null
Unveiling the Language of Load Cells: A Comprehensive Glossary for Precision Measurement

Unveiling the Language of Load Cells: A Comprehensive Glossary for Precision Measurement

Welcome to the Load Cell Glossary! In this comprehensive collection of terms, you will find a wealth of information related to load cells and their various types. Load cells are vital transducers that convert mechanical forces or loads into electrical signals, enabling accurate measurement and control in a wide range of applications.

Our glossary covers a wide array of terms essential to understanding load cells, including their principles of operation, internal components, measurement parameters, and application-specific terminology. Whether you are a professional in the field or simply curious about load cell technology, this glossary aims to provide clear and concise definitions to expand your knowledge.

From commonly used terms like accuracy, sensitivity, and linearity, to specific terms for strain gauge, hydraulic, pneumatic, capacitive, piezoelectric, and magnetic load cells, this glossary covers it all. You'll also find terms related to calibration, overload protection, signal conditioning, and environmental considerations.

Whether you're looking to deepen your understanding of load cell technology, seeking to compare different types of load cells, or simply looking for a specific definition, this glossary is your go-to resource. Each term is defined with precision, ensuring that you have a comprehensive understanding of the load cell ecosystem.

Explore the Load Cell Glossary and unlock the key concepts and terminology that drive this essential technology. Enhance your understanding of load cells and their applications, and feel confident in navigating the world of load cell technology with clarity and precision.

Load Cell Abbreviations

All abbreviations are in lowercase, should not be pluralized, and lack trailing periods.



ampere
A 		meganewton MN
combined error CE meter m
degree Celsius °C milliampere mA
degree Fahrenheit °F millimeter mm
degree Kelvin °K millivolt mV
foot ft millivolt/volt mV/V
foot-pound 1 ft-lb minimum dead load MDL
full-scale FS newton
gram g newton-meter Nm
gram force gf ohm ohm
hertz Hz ounce-inch oz-in
inch in pound
inch-pound 2 in-lb pound-foot
kilogram kg pound-inch lb-in
kilogram-force kgf pound-force
kiloohm Kohm pound per square inch psi
kilonewton kN rated output RO
kilonewton-meter kNm static error band SEB
kilopound-foot Klbf-ft ton, metric
kilopound-inch Klbf-in volt
kilopound force Klbf volt direct current VDC
kilopound (kip) K volt alternating current VAC
megaohm Mohm watt

