Overview
The TR3D family of Three Directional (3D) Load Cell transducers provide a rugged, compact solution to a large variety of general force measurement needs. Standard models provide load capacities from 250 lb. to 100,000 lb. in three orthogonal directions. These load cells have been used in a vast array of applications including motorcycle axle and suspension force measurements, force measurements at the vehicle tire patch, force sensors for feedback control of test stands, and many more.
Each load cell transducer is individually calibrated and temperature compensated to ensure maximum accuracy. Please refer to the individual load cell pages for a full list of specifications.
Round Three Directional Load Cell |
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Available in 1000, 3000, and 5000 lb capacities. | |
Square Three Directional Load Cell |
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Available in 1000, 4000, and 16000 lb capacities. | |
Square Three Directional Load Cell |
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Available in 16,000 and 40,000 lb capacities. |
Load Cell Design and Manufacture
Each load cell transducer is machined out of a solid block of stainless steel or aluminum, which helps ensure that the load cell maintains excellent linearity throughout the entire force range, both positive and negative. Hysteresis is virtually nonexistent.
Crosstalk – the sensitivity of a given channel to loading of other measurement channels or extraneous loading – is minimized by careful arrangement of individual load paths and strain gage elements. As a result, loads applied to other axes and other extraneous loading have virtually no effect on the signal outputs of each axis.
Weatherproof coatings are applied to all strain-gaged surfaces to ensure that the load cells can survive in any environment typically experienced in industrial or automotive applications.
Family of 3D Load Cells
What Makes Michigan Scientific Corporation's TR3D Load Cells Unique?
Michigan Scientific Three Directional Load Cell transducers offer a superior solution over one-directional load cells in that they provide much more information in a very compact package. Often Three Directional Load Cells are used in applications where an array of one-direction load cells would simply be too big and bulky. One such application is replacing engine mounts with Three Directional Load Cells. This allows the measurement of the true vector force reacted by the frame without appreciably changing the way the engine attaches to the vehicle frame.
When two or more Three Directional Load Cells are used in a fixturing arrangement, the user can take advantage of the known geometry separating the load cells to calculate the applied moments as well as forces a body is subjected to. Thus, it is possible to quantify the loading on all six degrees of freedom of the object under test.
One successful application of this concept was an aircraft loading ramp Michigan Scientific instrumented for the military. Designers of the ramp wanted to quantify the loads placed on the ramp as vehicles were loaded. To do this, four load cells were sandwiched between two plates. A series of these plates were then inserted into a loading ramp and vehicles were driven over them. This then allowed for a complete description of the total loading condition placed on the ramp by the vehicle as it traversed the ramp.
Michigan Scientific Three Directional Load Cells are configured for easy mounting in a variety of applications using standard hardware. If access is limited, most models can be mounted entirely from one side through the use of a bottom thread adapter.
In many applications the use of a stand-alone force measuring device may not be the most practical solution. In these cases, Michigan Scientific Corporation works closely with the customer to develop a custom measurement device by either instrumenting production parts or by replacing production parts with a custom transducer.