Force sensor / force transducer

Which different force sensors are there?

Whether in port logistics, in machine building, for cranes or lifting gear, in medicine or agriculture, aerospace or in other fields - select the WIKA force sensor that best suits your requirements. The WIKA product portfolio for force measurement includes compression force transducers, tension/ compression force transducers, shear and bending beams, shackle load cells and ring force transducers as well as load pins, tension links, wire rope force transducers and strain transducers and load cells. The sensors are readily available in various versions which we are, however, happy to flexibly adapt to your requirements. Our technical sales staff will be happy to advise you on the selection of the right force transducer for your application.

What are the different measurement principles for force sensors / force transducers?

In WIKA, there are three technologies in use for force transducers: strain gauges, thin-film sensors and hydraulic force measurement.

• Foil strain gauges (FSG for short) offer a high degree of geometric variability and feature a high accuracy from 0.01 % of FS. Even the smallest forces can be reliably measured by such force sensors. The strain gauges are bonded to the deformation body and the measuring ranges are from 0 ... 0.5 N to 0 ... 10,000 kN.
• Thin-film technology is the favoured variant in many, even complex, applications. Its advantage is cost efficiency. Force transducers with thin-film sensors are very cost-effective for special manufacture or OEM applications and also for safety-related applications due to their redundant output signals. In addition, they provide high robustness and high long-term stability. Through the sputtering process, the measuring bridge of the force sensor is atomically connected to the measuring cell body. The measuring ranges of these force transducers cover from 0 ... 1 kN to 0 ... 10,000 kN.
• Hydraulic force transducers use a combination of piston and case, with various seals, as a sensor unit. Due to its easy handling, its robustness and its operation without supply voltage, this form of force measurement is valued by users. The measuring ranges extend from 0 ... 160 N to 0 ... 10,000 kN.

Which areas of application are there for force sensors?

Force sensors are used in numerous industrial sectors: Machine building, automation and process engineering are just three of many industry examples. Force measurement is also used, for example, in cranes and hoists, in agricultural technology and also in port logistics. This product diversity of force transducers is not only reflected in the applications and measuring fields, but also in the numerous geometric characteristics of the force transducers. This enables WIKA to develop force measuring instruments for our customers that can be integrated directly into the force flow of the application – requirements of high measurement accuracy are fulfilled. If your force measurement application requires an engineered approach, our engineers will be happy to design a customised solution for you.

When are individual force sensors the best solution for your application?

This can be the case, for example, with customer-specific payloads or measuring ranges. Even with load pins, individual solutions are often used. We develop the appropriate force transducer together with you. It doesn't matter whether you need force sensors in small quantities or for mass production. Our experienced engineers and technicians will respond to your needs and know exactly what matters to you. For such projects, we start with a force transducer as an additive component to the assembly for an optimised integrated force measurement solution.

Our services for your appropriate force sensor include:

• Advice on the measurement technology. For example, we gather the measuring conditions on-site. This provides a reliable basis for pinpoint analysis of the problem.
• Competent engineering. The simplest solutions are often the best: Frequently, a force transducer from the standard programme can be adapted to your needs. If not, then we develop an appropriate force sensor that meets your requirements 100 %.
• Reliable commissioning. Installing the force transducers, commissioning the system: You can rely on our experienced technicians.
• Dedicated after-sales service. Recalibrating and repairing force sensors: That is also part of our range of services.

What requirements do force transducers need to fulfil?

Force transducers must fulfil numerous requirements – in medium-sized companies as well as in large corporations. Such companies expect fast delivery, the highest quality and precision, security against failures and for their investment and they attach great importance to the protection of people. WIKA is your reliable partner here.

You can also count on us in the field of functional safety and under extreme operating conditions. We work in accordance with the machinery directive 2006/42/EC. We offer products that are compatible with performance level (PL) and safety integrity level (SIL) and that can be used in hazardous areas (ATEX, IECEx, FM, CSA, UL).