Load cell glossary


3 Point calibration A calibration that uses three incremental load points, followed by two decremental load points, to produce readings at the rated loads of 0%, 50%, 100%, 50%, and 0% sequentially. This is the minimum required to evaluate a load cell's performance across the board. The same is performed for each direction in a bi-directional calibration. This is the bare minimum necessary to assess a load cell's performance. The same is performed for each direction in a bi-directional calibration.
5 Point calibration A calibration that uses five incremental load points, followed by four decremental load points, to produce readings at the following rated loads of 0%, 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 0% sequentially.Compared to a 3-point calibration, this provides a clearer understanding of the non-linearity. Given enough calibration points, certain instruments' linearization features can reduce some of these errors. The same is performed for each direction in a bi-directional calibration.
AL Applied load
AO Loadcell Average Output calculated from tension and compression outputs at rated load.
Axes Plural of axis
Axial Related to a single axis.
Axial compensated Displaying external forces immunity only concerned with maintaining measurement integrity along a single measuring axis.
Axis A fixed reference line pointing to a single load orientation.
Axial Load A load applied along or parallel to the primary axis.
Ambient Conditions The conditions of the medium around the load cell, such as humidity, pressure, temperature, and so on.
Ambient Temperature The temperature of the medium around the load cell.
Angular Load Eccentric An eccentrically applied load with the primary axis at the point of application and an angle relative to the primary axis.
Angular load Concentric A concentric applied load with the primary axis at the point of application and an angle relative to the primary axis
Accuracy
The closeness of the measured load or force to the actual value.
Accuracy Class
A designation that indicates the level of accuracy of a load cell, typically defined by industry standards.
Bending moment A response resulting from applying a force off-line from the primary axis and far from the load cell force center.
Bi-directional Function in both tension and compression
Bridge circuit The entire wiring configuration of strain gauges, modulus resistors, and zero balancing components inside a Wheatstone Bridge.
Bridge resistance Electrical resistance of the load cell bridge circuit is determined by measuring it at the load cell's excitation connections without any external effects, presented in ohms.
Barometric sensitivity The change in zero balance results from a change in ambient barometric pressure.
Calibration center The theoretical position at which the calibration load will be applied if the real-world load does not pass through the force center. All multi-axis load cells require this.
Capacitance The ability of a system to store an electric charge, used in capacitive load cells for measuring load or force.
Capacitive Load Cell A type of load cell that measures load or force based on changes in capacitance.
Compression Load Cell
A type of load cell designed to measure compressive forces or loads.
Creep The slow and progressive change in load cell signal occurring with the time following the application of a static load and with all environmental conditions and other variables remaining constant. Generally presented in units of % of applied load over a determined time.
Creep Recovery The change in the load cell signal with the time that occurs immediately following the removal of a load that has been applied for a specific time interval, with ambient conditions and other factors being constant during the loaded and unloaded times. Generally stated in percentages of applied load during a given time interval.
Creep return The distinction between load cell signals immediately after removing a load that had been applied for a determined time interval. Environmental conditions and other factors are constant during the loaded interval and the signal before the application of the load. Typically stated in units of % applied load over a determined time interval.
Cross talk The incorrect output produced in one axis as a result of loading in a different orthogonal axis. Common in multi-axis load cells because the mechanical connection between the sensor components is unavoidable.
Decremental Referring to a load that is approaching zero in tension or compression.
Dynamic load A "live" load, as opposed to a static load, that fluctuates over time or includes a cycle or driven actuation.
Deflection The change of the point of axial load application in the primary axis between no-load and rated load conditions.
Drift A random change in the signal at constant load conditions.
EFI Extraneous force immunity.
Excitation The supply voltage to the bridge circuit transmitted through two color-coded wires, one positive and one negative.
Excitation voltage - Maximum The highest voltage applied to the bridge circuit without causing the load cell any lasting damage. Presented in volts (V).
Excitation voltage - Recommended The optimal bridge circuit voltage required to keep the load cell operating within the specified range. Usually stated by Volts (V).
Extraneous force immunity The ability to considerably decrease errors caused by cross-talk or off-axis loads, either by mechanical design or electrical compensation of the bridge circuit.
Eccentrical load Any load applied parallel to the primary axis but not concentric.
Environmental Protection The ability of a load cell to withstand and operate effectively in specific environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, and corrosive substances.
Fatigue life An approximate measurement of how many times a load cell can go through an entire load cycle up to its full rated load without losing performance. Presented as several rated load cycles.
Fatigue Resistance
The ability of a load cell to withstand repeated loading and unloading cycles without failure.
Force A physical product of an object's mass and acceleration. The most common example is an object's weight, which is a product of its mass and acceleration due to gravity. Note that the scientific unit for weight is Newton and not the kilogram. This gives rise to the concept of kilogram-force, widely used in our labeling (abbreviated to kgf).
Force center The theoretical point to apply the force to prevent off-axis loads. This will always occur along the primary axis. If this isn't possible, our engineers should discuss the variance.
