Low-cost loadcells use aerospace technology
A
Measurement Specialties product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team
Jan 18, 2007
Measurement Specialties has a new line of low-cost loadcells designed for high volume, OEM applications.
Measurement Specialties has a new line of low-cost loadcells designed for high volume, OEM applications.
After more than a year of research and development, Measurement Specialties is introducing both compression and tension measuring force sensor.
"Push-pull" models are expected to be released within the first quarter of 2007.
A low cost pressure sensor based on the same technology has also been introduced.
Concurrent with the new standard products is development work for more than a dozen custom applications in the automotive, medical and consumer appliances industries.
"OEM demand for these new loadcell products has been very strong", notes Damon Germanton, Measurement Specialties founder, who is focused on building new product opportunities using Microfused technology.
"The unprecedented low cost of this new line of loadcells is enabling many new sensing applications in everyday products".
"Load cells have not found their way into these products in the past due to the prohibitively high historic cost of loadcells".
"We have built a strong application engineering capability to handle the inquiries and development work for customisation".
The loadcells are built with Measurement Specialties' proprietary Microfused technology derived from demanding aerospace applications.
The Microfused technology employs a micromachined silicon piezoresistive strain gauge fused with high temperature glass to a stainless steel substrate.
Measurement Specialties designed a proprietary custom ASIC specifically for the Microfused sensors.
The design yields a price/performance for loadcells that competing technologies cannot match.
The micromachined silicon strain sensors operate on very low strain levels allowing high overload capability without the need for stops.
Overload stops are available on some models where excessively high overloads may occur.
The sensors are available with high millivolt output signals or high voltage output such as 0.5 to 4.5V full span ranges.
These voltage output signals are linearly proportional to force applied.
0.5 to 4.5V models allow interchangeability along with temperature compensation options.
FC series compression loadcells are offered in low, mid and high force ranges up to 8.9kN.
These sensors feature low cost, small size and a robust design for high reliability in many settings.
They can be used in medical applications such as infusion and syringe pumps, patient weighing and consumable gas or liquid monitors.
Other applications include appliances such as washing machines, microwaves and food processors where the loadcells are used to measure weight of items put into the appliance.
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