TIP: Explore your options with our Mini Load Cell Selection Guide

Typical applications for measuring tiny, accurate forces are within the medical, manufacturing, robotics, and consumer product industries.

Medical device manufacturers are working to provide handheld point-of-care devices for patients. Additionally, medical devices used within the human body must provide extremely delicate forces to achieve their intended purpose without harming the patient.

Take something that seems relatively simple, like a vascular clamp. These types of delicate instruments are used on heart valves. If they provide too little force, they cannot do their job. However, providing too much force could severely harm the patient. Medical device manufacturers of these surgical tools use miniature load cells to measure the clamping force to ensure precise accuracy to toe the line between too much and too little force, which is a very precise number.

In the pharmaceutical industry, very small load cells are crucial for accurately measuring the force applied to the pills (tablets) during the press marking phase and other manufacturing processes to ensure consistent dosage and tablet integrity.

With consumer products, precision force measurement is critical to various manufacturing processes and real-time monitoring. A load button load cell is the right size for testing the durability of a smart device by applying a force to the screen and measuring the amount of force the screen can withstand before cracking or breaking. Read: Touchscreen Force Testing App Note

A miniature load cell can measure the force required to open a food package. This information can be used to ensure that the packaging is easy for consumers to open and secure enough to protect the food from damage. In food processing, load cells measure the force applied to food during mixing, blending, and other processes to ensure consistent product quality and prevent damage to the food itself. For instance, load cells can monitor the force applied to a dough mixer to ensure the dough is correctly mixed without becoming overworked or tough.

MINIATURE LOAD CELLS FOR SMALLER, MORE PRECISE FORCE MEASUREMENT APPLICATIONS

CONVEXBT LOAD BUTTON LOAD CELL

ConvexBT Load Button Load CellThe ConvexBT Load Button Load Cell is superior to any other load button. Constructed from heat-treated stainless steel and environmentally sealed with integral temperature compensation. Learn more about ConvexBT on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/l4xEKNjKREw

  • 5 lbf to 1,000 lbf, 22.24 N to 4.44 N
  • Integral temperature compensation
  • Enhanced eccentric load rejection
  • Multi-point calibration
  • Integral load button
  • Minimal diameter

SMTM MICRO S-TYPE LOAD CELL

Model SMTM is the miniature overload-protected S-type load cell and is excellent to use where size is a constraint.

  • Capacity 5, 25, 50 lbf (20, 100, 200N)
  • It can be used in tension and compression
  • Micro-sized 3/4” x 3/4” x 1/4”
  • Excellent temperature compensation (0.005%/°F Temp Effect on Output)
  • Overload protected

SUPERSC S-TYPE MINIATURE LOAD CELL

The SuperSC is an economical general-purpose load cell with a high force in a compact design. The SuperSC is environmentally sealed and insensitive to off-axis loading. The proprietary form factor is 80% smaller and 50% lighter than other models of s-type load cells. READ: New Technical White Paper Analyzes SuperSC S-Type Miniature Load Cells

  • 25 to 1000 lbf (100 N to 5 kN)
  • High force in a compact design
  • Environmentally sealed
  • High stiffness
  • Low deflection

ULC ULTRA LOW CAPACITY LOAD CELL

ULC ULTRA LOW CAPACITY LOAD CELL

The Interface model ULC is the world’s most accurate ultra-low capacity load cell measuring loads from 0.1 to 2 N (10.2 grams to 500 gmf).

  • Proprietary Interface temperature compensated strain gages
  • Highest performance low capacity load cell in the world
  • Overload protected
  • Safe side load overload to 5X capacity
  • Low extraneous load sensitivity
  • Low-temperature effect on zero (0.002%/°F)
  • Tension and Compression
  • 5 ft integral cable included

MBP OVERLOAD PROTECTED MINIATURE BEAM LOAD CELL

Model MBP series load cells perform similarly to the famous Model MB series with the added safeguard of internal overload protection.