Full scale or FS The output in a particular test or application representing the maximum load.
Frequency Response The frequency range during which the load cell output follows the sinusoidally changing mechanical input within the set Limits.
Gain A measurement of an amplifier's capacity to increase a signal's amplitude to the point where the output exceeds the initial input.
Hysteresis The maximum difference in load cell output readings from the same applied load; one reading is achieved by increasing the load from zero and the other by decreasing the load from the rated load. Presented as a percentage of rated load.
Hydraulic Load Cell
A type of load cell that uses hydraulic fluid to measure load or force.
Ingress Protection (IP) Rating
A standard rating that indicates the level of protection against dust and water for load cells.
Input resistance The resistance of the load cell circuit as measured at the excitation terminals in an open-circuit terminal and without any load applied.
Insulation resistance The resistance determined between the metal of load cell body and the bridge circuit. Presented in megohms (M) at the specified voltage (V).
Interchangeability A measurement of the potential error when two load cells are switched without changing the instrument's scale. This results from differences in the span between different load cells. For minor errors, rationalized load cells of the same kind can be switched.
Kilogram force a unit of force equal to one kilogram's mass multiplied by the acceleration caused by gravity.
Load The force or weight applied to the load cell. Expressed using standard scientific or technical units, such as the Newton or kilogram-force.
Load Capacity
The maximum load or force that a load cell can measure within its specified range.
Load Cell A device that generates an output signal proportionate to the applied weight or force.
Load cycle A single peak-to-peak period of variable load, ranging from zero to the rated load or, in the case of a bi-directional load cell, including both tension and compression. Continuous load cycles up to the full rated load are considered to estimate fatigue life.
Magnetic Load Cell
A type of load cell that measures load or force using magnetic principles.
Material Compatibility
The suitability of a load cell's materials for the application environment, ensuring resistance to corrosion, wear, and chemical exposure.
Modulus resistors Bridge circuit components utilized to offer span drift temperature compensation.
Mounting
The process of attaching a load cell to a structure or equipment for load measurement.
Mounting Orientation The specific orientation or direction in which a load cell should be mounted for optimal performance and accuracy.
Multi-axis Refers to any load cell that can measure load inputs on several axes.
Maximum axial load, safe The maximum axial load that can be applied without permanently altering the defined performance characteristics. Typically given in units of % capacity.
Maximum load The maximum load in a particular test or application. This may be any load up to capacity + minimum load, but it can't be much more than capacity.
Maximum axial load, ultimate The highest axial load that can be applied without causing a structural failure. Typically given in units of % capacity.
Maximum load axis moment, safe The maximum moment that can be applied concerning the primary axis without permanently changing the defined performance parameters.
Maximum mounting torque, safe The highest torque that may be applied in a concentric circle around the primary axis without permanently changing the defined performance parameters.
Maximum side load, safe The maximum side load can isd without permanently changing the defined performance parameters.
Measuring range The difference between the maximum and minimum load in a defined test or application. It may not be more than capacity.
Minimum dead load or MDL The lowest load at which the desired performance is achieved. In single-mode applications, it typically equals or is close to no load, while in double-mode applications, it must be equal to no load.
Minimum load The minor load in a particular test or application, distinguished from no load by the weight of attached fixtures and load receptors and any deliberate pre-load applied.
Mode the load direction. Tension and compression are examples of modes.
Non-linearity - Terminal The maximum amount of incremental loading results in loadcell output deviating from a straight line between zero load output and rated load output.
Natural Frequency The frequency of free oscillations when there is no load.
No load A load cell's condition in its natural physical configuration when no force is applied, and no fixtures or load receptors are connected.
Off-axis loads Any load that does not traverse the loadcell's force center. Also frequently used to refer to general external forces, which generally include sideloads and bending moments.
Output symmetry The difference between a universal loadcell's rated outputs for tension and compression relative to average output (AO). Expressed as a unit of % the average rating output.
Overload - Safe The maximum load that may be applied along the primary axis over the rated load without permanently affecting the load cell's performance. Presented as a percentage of the rated load.
Overload - Ultimate The maximum load that may be applied along the primary axis over the rated load without seriously endangering the structure. Presented in percent of the rated load.
Output resistance The resistance of the load cell circuit is measured at the signal terminals when there is no load, and the excitation terminals are open-circuited.
Primary Axis The axis along which the load cell is intended to be loaded; often, the geometric centerline.
Parallel connection Multiple load cell outputs are electrically summed and averaged to produce a single output signal. Typically, this is done so that a single piece of equipment may be used to measure the entire load experienced by a particular number of load cells. This should only be done with rationalized outputs, and care should be taken to verify that the instrument can power the necessary number of load cells. These details are provided on the respective instrumentation data sheets.
Rated Capacity (Rated Load) The maximum axial load capacity for measurement. Expressed using the proper engineering units, such as the kilogram or Newton of force. Numerous ranges measuring from zero loads to the maximum rated load are frequently available on individual load cell data sheets.
