Load Cell

Pneumatic Load Cells: This type of load cell also works on the force-balance principle. Pneumatic Load Cells utilize more than one dampener chamber to offer enhanced accuracy compared to a hydraulic device. There are some designs of pneumatic load cells in which the first chamber is used as a tare weight chamber. This type of load cells is most commonly used for calculating/measuring small weights where safety and hygiene is the utmost point of concern. The main advantage of using this pneumatic load cell is that they are explosive proof and insensitive to temperature variations. One more reason to use this type of load cell is that they don’t have any liquid in them; thus, there are no chances of contaminating the process if the diaphragm ruptures. However, as a disadvantage, pneumatic load cells are quite slow in response and require extra cleanliness and an aired environment.

Hydraulic Load Cells: This type of load cell is a force-balance device that is used to measure the weight of an object or a body. In a rolling diaphragm type hydraulic force sensor, a load or force acting on a loading head is transferred to a piston that in turn compresses a filling fluid confined within an elastomeric diaphragm chamber. A normal hydraulic load cell application has parts such as bin, tank, and hopper weighing. To receive highly accurate results, the weight of the tank should be obtained by locating one force sensor at each point of support and summing their outputs.

Strain Gauge Load Cells: In this type of load cell, a strain gauge assembly is set inside the load cell housing to transform the load acting on them into electrical signals. The weight on the load cell is measured by the voltage fluctuation caused in the strain gauge when it undergoes deformation. Stain Gauge load cell in the widely used load cell across different industries.

Piezoresistive Load Cell: This type of load cell is quite similar in operations to strain gauges. Piezoresistive load cells force sensors to create a high level of output signal – making them perfect for simple weighing systems. Also, these load cells can be easily connected to a readout meter.

Inductive and Reluctance Load Cells: Both this type of load cells responds to the weight-proportional displacement of a ferromagnetic core. One load cell alters the inductance of a solenoid coil due to the movement of its iron core; the other changes the reluctance of a very small air gap.

Magneto Strictive Load Cells: The functioning of this load cell is totally based on the change in permeability of ferromagnetic materials under applied stress. When a force is applied, the pressures lead to alterations in the flux pattern, generating an output signal proportional to the applied load. Magneto Strictive Load Cells are mostly used for weight and force measurement in strip mills and rolling mills.