  • 5 lbf to 10 lbf
  • Proprietary Interface temperature compensated strain gages
  • 10x overload protection
  • Low height – 0.99 in (25.1 mm)
  • 0008%F temp. effect on output
  • 5′ Integral Cable (custom lengths available upon request)
  • NIST Traceable Calibration Certificate

SMALL AND PRECISE MEASUREMENT APPLICATIONS

SPECIMEN RESEARCH

In the medical industry, medical experts need the best equipment to research multiple specimens. In this case, a medical researcher needs to monitor the load force of their linear actuator that uses a needle to collect material from the desired specimen. Interface’s SuperSC S-Type Miniature Load Cell can easily be installed into the linear test stand. A needle with a gripper on the end is installed on the lower end of the SuperSC. As the needle is pushed to collect specimen material, the load feedback is captured using the 9330 Battery Powered High-Speed Data Logging Indicator through an SD card or another laptop. Read: Specimen Research App Note

AIRBAG CONNECTOR TESTING

Testing airbag connectors functionality is needed to ensure perfect deployment in case of a car crash. Eight to twelve connectors are installed in each vehicle, and tests must be made to clarify whether the connectors are working effectively. These connectors usually work when latched, but that does not ensure the electrical properties are performing. The amount of force needs to be tested to see when an electrical current is connected. Interface’s solution is to attach the WMC Sealed Stainless Steel Miniature Load Cell to the actuator of the test rig. The airbag connector is placed at the test rig’s bottom. Forces are applied and measured using the 9330 High-Speed Data Logger as the connector is pushed down to latch together. When connected to a computer, results can be logged, downloaded, and reviewed.

COBOT MONITORING SYSTEM

Collaborative robots, or cobots, are offering more manufacturing operations in the industrial packaging industry. Protective cages or fences are no longer needed for safety purposes, but safety testing is still required to ensure humans and robots can work together. Four 3-axis Force Load Cells (creating one 6-axis Force Plate) are installed between two metal plates at the base of the cobot. Interface suggests installing a 6-axis force plate under the cobot and two ConvexBT Load Button Load Cells in the pinchers of the cobot. If a human were to knock into the cobot or have any object stuck in the pincher, the cobot would sense the force measured from the load cells and be programmed to stop immediately.

Interface can serve a wide range of test and measurement applications from millions of pounds force to the most minute. If you want sensors with small, more precise measurement capabilities, please check out our miniature load cell selection guide.

Force Measurement Sensors are Essential to Modern Industrial Machinery

 

Industrial machinery plays a vital role in the global economy. It helps to improve productivity and efficiency, and it is essential to produce many of the goods we rely on daily.

Industrial machinery use cases range from equipment used in manufacturing and construction to transportation and robotics. Force measurement sensors and instrumentation play a critical role in ensuring industrial machinery’s safe and efficient operation.

Interface sensor technologies, including our load cells and multi-axis sensors, provide critical data for various machinery designs and functions. Interface analog and digital instrumentation products are available to amplify, condition, and display the signals from force measurement sensors.

The accuracy of force, torque, and weight measurements guide industrial machinery’s design and performance mechanisms.

What types of industrial machinery are using Interface measurement products today?

  • Machine tools used for grinding, drills, and lathes
  • Fabrication apparatus used for bending, shearing, and welding
  • Assembly equipment for production environments that include conveyor belts, robotic arms, and picking devices
  • Testing, quality control, and safety inspection equipment
  • Heavy equipment operational controllers for forklifts, cranes, and hoisting gear
  • Construction machinery such as loaders, bulldozers, and lifts

Industrial machinery is prevalent in manufacturing vehicles, aircraft, consumer goods, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals. Heavy-duty machinery is standard in energy production, mining, forestry, agriculture, and transportation.

The machines’ quality heavily depends on the accuracy of measurements used in the initial design, retrofitting, production, and practice. Interface products provide the products that enable machines to operate at peak performance safely and efficiently. Learn more in our new Interface Industrial Machinery Solutions, a part of Industrial Automation market offerings.