Rated output - Nominal The nominal output attained by the load cell when loaded to the rated load. Presented in millivolts per volt (mV/V).
Rated output - Rationalized The Rationalized output achieved by the load cell when it is loaded to the rated load. Presented in millivolts per volt (mV/V)
Rationalized Referring to a load cell that has been rationalized.
Rationalization The process of reducing a load cell output to a set target value with close tolerance for rationalization. It is necessary for interchangeability, parallel connection, or to accommodate some amplifiers' restricted gain adjustment.
Rationalization tolerance A tiny deviation from a preset output following rationalization so that two load cells of the same kind that have undergone rationalization are almost similar. This allows for more excellent part interchangeability. Each load cell data sheet includes the rationalization tolerance. Presented as a percentage of the rated load.
Repeatability The maximum deviation between load cell output readings for repeated loadings under the same given load and environmental conditions.
Resolution The slightest step change in applied load produces a difference in the output signal. This change can be accurately measured by the load cell.
RL Rated load
RO Rate output
Scaling A calibration function that is stored in an instrument. Expressed as rated load multiplied by resolution.
Sideload Any load applied at the point of axial force application operating at 90 degrees to the primary axis.
Signal The voltage output produced by the bridge circuit carried through two color-coded wires, one positive and one negative.
Span The whole mV/V range between the output at zero loads and the rated output.
Static load A long-term steady load that does not change significantly over time, unlike a dynamic load.
Steady-state When a particular variable no longer changes over time.
Strain gauge An electrically resistive element whose resistance is proportional to applied strain.
Static error band or SEB The band of the maximum differences between the ascending and descending calibration points and the best fit line through zero output. It involves the impacts of nonlinearity, hysteresis, and non-return to minimum load. Usually stated in units of %FS.
SEB output A calculated output value at capacity from the best-fitting line to the actual ascending and decreasing calibration points and through zero output.
Symmetry error The mathematical difference between the rated output and the average of its absolute values in tension and rated output in compression. Usually stated in units of %RO.
Temperature effect on rated output The variation in rated output for a given temperature change under steady-state circumstances. Stated as a percentage of the output per °C.
Temperature effect on zero load output the difference in output at zero loads for a given temperature change under steady-state temperature circumstances. Stated as a percentage of the rated output per °C.
Temperature range - Compensated The temperature range in which the load cell will continue to function according to its specified performance requirements.
Temperature range - Safe The temperature range in which the load cell can be utilized without experiencing any long-term deterioration in load cell function.
Traceability The ability to validate load cell calibration accuracy using general standards, methods, and documentation. All load cells and systems certified to traceable standards come with calibration certifications.
Terminal Resistance Input The load cell circuit resistance as measured at the excitation terminals with no load and open-circuited output terminals.
Voltage sensing A technique for sensing and adjusting voltage drop that uses two color-coded wires, one positive and one negative. If the length of a loadcell's six-wire "voltage sensing" cable is altered from what was initially specified, the calibration of the load cell will not be invalidated.
Wheatstone bridge A circuit made up of resistive components linked in a quadrilateral form. Used as a potential divider in strain gauge load cells so that resistance variations can be amplified and monitored to determine the size of an unknown force delivered via the load cell.
Zero balance Concerning the zero load output and the components used to trim the zero load output to meet data-sheet specifications.
Zero load output The output of a load cell when no load of any type is applied. Stated as a percentage of rated output.
Zero floats The change in zero balance caused by a complete cycle of equal compression and tension loads. Typically stated in un its of %FS and usually defined as FS = capacity.
Zero stability The extent to which zero balance is maintained during a predetermined period when all ambient circumstances, loading history, and other factors remain unchanged.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Load Cell Glossary serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking to enhance their understanding of load cells and their related terminology. From the fundamental principles of load cell operation to specific terms associated with different types of load cells, this glossary provides clear and concise definitions.

Throughout the glossary, we have explored the internal components, working principles, advantages, disadvantages, and applications of various load cell types, including strain gauge, hydraulic, pneumatic, capacitive, piezoelectric, and magnetic load cells. We have covered key concepts such as accuracy, sensitivity, linearity, and resolution, which are essential for accurate load measurement.

The glossary also delves into important topics like calibration, overload protection, signal conditioning, and environmental considerations. By understanding these terms, readers can navigate the world of load cell technology with confidence, ensuring accurate and reliable measurements in their applications.

Whether you are a professional in the field of load cells or simply curious about this fascinating technology, the Load Cell Glossary provides a comprehensive compilation of terms that will expand your knowledge and enable you to effectively communicate and work with load cells.

We hope that this glossary has been a valuable resource for you, offering clarity and insights into the language of load cells. By familiarizing yourself with these terms, you can harness the power of load cell technology and unlock new possibilities in precision measurement and control.

11th Oct 2023

Recent Posts