Force Gauges
Force gauges are measuring devices inside a load cell that monitor and gauge forces of compression, tension and shear. They are used widely in mechanical testing, ongoing system monitoring and as components in devices such as industrial scales.
The main purpose of force gauges is to measure levelness and tension in load cells. The information they monitor is then signaled to a recorder or other computerized data collection system for further analysis.
The two basic components of a load cell are the sensing element and the circuit. The sensing element is often the force gauge and the circuit is the connection of these gauges throughout the load cell. Load cell outputs include analog voltage, analog current, analog frequency, switch or alarm, serial and parallel. The most basic designs consist of four gauges, which make up the measuring circuit. More complex and detailed cells can have up to thirty gauges as part of the measuring circuit. The more gauges inside the load cell, the more sensitive the cell is in recording and monitoring variance in measurement.