How Interface Measurement Solutions Used in Industrial Machinery

Machine Safety Monitoring

Interface products are used for monitoring the performance of machines and for management in sensing potential problems before they cause a failure. Interface measurement technologies are used in construction machinery to enable operators to gauge the force applied to materials, preventing overexertion and potential damage. Read Interface Solutions for Safety and Regulation Testing and Monitoring

Heavy Machinery and Lifting Equipment

In material handling equipment, force sensors help prevent accidents and injuries. Interface load cells, including load pins and shackles, monitor loads, weight, and distribution. Learn more about lifting solutions in our Engineered Solutions for Lifting Webinar.

Manufacturing and Production Machines

Manufacturers rely on Interface sensor solutions in industrial machines such as injection molding machines to monitor the force applied to the mold or how they are used in machines to ensure correct product packaging. The efficiency of machines is enhanced by correctly measuring the forces applied during different operations. Force sensors help ensure products are assembled correctly and within tolerance on production lines.

Industrial Automation Machines and Robotics

Interface sensors in industrial machines such as robots allow for more precise and delicate tasks that measure force at touch and throughout the entire operation. In machine tools, load cells assist in monitoring cutting forces and prevent damage to tools and workpieces. In robotic arms and automated assembly lines, force sensors provide precise force application during welding, riveting, and material handling.

Benefits of Using Interface Products in Industrial Machinery

  • Improved safety: Load cells can help prevent accidents and injuries by monitoring the weight and distribution of loads and ensuring that machines operate correctly.
  • Increased productivity: Force measurement sensors can help improve machines’ efficiency by optimizing the force applied during different operations. Force measurement sensors can help reduce machine downtime and enhance the quality of products with accurate data, helping to make intelligent decisions.
  • Reduced waste and operating costs: Measurement devices can help to reduce costs by preventing machine failures and improving the quality of products.

Force measurement sensors and instrumentation are essential components of modern industrial machinery. They ensure the safe, efficient, and productive operation of these machines. Contact Interface application engineers to evaluate the best sensor technologies for your specific test and measurement pe failures and improving the quality of products.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Hydraulic Press Machines and Load Cells

Sanding Machine Force Monitoring

Interface Solutions for Machine Builders

Metal Press Cutting Machine

Laser Machine Cutting Force App Note

Ice Machine Weighing

Force Measurement Testing Improves Products and Consumer Safety

Cobot Safety Programming

Crane Capacity Verification App Note

Interface Solutions Aid Pharmaceutical Industry

Among the many highly regulated and incredibly complex industries, the medical industry is highly dependent on tools and resources that are precise and measure with high accuracy.

The medical industry is a broad, encompassing hospitals, medical professionals, payers, medical devices and pharmaceuticals. In each sector, Interface has a long history of providing precision measurement solutions for R&D, prototyping, testing, manufacturing, packaging and monitoring use.

In every use case, safety of patients and quality of products is predicated on extreme accurateness. Throughout a pharmaceutical product’s life cycle, specialized measurement equipment and sensor technologies are used by scientists, engineers, researchers, lab technicians, regulators, quality groups and manufacturers. These instruments are utilized in design and maintenance to provide unmistakable evidence of process quality and safety.

Medical and healthcare companies, including those specifically in pharmaceuticals, turn to Interface because our high accuracy force measurement solutions are designed for reliable performance test and measurement projects. The science used in the pharmaceutical industry depends on quality measurement of force and weight. Interface load cells are designed for these types of precise requirements. There is also tremendous demand for Interface’s ability to customize solutions that meet the exact measurement requirements of these sensitive applications. Visit our new Interface Pharmaceutical Industry Solutions.

Interface supports a range of pharmaceutical applications including:

  • Weighing and distributing
  • Specimen testing equipment
  • Tablet hardness testing
  • Tablet forming machine optimization
  • Capsule filling machines
  • Quality control and safety
  • Mixing
  • Packaging and filling
  • Bioreactors and fermenters

Interface force measurement solutions are used for a variety of pharma-related products and machines that help biotechnology and pharmaceutical product engineers to design, test, and manufacture their products.  When it comes to equipment used in the manufacturing of medicine, Interface products are used to optimize production and reduce waste. Our miniature load cells are often integrated into machines and equipment to provide precision measurements during operations.

