Description:
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 type of force, and ignore other forces being applied. The electrical signal output by the load cell is very small and requires specialized amplification. Fortunately, the 1046 PhidgetBridge will perform all the amplification and measurement of the electrical output.

Load cells are designed to measure force in one direction. They will often measure force in other directions, but the sensor sensitivity will be different, since parts of the load cell operating under compression are now in tension, and vice versa.

This Single Point Load Cell is often used in small, high-precision scales. It’s mounted by bolting down the end of the load cell where the wires are attached, and applying force on the other end. Where the force is applied is not critical, as this load cell measures a shearing effect on the beam, not the bending of the beam. If you mount a small platform on the load cell, as would be done in a small scale, this load cell provides accurate readings regardless of the position of the load on the platform.

Specifications:

• Sensor Type: Shear Load Cell
• Weight Capacity Max: 100 g
• Cell Repeatability Error Max: ± 50 mg
• Cell Non-Linearity Max: 50 mg
• Cell Hysteresis Max: 50 mg
• Rated Output: 600 μV/V
• Rated Output Error Max: ± 150 μV/V
• Output Impedance: 1 kΩ
• Creep: 100 mg/hr
• Temperature Effect on Zero/Span: 5 mg/°C
• Supply Voltage Min/Max: 3 V DC / 10 V DC
• Operating Temperature Min/Max: -10 °C / 40 °C
• Compensated Temperature Min/Max: -10 °C / 60 °C
• Cable Length: 110 mm
• Cable Gauge: 4x 30 AWG
• Material: Aluminium Alloy
• Screw Thread Size: 2.5M
• Weight: 3.2 g

Resources:

• Load Cell Primer
• Mechanical Drawings
• Download 3D Step File

Connection to 1046 PhidgetBridge: