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Beam load cells

Bending beams and shear beam load cells from WIKA: high precision and stability

Bending beams and load beams are types of force transducers that indirectly measure weight force. Their primary application is in industrial weighing, where the load is static, but beam load cells are also found in machine building and automation, where the load is dynamic. In addition, they are used in laboratories and process industries for indirect torque measurement.

The sensor in most beam load cells is a strain gauge. Bonded to the bending/shear beam, the strain gauge detects the beam’s minute deformation as weight is applied, then converts that data into an output signal. Some shear beams use a thin-film sensor rather than a strain gauge for long-term stability.

WIKA is the only supplier in the field of force measurement that offers beam load cells with thin-film technology. The standardized thin-film sensor is welded into the measuring element using a laser, thereby enabling automated series production. Shear beam load cells with thin-film technology guarantee high quality, excellent temperature characteristics, and precise measurement directly in the force flow. What’s more, WIKA’s beam load cells and other force measuring instruments are engineered and manufactured in central Ohio for fast turnaround times and responsive customer support.

What are beam load cells, and how do they work?

Beam load cells are force transducers whose measuring body flexes when stress is applied. They come in two types: bending beam and shear beam. Attached to the beam is a strategically placed strain gauge or thin-film sensor that changes its electrical resistance in the presence of weight force. The load cell then converts that resistance into a voltage (0…10 V), current (4…20 mA), or digital (CANopen) signal. When the force ceases, the elastic body returns to its original state.

What are bending beam load cells, and where are they used?

Bending beams are the most common type of beam load cells, found in industrial weighing equipment like dosing units, hoppers scales, and filling machines. They are typically cylindrical with a hole bored through the center. Most bending beam load cells are fixed at one end and free at the other, but some are fixed at both ends and loaded in the middle. Due to their construction, bending beams are best suited for static or dynamic loads up to 1,100 lbs. (500 kg).

What are shear beam load cells, and how do they differ from bending beam load cells?

Shear beams are another type of beam load cell. They have the same measuring principle as bending beams, but with the advantage of being able to handle both compression (perpendicular) and shear (lateral) forces. This is possible due to the thin I-beam cross section between two machine-recessed holes. Due to their construction, shear beam load cells cannot achieve the required strain values to measure very low loads, but they can withstand very high loads – up to 22,480 lbf (100 kN).