Types of Interface Load Cells Used by Pharmaceutical Companies

Pharmaceutical Tablet Forming Machine Optimization

A pharmaceutical tablet producer wanted to monitor the forces applied by the tablet forming machine to understand the relationship between raw material, die set, forming force, and the motor’s cycle speed. The goal was to improve productivity and efficiency of the tablet forming process, while reducing losses such as cracked tablets or voids, by adding a dimension of feedback that could be used to assign specific press adjustment criterion for given inputs. An Interface WMC Sealed Stainless Steel Mini Load Cell (10K lbf Capacity) was mounted in the section of the downward press bar. The machine was modified to accomplish this. The load cell was then connected to a 9320 Portable Load Cell Indicator to collect the needed data. After analyzing the data, the tablet producer was able to quantify adjustment levels by monitoring which forces produced the most optimal results for a given cycle speed, die set, and raw material. Productivity and efficiency were greatly improved by the enhancement of the data feedback.

Tablet Hardness Testing for Pharmaceuticals

A pharmaceutical producer wanted to test and monitor the hardness of the pills being created in their tablet forming machine. Interface’s SML Low Height S-Type Load Cell was mounted to the hardness device inside the tablet forming machine. The SML Low Height S-Type Load Cell was then connected to the 9870 High-Speed High Performance TEDS Ready Indicator to record the force measurements. The tablet producer was able to verify and test the specific hardness needed for their tablets being produced by their tablet forming machine.

Pharmaceutical Tablet Machine Hardness Calibration

A customer wanted to regularly recalibrate tablet hardness testers. The customer needed a miniature load cell the size of a sugar cube that replaces the tablets and fits horizontally in the tablet test-box. Therefore, a special cable exit was important for the compression only calibration application. In the past, the machines had to be rebuilt for calibrations, or a complex mechanism had to be integrated to enable vertical calibration. However, Interface’s MCC Miniature Compression Load Cell measures forces on its side with a special cable exit on the flat side that attaches to the calibration indicator, such as the Interface handheld indicator and datalogger Model 9330. The MCC load-cell calibration set compared the applied forces with the hardness tester to make sure that the tablet hardness tester uses the correct force for future tablet hardness tests. The BlueDAQ software helped to log and compare the data of the MCC reference load cell. The customer successfully verified and calibrated the tablet hardness tester machine horizontally to conduct accurate hardness testing on tablets in the future. Interface’s MCC Miniature Compression Load Cell was perfect due to its small size, and convenient to measure the forces on its side.

Like medical devices, pharmaceutical machines and products must undergo a variety of mission-critical tests before they are safe for distribution to uses. Interface products are selected by the pharmaceutical industry is due to our product’s accuracy and reliability, in addition to our deep experience in supplying solutions to those in the medical business.

Pharmaceuticals_InfographicPoster

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Spotlighting Medical Device and Healthcare Solutions

Force Solutions for Medical Tablet Forming Machines

Interface Ensures Premium Accuracy and Reliability for Medical Applications

Interface Solutions for Medical Devices and Healthcare

Interface Solutions for Safety and Regulation Testing and Monitoring

Accuracy Matters for Weighing and Scales

 

Interface Solutions for Machine Builders

No matter the industry, if products are being made chances are industrial machines are involved in some part of R&D, testing, production, and distribution.

Engineers involved in the design and manufacturing of these machines require the highest quality sensors, tools and equipment. In addition, humans often lean on machines for very precise or repetitive tasks, this means that precision and reliability is key for every aspect of these machines.

Machine builders are the backbone of product development and production. They are responsible for building, assembling, and integrating components for stand-alone and multi-station automated machine tools and systems. These automated machine-tool systems are used in all sectors of manufacturing, including assembly, processing, and fabricating systems.

Interface plays a critical role for machine builders, for those that design one machine or manufacture machines at scale for users around the world. We supply machine builders with precision load cells, torque transducers, instrumentation, data acquisition devices and accessories. They lean on Interface because of our experience in supplying the world solutions utilized for industrial product testing and production across all kinds of industries from agricultural machinery to medical testing machines.

