A load cell is a device that converts a mechanical movement into an electrical signal. It’s as simple as that. Used with an indicator and pcl, it gives you important force information or feeds it to a process system. Load cells have become commonplace in a wide variety of applications. A typical example is weighing scales at a supermarket checkout. When the operator places, say, a bag of tomatoes on the scale the indicator displays both the weight and the price per kilo.
The most common type of load cell consists of sensors called strain gauges bonded to the surface of components made from specially designed and manufactured metal. The strain gauges are wired into an electrical circuit called a Wheatstone bridge, and the output is displayed on the indicator. At Proctor & Chester, we supply both a range of standard load cells and offer an in-house design service for custom load cells that meet your exact requirements.