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Single point load cells

Single point load cells from WIKA: excellent quality

Single point load cell are designed as a special form of force transducers for use in weighing equipment. They are usually based on strain gauges, which precisely detect the vertical force and convert it into an electrical signal. Thus, they enable very high measurement accuracies of less than 0.2 % Fnom for weighing systems. Single point load cells are used in the widest variety of application areas, including platform, filling, belt and packaging scales, dynamic test systems as well as electronic precision, price-labelling and industrial scales. Thanks to their compact design, many models are particularly space-saving and support flexible installation, even in confined plants. In addition to single point load cells, WIKA also provides you with all other typical and widely used load cell geometries, such as bending and shear beams, s-type load cells, canister load cells and compression load cells. In addition, there are corresponding mounting kits and complete weighing modules available.


What is a single point load cell?

Single point load cells, also called platform load cells, are force transducers specifically designed for use in platform scales. They detect the downward loading on the weighing plate and convert it into a proportional electrical signal. Due to their compact design, they can easily be integrated into a wide variety of scale designs. The internal measuring body reacts to the applied load with a defined deformation, resulting in reliable and reproducible measured values. Depending on the version, a single point load cell is also suitable for applications with high precision requirements and for use in scales up to approx. 600 kg.

How does a single point load cell work?

WIKA single point load cells use the principle of strain gauges. When a load is applied to the cell, the shape of the measuring body changes slightly. The strain gauges attached to the measuring body detect this change by measurably increasing or decreasing their electrical resistance. The reason for this is that the conductive structures of the strain gauges change geometrically when stretched or compressed, causing their resistance to change accordingly in linear proportion. Combined in a Wheatstone bridge circuit, these minimal changes in resistance are precisely recorded and processed into a usable output signal. This enables the electronics to detect even very small load changes reliably and stably.

How does a single point load cell differ from other load cell types?

Single point load cells are designed for central load transmission and low installation heights, and deliver stable, consistent measured value even with slightly offset loads. Integrating the required corner load compensation into their design, they do not require a combination of several sensors. Other load cell types are designed for different purposes; bending and shear beam load cells are optimised for higher load ranges and robust applications, while s-type load cells are mainly used for measuring tension and compression forces.

How do you choose the right single point load cell for a specific application?

The selection is primarily based on the required load capacity or rated load, the desired accuracy, the geometry and the platform size. Moreover, the ambient conditions – such as temperature, humidity or vibration – must be taken into account, as they influence material and ingress protection (e.g. stainless steel, IP65–IP68). For stable measurement, correct mechanical mounting, a clean installation and a suitable electrical connection are important as well. The right single point load cell not only optimally matches the application mechanically, electrically as well as functionally, but also can be used reliably and economically during operation.