The accuracy and quality of our products is why machine builders rely on Interface. In addition, our experience and diversity of product has led machine builders and engineers to choose Interface force measurement sensors throughout their careers. In fact, Interface has served machine builders for more than 50 years. It is a relationship and role we know very well.

The world of machine building has also changed over the years. In the past, machine builders used force sensors primarily to test products before going out to the market. This is still a prominent use case amongst product engineers. The fast-rising use cases over the past decade comes from the demand for smarter machines, automation and miniaturization of products.

Today, more machines builders and OEMs are designing force sensors directly into machines to allow users to activate components, monitor data on the machines in use for real-time feedback and adjustments. This type of innovation using sensors has opened opportunities for Industry 4.0 connectivity between machines.

To get a better idea of how machine builders are using force sensors, Interface has developed a wide range of applications notes to provide real world examples of force measurement in action in the machine building world. We have included a few of those examples below.

Metal Press Cutting Machine

A customer wanted to test the amount of force it takes to cut through different thicknesses of metal on their metal press cutting machine. They also wanted to ensure their metal press cutting machine is working properly and understand its maximum limitation. Interface suggested installing their 3AXX 3-Axis Force Load Cell underneath the plate where pieces of metal are placed to be cut, or punched holes in. When connected to the BX8-HD44 BlueDAQ Series Data Acquisition System, the force results of different metals being cut will be displayed, graphed, and recorded on the customer’s PC. It also has an analog output that can connect to the machines PLC in case of an overload. Using this solution, the customer was able to determine the different number of forces it took for their metal press cutting machine to cut through different types and thicknesses of metal. Read more here.

Snack Weighing and Packaging Machine

A snack manufacturing brand wanted to weigh the amount of their snacks that is automatically dispersed into the bags during the packaging process. In this case, they wanted to weigh their potato chips being packaged and ensure the potato chips are at the exact weight needed due to regulatory standards. Interface’s solution was to use multiple SPI Platform Scale Load Cells and install it to the potato multi-head weigher and packaging machine. The SPI Platform Scale Load cells were installed inside of the mount that attaches the head weigher to the packaging machine. Force results from the potato chips are read by the load cells and sent to the ISG Isolated DIN Rail Mount Signal Conditioner, where the customer is able to control the automated production from their command center. Using this solution, the customer was able to determine the weight of the potato chips being distributed into their bags with highly accurate results. They also were able to control the automated production process with the provided instrumentation. They will use this same weighing method for other snacks that need to be packaged. Read about this application here.

Tablet Forming Machine

A pharmaceutical company needs to precisely monitor the forces applied by the tablet (pill) forming machine to understand the relationship between raw material, die set, forming force, and motor cycle speed. Optimizing the equipment will improve productivity and efficiency of the tablet forming process, while reducing losses. For maximizing production and monitoring the process, Interface suggested a WMC Sealed Stainless Steel Mini Load Cell (10K lbf Capacity) be mounted in the section of the downward press bar. The load cell was then connected to a 9320 Portable Load Cell Indicator to collect the needed data. Read more here.

Machine builders require the best test and monitoring equipment. Interface has backed professional machine builders, machine design engineers, machine manufacturers and those that utilize the equipment for many years with top-of-the-line force sensing solutions.  Whether you are looking to build a machine, design machine tools and equipment or embed sensors into machines, we are here to help.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Proving Theoretical Cutting Forces of Rotary Ultrasonic Machinery App Note

Force Solutions for Testing Machines

Interface Sensors Used for Internet of Things

OEM: Industrial Robotic Arm

Fitness Equipment and Machines

Ice Machine Weighing

GS-SYS04 Gold Standard® Portable E4 Machine Calibration System

Laser Machine Cutting Force App Note

Force Solutions for Medical Tablet Forming Machines

In the medical and healthcare industry, accuracy is an absolute imperative in the devices used in every stage including diagnosis, surgery, health monitoring and even after care. This also applies to the specialized equipment used by pharmaceutical manufacturers, in both design and maintenance, when producing medicine and other healthcare related products.

When it comes to product development in the United States, not only do med devices and pharmaceuticals need to pass rigorous FDA regulations, but they must also be proven to serve patients and doctors safely. This results from robust test and measurement data requirements before seeking clearance. These same types of fundamental safety requirements of testing are also standard in most developed countries when seeking approvals before release.

