Force Sensors and Load Cells

Force sensors and load cells, sometimes known as force cells, weigh cells or weight cells, work like a sensor and transducer combined. They are devices that convert the load into an analogue or digital output, proportional to the force or the load that is being applied. The conversion is made possible by strain gauges that are bonded into the structure and connect to a Wheatstone Bridge circuit. Changes provide an output signal. There are many different types of force sensors and load cells, including compression load cells and tension load cells. They are typically categorised by the type of output signal that the load cell generates: electrical, pneumatic or hydraulic. Force sensors and load cells have a wide range of uses in various industrial applications, such as crane safety and weighing applications.