Transducers are devices that transform one form of energy to another—at least this is common knowledge for most people. But what they don’t know is that there are many different types of transducers, and countless ways to use them.
Michigan Scientific is an expert on the matter, as it designs and manufactures a wide variety of transducers. These transducers in particular are used to measure forces under normal and testing conditions. But aside from your regular line of load transducers, Michigan Scientific also offers a variety of vehicle component transducers that measure the weight, frame, twist, pedal forces, drive torques, and brake torques of vehicles.
One of Michigan Scientific’s offerings is the Three-Axis Load Cell. What are they and what are their applications? We will discuss that on the article below.
What are Load Cells?
In order to understand what Three-Axis Load Cells are, we first need to define a load cell. Load cells are a type of transducer. They transform one form of energy to another. In this case, it transforms weight, force, or pressure, into an electrical signal that can be measured.
So basically, a load cell is used to measure the weight of something. Some load cells are used to track the changes in an object’s weight over time.
In some applications, load cells are used to detect the presence of something by measuring the strain on a certain surface.
Three-Axis Load Cell Applications
Michigan Scientific Three-Axis Load Cells work as a way to measure moments and forces. It is much like a regular load cell, except this one works in three perpendicular directions in one compact package. They come in a variety of sizes and capacities, so they can fit in many different applications.
Common uses for our Three-Axis Load Cells include engine mount forces, strut mount forces, suspension forces, tire patch forces, and motorcycle axle forces.
Michigan Scientific Three-Axis Load Cells allow for the measurement of the true vector force reacted by the vehicle body without changing the way the powertrain attaches to the vehicle frame. It can measure all strut forces at once, with minimal change in ride height.
Using two or more Three-Axis Load Cells at once can be beneficial for the user too. They can take advantage of the known geometry separating the load cells in order to calculate the applied moments and forces that the body is subjected to. This way, all three forces and three moments can be measured with a four-load cell arrangement.
Michigan Scientific has been manufacturing quality Three-Axis Load Cells for over 30 years. Our load cells are durable and built to last, with weatherproof sealing and temperature compensation.
Available in 250 to 100k lb capacities and a wide operating temperature range (ranging from-40°F to 300°F or -40°C to 149°C), Michigan Scientific Three-Axis Load Cells are ideal for just about any real-world application you might need them for.