What type of Load Cell should I use?
ADM Instrument Engineering stocks a wide range of load cells and is on hand to offer you expert advice on what type of load cell is best suited to your application.
Need help finding the right load cell? Speak to our team on 1300 236 467 or send any questions through our contact page here.
So, what types of load cells are available, and what applications are the different types of load cells best suited to?
Basically, a load cell is a device that measures force. Some can measure a compression force, which is a force pushing down onto the device. Others can measure a tension force, which is a force pulling away from the device. Some load cells can measure both compression and tension forces.
In this article, we highlight the different types of load cells and the applications they can be used for.
Miniature Load Cells
Miniature button load cells measure compression forces only. They are ideal for applications where space is very limited. The load cell is usually cemented into position because it is too small for any mounting hardware. Typically, measuring ranges are available up to a maximum of 500 kg. Possible applications include retrofitting load measurement in machinery that wasn't originally designed to take load cells.
Explore our Miniature Button Load Cell Range here.
Compression (Button) Load Cells
Standard button load cells are the larger brothers of the miniature button load cells. Like miniature button load cells, they are designed to measure compression only. With the addition of weight module hardware, they are mainly used to weigh tanks and silos. The weight module hardware ensures the forces are correctly applied and prevents the connection from being opened. This is particularly important with tall silos, where wind forces on empty silos can cause them to topple.
Explore our Compression (Button) Load Cells here.
Bending Beam Load Cells
Bending beam type load cells are used in many applications because their compact beam shape makes them easy to fit. In application, bending beam load cells feature a fixed end (the side with mounting holes and the cable exit) and a live/loading end. Using ground spacing washers on the fixed end provides clearance for deflection under load, and the live/loading end can be bolted to load-introduction hardware such as rubber mounts, rocker pins, blind-hole loading pins or loaded buttons.
A common feature of bending beam load cells is the hermetically sealed stainless steel bellows, which makes them effectively water-resistant. For low-capacity applications, users may want to consider another load cell type, as bending beam load cells tend to have reduced accuracy at lower weight ranges.
Bending Beam Load Cell Applications
Bending Beam load cells can be found in a range of industrial weighing applications;
- Small-to-medium Tank, Hopper, and Silo Weighing;
- 3- to 4-point mounting kits under low-capacity vessels to monitor batching, inventory and level-by-weight installations.
- Packaging and Filling Machinery;
- Checkweighers, bag fillers, automated dosing machines.
- Conveyor and Belt Scales;
- Continuous inline weighing for food processing and pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Platform and Bench Scales;
- Multi-cell low-profile scales for warehousing and parts inventory.
- Medical Equipment
- Patient lift systems, hospital beds with integrated scales and incubator weighing modules.
- Force and Web Tension Measurement:
- Material web tension monitoring (paper, film, foils) & basic insertion/press-force testing.
Bending Beam Load Cell Summary
Bending beam load cells feature high sensitivity, cost-effectiveness, and excellent linearity with repeatability in sub-500kg ranges. They are sensitive to off-axis loading and side forces compared to shear beams, and require mounting hardware when thermal expansion or structure deflection is present.
Explore our range of Bending Beam Load Cells here.
Tension / Compression Canister Load Cells
This is the type of load cell that is typically found on weigh bridges. They are available in a wide range of physical sizes, with a good choice of measuring ranges. A rocker column-type load cell can be used where load alignment will vary. Rocker column load cells have a unique dual radius loading surface. A large radius in the centre, where the load measurement is made, and a smaller radius at the outer extremities. This allows the load cell to rock, avoiding serious adverse loads caused by the weighbridge's differential expansion.
Explore our range of Tension/Compression Canister Load Cells here.
Shear Beam Load Cells
Shear beam type load cells are very often used in bulk handling equipment. Applications include filling machinery, industrial floor scales, tank and silo weighing. They make good multi-load cell floor scales, but they should not be exposed to corrosive fluids.
Explore our range of Shear Beam Load Cells here.
Single Point Load Cells
Single point load cells have an internal parallelogram structure that ensures the internal strain gauge only responds to force in one direction. If the load cell is levelled, it responds only to weight and is not affected by side forces. This makes them ideal for weighing applications where you can't control side forces. They are often used with a small scale base to measure lower force levels.
Explore our range of Single Point Load Cells here.
S-Beam Load Cells
S-Beam type load cells are extremely versatile and measure either compression or tension forces. They are particularly good for weighing heavy objects that are cumbersome to handle. Lowering a bulky object onto a scale base risks overloading and damage if the load is dropped. Lifting the load with a tension S-Beam in line provides immediate, accurate weight measurement while minimising handling. This solution is also totally self-aligning and gives accurate results. S-Beams require a safety chain when used in crane applications to avoid the risk of an overload failure that could cause a dropped load.
Explore our range of S-Beam Load Cells here.
Contact Us
If you'd like to explore any of these types of load cells a bit further, speak with our helpful team of experts! Send any questions to our contact page here or call us directly on 1300 236 467.