Medical industry manufacturers turn to Interface because our force measurement solutions are designed for high performance test and measurement, in both accuracy and reliability. There is also a high demand for Interface’s ability to customize solutions to meet the exact requirements of these sensitive applications.

In a variety of medical device applications, one noted example is Interface’s role in providing various miniature beam and in-line load cell solutions with ten times the overload protection to protect against accidental shock loads. Our torque transducers provide rotary and reactive measurement to accurately track light movements required to control prosthetic fatigue testing, surgical equipment, knee or hip replacement and other medical devices. Other Interface solutions include multi-axis sensors for multiple channels of measurement in one housing. Read more about these types of medical applications here.

Interface provides force measurement solutions for a wide variety of products and machines that help biotechnology and pharmaceutical product engineers to design, test and manufacturer devices of all shapes and sizes. When it comes to equipment used in the manufacturing of medicine, Interface products are used to optimize production and reduce waste.

TABLET HARDNESS TESTING

In this application, a pharmaceutical tablet producer wanted to test and monitor the hardness of the tablets being created in their tablet forming machine. Interface’s SML Low Height S-Type Load Cell was mounted to the hardness device inside the tablet forming machine. The SML Low Height S-Type Load Cell was then connected to the 9870 High-Speed High Performance TEDS Ready Indicator to record the force measurements.

TABLET FORMING MACHINE OPTIMIZATION

For a tablet forming machine optimization project in Europe, a pharmaceutical tablet producer wanted to monitor the forces applied by the tablet forming machine in an effort to understand the relationship between raw material, die set, forming force, and motor cycle speed. The goal was to improve productivity and efficiency of the tablet forming process, while reducing losses such as cracked tablets or voids, by adding a dimension of feedback that could be used to assign specific press adjustment criterion for given inputs. An Interface Model WMC Sealed Stainless Steel Mini Load Cell 10K lbf was mounted in the section of the downward press bar. The machine was modified to accomplish this. The load cell was then connected to a Model 9320 Portable Load Cell Indicator to collect the needed data.

TABLET MACHINE HARDNESS CALIBRATION

Our partners in Germany also had the opportunity to work on a calibration project for a device that tested the hardness of tablets, such as a medicine in tablet form. The reason for this type of device is because medical tablets are overly sensitive to compression force when being formed and when ready to be shipped. If the tablets hardness isn’t tested properly, consistency in size and shape is nearly impossible. The need for force testing is because the device must provide very minimal and accurate forces to the tablet for product consistency. When this is applied to tablets that are used in medicine, accuracy in dosage is fundamental and an absolute necessity.

The customer required a unique solution to properly re-calibrate the device. They needed a mini-load cell the size of a sugar cube that replaces the tablets and fits horizontally in the tablet test-box. A special cable exit was also critical for the compression only calibration application.

Interface provided an MCC Miniature Compression Load Cell which can measure forces on its side with a special cable exit on the flat side that attaches to a calibration indicator, such as the Interface battery powered handheld indicator and datalogger Model 9330. The MCC load cell calibration set compares the applied forces with the hardness tester to make sure that the tablet hardness tester uses the correct force for future tablet hardness tests. The BlueDAQ software included in our indicator helps to log and compare the data of the MCC reference load cell.

In the past, the customer’s medical tablet machines had to be rebuilt for calibrations, or a complex mechanism had to be integrated to enable vertical calibration. With Interface’s new solution, the customer successfully verified and calibrated the tablet hardness tester machine horizontally to conduct accurate hardness testing on tablets in the future. Interface’s MCC Miniature Compression Load Cell was perfect due to its small size, and convenience in measuring the forces on its side.

Read more about these healthcare and medical applications in these posts:

Interface Solutions for Medical Devices and Healthcare

Interface Load Cells in Medical Applications

Interface Ensures Premium Accuracy and Reliability for Medical Applications

To see more of Interface’s solutions designed for the medical device industry, visit our solutions page at www.interfaceforce.com/solutions/medical-healthcare/.