The working principle of shear beam load cell
Shear beam load cells are widely used in places where operators need to measure pressure. The core component of the shear beam load cell is the spring element. The element is a piece of metal, which deforms elastically under load and recovers immediately after the load is removed. This deformation or strain is absorbed by a strain gauge mounted on the metal element and converted into an electrical signal. Shear beam load cells can be calibrated for various weight units (grams, kilograms, or tons).
Application of shear beam load cell
Single-ended shear beams are mainly used for medium loads up to 5 tons. These load cells can be used in many medium-weight conveyor scales, container scales, and platform scales, as well as packaging and bottling plants. Shear beam load cells are also used to measure force and torque in factories. Platform scales are usually equipped with multiple load cells connected in parallel.
Technical data
Since shear beam load cells are commonly used in industrial applications, they have a robust design. This is also reflected in its IP67 or IP68 protection rating, which means that it is protected from dust, splash water, and even immersion. The datasheet of the shear beam load cell lists the key parameters of rated load and ultimate load or breaking load. Also important is the division of the smallest scale, because it determines the allowable tare weight. Shear beam load cells can be easily connected in parallel to a shared circuit, as the latest generation of these devices tends to calibrate the output current (through impedance adjustment). Therefore, no additional trimming is required, and single-ended shear beams from different manufacturers can usually be combined into one loop.