If you need more flexibility in your testing and monitoring system, Interface Universal Load Cells may be an excellent sensor option.
What are Universal Load Cells? They are versatile instruments designed to measure tension and compression forces. The choice of a specific load cell will depend on factors such as the required load capacity, accuracy, environmental conditions, and signal compatibility with the rest of the measurement or control system.
Key Advantages of Universal Load Cells
Versatility: The ability to measure force in multiple directions, including compression and tension, has tremendous value in testing and measurement use cases
Accuracy: Interface’s various universal load cells are known for their high precision, which makes them ideal for demanding testing applications.
Durability: They are built to withstand the rigors of various testing environments, including material destructive testing.
Wide Range of Capacities: Interface offers dozens of models and hundreds of options of universal load cells suitable for measuring loads from grams to millions of pounds.
Universal Load Cell Applications
Interface universal load cells offer a valuable solution for engineers requiring a versatile and accurate force measurement tool. Their wide range of options and superior design make them suitable for various demanding testing and monitoring applications across numerous industries.
Aerospace and automotive test engineers rely on accurate force measurement for components and machinery testing, making universal load cells a prime choice. They are valuable in destructive and non-destructive testing of products across various industries. Medical device manufacturers use these load cells in research and integrate them into existing equipment for continuous monitoring.
Space and Center of Gravity Testing Uses Universal Load Cells
An Interface space industry customer wants to measure the center of gravity of its rocket to test its stability, control, performance, and safety objectives. Interface suggests installing four 1200 Standard Precision Universal LowProfile™ Load Cells into the test frame. Once the rocket is placed, the 1280 Programmable Weight Indicator and Controller gathers the center of gravity with a customized program. Interface’s Universal LowProfile™ load cells and paired instrumentation successfully measured the rocket's center of gravity. Check out the application note here.
Interface Solution for Patient Hoyer Lifting Equipment
In the medical field, sometimes it is necessary to weigh or transfer patients who are disabled and cannot walk. A Hoyer lift is used to move patients around. A manufacturer would like a force system to weigh disabled patients and see the maximum weight it can hold. Interface’s WTS 1200 Precision LowProfile Wireless Load Cell is attached to the top of the Hoyer lift. The tension and compression force results are wirelessly transmitted to a computer through the WTS-BS-6 Wireless Telemetry Dongle Base Station. Interface’s wireless force system successfully measured the patient's weight while clarifying the maximum capacity the Hoyer lift could hold during use, providing safety and monitoring for this critical medical application. Get the details here.
Race Car Suspension Testing Using Universal Load Cells
Race car suspensions require fine-tuning for the best performance on various tracks. Simulating bumps, banking, and other track conditions results in off-axis loading. Interface’s 1200 LowProfile Standard Load Cell mounted on each post in a 4, 5, or 7-post rig allows race teams to measure forces during simulated laps. The moment-compensating design of the Universal 1200-series load cells provides accurate readings during off-axis loading. Using this solution, Interface was able to help take precise high (0.04%) measurements of loads applied to individual suspension points. Find out more about his use case.
Tension and compression in a single load cell design make them the perfect choice for various demanding force and weight measurement applications, including weighing scales, material testing machines, high-use lab test stands, and industrial automation equipment.
Interface Universal Load Cells
1200 Standard LowProfile Universal Series is our most popular load cell and showcases the versatility of universal sensor technology. This pancake-style LowProfile option offers tension and compression measurement. It has a compact size with standard capacities from 300 lbf to 100K lbf. It is Temperature and eccentric load compensated and has low deflection. There are wireless options.
Interface’s Model 1200 and 1201 Series IO-Link Universal Load Cells are compatible with an open standard serial communication protocol that allows bi-directional data exchange from sensors and devices. We also offer a 1200 and 1201 Series 3-Wire Amplified Universal Load Cell.
Ultra-Low Capacity Miniature Load Cells (ULC): This miniature model measures minute forces, making it ideal for delicate applications. It is the world’s most accurate ultra-low capacity tension and compression load cell, measuring loads from 0.1 to 2 N (10.2 grams to 500 gmf).
1000 series of Fatigue-Rated Universal LowProfile Load Cells: This durable fatigue-rated load cell series has 300% safe overload, extremely low moment sensitivity of 0.1%/in, and a higher fatigue life. We also offer High-Capacity Fatigue-Rated Universal LowProfile® Load Cells in this series.
1100 Ultra Precision Universal LowProfile® Load Cells: This series offers very low nonlinearity, hysteresis, eccentric load sensitivity, and temperature sensitivity. The gaged sensors, inspected, tested, and certified to meet our rigid precision standards, are formed from a unique alloy. Our gages provide very low resistivity and high signal-to-noise ratios for demanding applications.
SSLP Stainless Steel Low Profile Universal Load Cells: The internal construction is a diaphragm design, offering a lower cost solution to conventional shear web designs while offering high natural frequency, low deflection, and excellent resistance to side and torsion forces.
WMC Stainless Steel Miniature Load Cells: This is an excellent universal load cell option for industrial applications because of its stainless steel, sealed, environmentally protected construction. It is available in capacities ranging from 5 to 500 lbf (22 to 2200 N), and submersible versions are also available.
1500 Low Capacity Universal LowProfile® Load Cells: These are designed for low-capacity applications where low sensitivity to eccentric load is essential. It is ideal for universal testing with a performance of .05% and a compact 2 ¾ in (70mm) diameter form factor.
1600 Gold Standard® Calibration Universal LowProfile® Load Cells: This tension and compression Calibration-Grade low-profile load cell is designed for calibrating other load cells. It has a 4% lower load limit per ASTM E74. Options are available for 2nd and 3rd bridges and overload protection.
1800 Platinum Standard® Calibration Universal LowProfile® Load Cells: The ultimate in calibration grade load cells, this is handcrafted excellence for the most demanding calibration requirements, capable of a 2% lower limit per ASTM E74, and features an integral stud.
TIP: Our universal tension and compression product line has many more models. Multiple capacity and model options are available for these series. Use Interface’s Load Cell Selection Guide to find the suitable load cell based on your exact measurement criteria. We also offer customizable load cells to cater to specific testing requirements.
Interface Universal Load Cell options and superior designs make them suitable for various demanding testing and monitoring applications across numerous industries. Universal load cells are used to test fragile materials, measure the grip on robotic arms, or validate a crane’s maximum load capabilities, which require accurate and reliable force measurement sensor technologies.